Mr President Chinese Landing requires firm police protection

Dear Editor, The report ‘Chinese Landing miner using planes to fly in fuel as village blocks road access – Toshao’ in Kiskadee Watch on October 25, 2026 (https://kiskadeewatch.com/guyana/chinese-landi

Govt. cracks down on illegal mining operations - Kaieteur News Govt. cracks down on illegal mining operations Jan 16, 2026 News (Kaieteur News) – The Government of Guyana has officially launched its zero-tolerance policy against mining operations failing to meet statutory obligations. An operation led by the Ministry of Natural Resources, in collaboration with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF), has resulted in the dismantling of several unlawful mining operations operating without the necessary statutory instruments. In a release on Thursday, the ministry said authorities have seized a number of operations, detained minerals, and initiated legal proceedings against the offenders. The seized gold The ministry noted that this crackdown is just the beginning, with plans to extend enforcement nationwide to address illegal and illicit activities within the small- and medium-scale gold mining sector. “We are committed to safeguarding our natural resources and ensuring that all mining operations adhere to the laws of the land,” stated Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat. “This zero-tolerance approach is essential for promoting a fair and sustainable mining industry in Guyana.” The Ministry of Natural Resources has urged all miners to comply with statutory obligations and operate within the legal framework to avoid severe penalties.The ministry said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to enforcing compliance and ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources. The unlawful operations that were dismantled President Irfaan Ali issued a directive for authorities to take decisive action against operations lacking the necessary licenses and approvals from the Commissioner to operate. President Ali had explained that the assessment will review every mining license, claim, and operational decision, with firm action to follow where miners fail to declare production or hold lands without productive use. The head of state also announced that gold declarations will now be linked to mercury purchases to reduce under-declaration, environmental harm, and illegal activities in the industry. “We are going to link the mercury they buy with their declarations. If they have land that they are working on and there is no declaration, those lands will be repossessed,” the president stated. He stressed that environmental destruction without production will not be tolerated. “There is no sense destroying the environment if there is no production,” President Ali added. President Ali had given foreign gold miners, particularly Brazilian nationals, who have had low to zero declarations, 24-hours to fully comply with local laws and the requirements surrounding gold declaration days later, GGMC suspended mining operations of 107 Brazilians. The suspension is to remain in force pending the affected persons’ engagement with, and compliance to the satisfaction GGMC.

GPF is the greatest asset in building ‘One Guyana’—President Ali Editor December 14, 2021 - Reaffirms Government’s commitment to improving the Force’s capacity Georgetown, Guyana—(December 14, 2021) His Excellency Dr Irfaan Ali told high-level ranks from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) that they are integral to the [...] Gov’t will invest in army bases to allow ranks to further education—President Ali Editor December 13, 2021 —Awards scholarships to two GDF ranks at Camp Everard Christmas Luncheon Mabaruma, Barima-Waini—(December 13, 2021) His Excellency Dr Irfaan Ali said that his Government will make the necessary investments in a number of army bases aroun [...]

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo today said the Government will respect the ruling of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), which has granted precautionary measures in favour of the Indigenous Carib Community of Chinese Landing. The international human rights body said the people of Chinese Landing are at serious risk of suffering irreparable harm to their human rights. At a press conference at his party headquarters, the Vice President announced that the Government will send a multi-stakeholder team into Chinese Landing to assess the situation. The Indigenous community in Region One, has been facing a number of issues related to illegal mining and breach of rights of the indigenous people under the Amerindian Act. “We intend to respect the ruling of the Inter American Commission on Human Rights. So, we are going to once again send in another team to visit the area, and that would be a multi-faceted team dealing with environment, social issues, mining rights, every everything [and] to meet with the community,” the Vice President said. In its 21st July decision, the IACHR called on the Guyana Government to take the necessary measures to protect the rights to life and personal integrity of the Indigenous people living in Chinese Landing, with a cultural, gender-based and age-appropriate perspective to prevent threats, harassment and other acts of violence against the residents. Guyana has 20 days to inform the Commission on the adoption of the precautionary measures. According to the Vice President, a report will be completed based on the visit by the multi-stakeholder team and that report will be submitted to the IACHR. He told reporters that the Government is equally concerned about the issues faced by the people of Chinese Landing. Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo “The communities are our primary concern and we believe that any transgressions there of a social, environmental, mining nature, should be penalize heavily. We share that view,” Jagdeo said. Jagdeo reminded that it was the Government through the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), that issued a cease work order to miner Wayne Vieira in November 2010, due to a breach of the Amerindian Act. He said, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), however, overturned that order, ruling in favour of the miner in 2017. “So, we had stopped mining in this village, effectively, saying you will have to comply with the Amerindian Act. That was the government’s position. The Caribbean Court of Justice, the apex court, has ruled against us, and so we had to left the cease order,” the Vice President said. The Vice President said the Government had granted residents of Chinese Landing to mine; however, the community continues to face issues relating to illegal mining, outside of the issue involving Vieira. According to the IACHR, residents of Chinese Landing have reportedly faced repetitive incidents of threats and harassment, including death threats.