President Jennifer Simons wants to gradually regulate Suriname’s gold sector and has set up a special policy group for this purpose. According to the head of state, intervention is necessary due to inadequate oversight of gold mining activities, environmental pollution and the use of hazardous chemicals.
As part of the initial measures, the import of the chemical substance Jin Chan has been temporarily halted. The government also wants to use satellite imagery to better monitor gold mining activities in the interior.
Speaking with the Communicatie Dienst Suriname (CDS), Simons emphasised that problems within the gold sector have existed for decades. Various governments have attempted to organise the sector, but according to her, those efforts have produced insufficient results.
“We have now reached the point where I have established a policy group, because we absolutely must make a start with regulating that sector,” the president said.
Although artisanal gold mining is generally considered small-scale, its economic scale is considerable, according to Simons. Thousands of people earn their income in this sector, where large sums of money are involved. At the same time, the government has insufficient insight into the activities and the income generated by them.
The president points out that gold is not always extracted efficiently and that the state therefore misses out on revenue. “And once you have extracted gold, it leaves the country forever, and it yields too little for the state,” Simons states.
Registration of gold miners and better extraction methods
One of the government’s first steps is to register individuals and companies active in artisanal gold mining. Within a few months, this registration must provide greater insight into the scale of the sector and the entrepreneurs and gold miners involved.
According to Simons, it is also necessary to support gold miners in switching to more efficient and environmentally friendly extraction methods. In particular, the use of harmful chemical substances must be reduced.
The president emphasises that the government not only wants to limit environmental damage, but also to encourage gold miners to obtain greater returns from their work and investments.
According to her, the government had an analysis conducted over the past year into the main bottlenecks. On that basis, a multi-year approach must be developed to gradually regulate the sector.
Satellite imagery for oversight of gold mining
Another component of the announced measures is strengthening oversight of activities in Suriname’s interior.
The government is examining the possibilities of using satellite imagery in the short term to track developments in the interior. Support from international partners is also being considered.
Through this form of oversight, the government wants to gain better insight into where gold mining activities are taking place and what effects they have on the environment.
Import of chemical substance Jin Chan temporarily halted
The president is concerned about the use of chemical substances in gold mining and the possible pollution of rivers and other waterways. According to her, there is currently insufficient control over the availability and use of substances for which a permit is required.
As an urgent measure, Simons has therefore decided to temporarily halt the import of Jin Chan. This chemical substance is used in gold extraction.
“The urgent measures have therefore been that I have now temporarily stopped the import of, for example, Jin Chan,” the head of state explains.
The government wants to prevent hazardous chemical substances from being traded and used without control. According to Simons, tackling water pollution is part of an urgent action plan that has already been launched.
Oversight also at gold concessions
The announced measures are not limited to illegal gold mining activities. Existing gold concessions will also be inspected.
According to the president, the Nationale Milieu Autoriteit (NMA) must investigate whether concession holders comply with the applicable environmental regulations. The government wants to determine to what extent gold mining activities are being carried out in accordance with the rules.
Simons emphasises that the reform of the gold sector must take place in cooperation with the parties involved. She mentions concession holders, gold traders, permit holders and persons directly involved in gold extraction.
“We want to work with the people themselves, with the concession holders, with the traders, with the people with permits, with the sector towards a better regulated sector,” the president said.
It has not yet been announced when the full regulation of the gold sector must be completed. For now, the president speaks of a gradual approach to be implemented in the coming years.
