Planning congratulates Guyana

The Planning and Development Ministry yesterday congratulated Guyana on its efforts to minimise mercury. In a statement, the ministry said Guyana's efforts were in keeping with the Minamata Convention. Guyana recently ratified that Convention which is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury. The Basel Convention Regional Centre recently congratulated the Guyanese government on its efforts. These efforts were exemplified by the participation of Guyanese President David Granger.

Guyana is one of eight countries participating in the Global Environment Facility (GEF) GOLD project. This project is aimed to reduce the use of mercury in participating countries through facilitating the access to finance artisanal miners and mining communities for the introduction of low and non-mercury technologies and techniques.

The ministry said while TT does not have a gold mining industry and is not a party to the Minamata Convention, Government is very abreast of the various environmental issues that are plaguing the world. The ministry said TT becoming a party to the Minamata Convention is being actively considered.