Guyana prepares for international negotiations on mercury ban

TIMES INT'L

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry on Tuesday held a stakeholder consultation in the ministry’s boardroom, as part of preparations to guide the delegation that will be represent Guyana at the fifth session of the Inter-Governmental Negotiation Committee in Geneva, Switzerland, from January 13 to 18. The session was aimed towards the preparation of a legally binding instrument on mercury use.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud

A team comprising representatives from the ministry, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), and the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) will represent Guyana at these meetings in Geneva. It was felt that in going forward the team could benefit from a multi-stakeholder discussion on the draft document of the instrument, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud said. A draft copy of the document was forwarded to stakeholders, prior to the meeting.
“We wanted the team to benefit from a wider cross-section of you, so we can review the text (of the draft document); one to ensure that it is consistent with our national position and more so to determine whether there are elements, aspects that we would want to bring to that meeting in terms of going forward,” Minister Persaud told the stakeholders.
The discussion Tuesday was to ensure the delegation’s clarity in putting forward Guyana’s case on mercury usage at the session in Geneva. Guyana has not signed on to the mercury ban in light of the criticality of the element to the mining industry. Guyana instead has been advocating for a transition period before the country can fully cease the use of the element.

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