Land Management

Functions

1. Acceptance, processing and granting of permits and licences in the medium and large scale mineral sector i.e Prospecting and Mining Permits, Prospecting Licence, Mining Licence, Quarry Licence and Permission for Geological and Geophysical Surveys (on behalf of the Minister)
2. Processing and endorsement of all applications for the remission of taxes on the purchase or importation of items for use in the mining and exploration sector by its operatives.
3. Preparation of official notices in the Official Gazettes such as Grants, Rescissions, Orders and Regulations pertaining to Medium and Large Scale permitting and licensing.
4. Maintenance of an up to date mineral licence database.
5. Cartography services.
6. Maintenance of the Commission’s GIS in conjunction with the IT Department.
7. Administration of auctions and lotteries.

Application for Mineral Properties in Guyana

The Mining Act, 1989 allows for four scales of operation:

1. A Small Scale Claim has dimensions of 1500 ft x 800 ft whilst a river claim consists of one mile of a navigable river.

2. Medium Scale Prospecting and Mining Permits. These cover between 150 and 1200 acres each.

3. Prospecting Licences for areas between 500 and 12,800 acres.

4. Permission for Geological and Geophysical Surveys for reconnaissance surveys over large acreages with the objective of applying for Prospecting Licences over favorable ground selected on the basis of results obtained from the reconnaissance aerial and field surveys.

Small and medium scale property titles (items 1 and 2 above) are restricted to Guyanese, however, foreigners have been entering into joint-venture arrangements whereby the two parties jointly develop the property. This is strictly by private contract. In 2003 there were 2513 Medium Scale Prospecting Permits and 18 Prospecting Licences in existence.

Foreign companies may apply for Prospecting Licences and Permission for reconnaissance surveys.