The newly established Guyana Jewellers Association was officially launched on Wednesday, marking a major step in the country’s push to develop a world-class gold and jewellery sector. The election of the Association’s first Board of Directors took place at Duke Lodge in Georgetown, creating a platform for structured collaboration between the government and private sector.
Gowkaran Persaud of Kings Jewellery World was elected as Chairman of the Board and Vead Persaud of LSM Jewellers as Vice Chairman. Debra Phillipi was elected secretary and Rampersaud Gopaul as treasurer. Steve Narine and Raj Persaud were also elected as committee members. Three ex officio members from the Ministry of Natural Resources, Guyana Gold Board and Guyana Geology and Mines Commission will also be elected to the board.
Technical Advisor and former government minister Dominic Gaskin, who provided an overview of the Guyana Gold and Jewellery Sector Development Strategy, said the initiative began about a year ago with a vision to position Guyana as a regional and international hub for gold and jewellery. According to Gaskin, strengthening Guyana’s association with gold on the global stage will open new opportunities.
He outlined three key objectives of the strategy:
* Increase Guyana’s participation in the global market for gold.
* Establish a national brand for gold and jewellery to be recognised and marketed internationally.
* Create opportunities for Guyanese goldsmiths and jewellers to improve, expand, and modernise their operations.
Gaskin highlighted that while Guyana extracts significant quantities of gold, the country currently loses much of its value-added potential.
“We extract gold, we make a bit of jewelry, but over 90 percent of our gold leaves the country in its unrefined state,” he said.
The Board of the new association will receive a full proposal detailing the development strategy and will focus on implementing key initiatives, either directly or through sub-committees. Among the major components under consideration is a gold refinery, which Gaskin noted would allow Guyana to standardise and refine its own gold, keeping more value within the local economy.
Another pillar of the strategy is the creation of a Jewellery Exchange, a single centre where wholesalers, retailers, suppliers, and service providers can operate under one roof.
To support new talent and build the next generation of local jewellers, the plan also includes a jewellery incubator, offering temporary workspace and training opportunities. Additional attention is being given to gold recycling, aimed at increasing sustainability and efficiency in the sector.
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