Press Release from the Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development:
Ongoing efforts of the Iwokrama International Centre together with support from the Government of Guyana agencies, to stem the illegal gold mining situation within the Iwokrama Protected Area is continuing to bear fruit.
Since November 22, 2005 a collaborative team of Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Guyana Police Force and Iwokrama has been conducting an enforcement mission in the Siparuni area. On December 10, 2025, the mission saw the arrest two Brazilian Nationals and one native of Venezuela.
For the past year the challenge with illegal mining has continued, though somewhat reduced compared to 2024, we are now seeing an increasing trend of foreign nationals entering the country both illegally and legally to engage in this illegal act.
It is understood that ‘some’ Brazilians are entering the country under the pretext of vacation or looking for supposed legal business opportunities BUT with the intention of illegally harvesting Guyana’s gold. Very often these illegal activities of foreigners are aided and abetted by our own GUYANESE citizens.
Iwokrama is asking for our border control services and community partners to remain very vigilant of persons travelling through parts of Guyana with boats, dredges and mining equipment loaded up in pick-up trucks or other types of vehicles without permits for mining in Guyana.
The following miners were caught red handed operating illegally and with dredges in the Iwokrama Forest:
Brazilian – Rondiney Barbosa Periera
Brazilian 2- Edwardo De Souza Braz
This particular man was seen attempting to go in to Siparuni with a group of 1 Guyanese and Six Brazilian nationals when they were turned back by GGMC and Police (the week of Nov 22).
The following was found near Basha Bay area in The Iwokrama Protected Area and he said he was brought by some Brazilians.
Venezuelan National – Cristhian Jose Cedero
The Centre would like to once again remind the public and other stakeholders that gold mining activities are absolutely PROHIBITED in the Iwokrama Forest. The IWOKRAMA ACT 1996 is clear on the prohibition of illegal activities with provisions for such violations.
Furthermore, such illegal activities pose an imminent threat to our national ecological integrity, disrupts local livelihoods and traditional practices and undermines Guyana’s forestry and protected areas management systems. Such violations WILL NOT be tolerated.
Iwokrama reserves the right to publish the names and photographs of individuals found conducting illegal gold mining activities in the Protected Area.
This illegal mining activity can affect Iwokrama’s International Certification and also by extension impacts the entire Protected Areas System and Guyana’s progressive Green agenda.
Iwokrama’s management acknowledges that collaboration is the only way to target such illegal activities and are grateful for the continued support from the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, the Guyana Police Force, the Protected Areas Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Guyanese citizens using the Iwokrama 72 km stretch of the Georgetown – Lethem road passing through Iwokrama are also asked to use their monitoring eyes and report any suspicious activities to Dr Raquel Thomas, Director, Resource Management and Training, Email: rthomas@iwokrama.org or Iwokrama’s Whatsapp +592 639 3216.
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