Guyanese Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton holds interaction with team of GGDMA

Georgetown, Guyana: The Ministry of Labour of Guyana has felt delighted while sharing the glimpse of the meeting between Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton and members of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA). The meeting was held earlier this week.

Occupational Safety and Health Consultant of Guyana – Gweneth King was among the attendees of the event.

According to the update by the Labour Ministry, the team comprised of:

1. Mr Andron Alphonso, President of GGDMA
2. Mr Ronaldo Alphonso, Organizing Secretary of GGDMA
3. Ms Dabria Marcus, Committee Member of GGDMA
4. Ms Vishanti Balgobin, Committee Member of GGDMA
5. Mr Avalon Jagnandan, Administrator of GGDMA
6. Mr William Woolford, Technical Consultant of GGDMA

The discussions focused on the safety and health of workers in the mining sector. The issues raised included the existing draft Mining Regulations, the harmonization of safety and health regulations within the mining sector, the protection of workers and saving lives, fatal accidents and causes within the mining sector, the establishment of a framework to address safety and health at work in the mining sector, a time-frame to get things done and finding a way to work together to address the concerns, among other topics.

It was agreed that a working committee would be established comprised of representatives of the Ministry of Labour, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners’ Association (GGDMA), the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), and key stakeholders, according to the update by the Ministry.

The Committee is expected to evaluate and revise the existing draft Mining Regulations, among other things. It was proposed that the Committee be established and commence work by the end of October 2023, with the revised draft ready for consultation within six months.

The meeting concluded with satisfaction being expressed by the GGDMA on its outcome and a commitment to working together to improve the safety and health of workers in the mining sector.

According to an early update by the Ministry, Joseph Hamilton, Minister of Labour, convened with members of the Linden Utility Services Cooperative Society Limited (LUSCSL) Interim Management Committee (IMC).

The meeting will focus on the IMC’s efforts to ensure that the cooperative society can function correctly in order to serve its members. Following the meeting, it is hoped that a timeline will be established to quickly hand over the cooperative society to its members.

Minister of Labour also interacted with trainees in Linden, Region Ten from the Board of Industrial Training’s (BIT) numerous technical programmes. Welding and Fabrication, Motor Vehicle Servicing and Repairs, Joinery were some skills being taught to the trainees.

Who is Minister of Labour of Guyana:

Joseph Hamilton serves as the Minister of Labour. He was born in Guyana as Joseph Linden Fitzclarence Hamilton. Before becoming a politician in the Caribbean country, he was a priest of the House of Israel.

Hamilton was initially serving as the Parliamentary Secretary under the Ministry of Health of Guyana. He was appointed as a Minister in August 2020, under the leadership and guidance of President Irfaan Ali.