Sharma Solomon, Member of Parliament for A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) with responsibility for Public Service, Government Efficiency, Implementation, and Natural Resources, has raised serious concerns over the government’s continued secrecy surrounding major gold mining contracts. The parliamentarian’s statement comes amid renewed government announcements about the expansion of Guyana’s gold sector, which he says exposes a fundamental lack of transparency.
In a forceful declaration, Solomon demanded: “SHOW THE CONTRACTS!” He pointed to the President Irfaan Ali’s announcement in July, repeated on 26th November by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, that two major large-scale gold mines are expected to come on stream by 2026 and 2027. The projects involve G Mining Ventures, Mako Mining Corp, and other multinational operators.
“These agreements were signed over a year ago, but to this day the Guyanese people remain completely in the dark,” Solomon said. He emphasised that while the government has issued public statements about expected revenues, such announcements do not replace accountability.
Solomon highlighted broader governance concerns, noting that “This [People’s Progressive Party] administration has already demonstrated that it cannot be trusted with our oil revenues, it has failed to properly account for the national census, it presides over irregular public procurement practices, and high-profile corruption matters go unattended. Meanwhile, key oversight bodies such as the [Parliamentary] Public Accounts Committee are sidelined or ignored.”
The APNU MP also underscored the finite nature of Guyana’s natural resources: “Gold, like oil, is a depletable natural resource with a finite economic life. Decisions taken today will determine whether these sectors build long-term national wealth or whether future generations inherit nothing but empty pits and environmental scars.”
Environmental and social safeguards were another point of concern. Solomon noted that mining operations, like oil extraction, can cause severe and lasting damage—from river contamination and deforestation to disruption of Indigenous communities. “Environmental safeguards must be clearly detailed in the contracts. But the public cannot scrutinise these protections if the contracts remain hidden,” he said.
Labour rights, community protections, and institutional oversight also hinge on contract transparency. Solomon stressed that workers’ rights, safety conditions, training, and community safeguards should be secured through binding agreements, yet citizens cannot verify these protections without access to the contracts.
The economic stakes are significant. In 2024, Guyana’s gold sector generated US$989.9 million in revenue, just shy of the US$1 billion mark, reflecting an increase of approximately US$181 million over 2023. A total of 434,067 ounces of gold were produced, a modest rise from 432,113 ounces the previous year. Gold exports alone reached US$990.0 million, up 22.4 percent from US$808.6 million in 2023, underscoring the sector’s critical role as a cornerstone of the non-oil economy, providing substantial foreign exchange and rural employment.
Despite these impressive figures, Solomon argued that the government has failed to provide transparency around the fiscal and operational terms of mining agreements. Beyond the two headline projects, at least three other companies—Omai Gold Mines, Aris Mining’s Toroparu Project, G Mining Ventures’ Oko West, and Mako Mining’s Eagle Mountain—control an estimated 15.5 million ounces of gold. These companies market Guyana as “mining-friendly,” boasting strong shareholder returns, yet the Guyanese public remains unable to verify whether the nation receives comparable benefits.
Solomon drew attention to the government’s prior stance in opposition, noting that the PPP had demanded the release of the ExxonMobil oil contract to ensure transparency. “Today, however, under their leadership, and in a mining sector expanding even faster than oil did in its early phase, not a single mining contract has been released,” he said.
He concluded with a direct challenge: “If these deals are as beneficial as government officials claim, then why hide them? If the sector is poised for massive growth, then why fear transparency? This government offers promises. Guyanese deserve the contracts. Release the contracts now!”
Solomon’s statement underscores APNU’s insistence on full transparency and parliamentary oversight in the management of Guyana’s extractive industries, highlighting that secrecy in a sector with enormous economic, environmental, and social implications is unacceptable.
See full statement below:
SHOW THE CONTRACTS!
The President’s announcement in July, now repeated yesterday (26th Nov) by the Minister of Finance that two major large scale gold mines will come on stream by 2026 and 2027 once again exposes a fundamental issue this government refuses to confront: TRANSPARENCY
These pronouncements represent new investments from G Mining Ventures, Mako Mining Corp, and other multinational operators. Yet, despite the fanfare, the government continues to hide the very contracts governing these projects. These agreements were signed over a year ago, but to this day the Guyanese people remain completely in the dark.
In the press, not Parliament, the government has issued glowing public statements about the expected revenues from these investments. But public statements are not accountability. This administration has already demonstrated that it cannot be trusted with our oil revenues, it has failed to properly account for the national census, it presides over irregular public procurement practices, and high profile corruption matters go unattended. Meanwhile, key oversight bodies such as the Public Accounts Committee are sidelined or ignored.
This secrecy is especially alarming because gold, like oil, is a depletable natural resource with a finite economic life. The same applies to bauxite, manganese, and every other mineral Guyana relies on. Decisions taken today will determine whether these sectors build long term national wealth or whether future generations inherit nothing but empty pits and environmental scars.
Mining, like oil extraction, inflicts severe and lasting environmental damage from river contamination to deforestation and the disruption of Indigenous communities. Environmental safeguards must be clearly detailed in the contracts. But the public cannot scrutinize these protections if the contracts remain hidden.
Across all extractive industries, the implications for Guyanese labour, institutions, and regulatory bodies are enormous. Workers’ rights, safety conditions, training, and community protection should all be secured through binding agreements agreements the government refuses to release.
At the same time, gold, bauxite, manganese, and oil are major contributors to Guyana’s foreign exchange earnings and public revenues. With the gold mining sector projected in the Minister of Finance’s Mid Year Report to grow by 17.2%, the public has an even stronger right to know the fiscal terms under which these companies operate.
Beyond the two headline projects, at least three other companies controls an estimated 15.5 million ounces of gold, in Omai Gold Mines, Aris Mining’s Toroparu Project, G Mining Ventures’ Oko West, and Mako Mining’s Eagle Mountain. These companies publicly describe Guyana as “mining friendly” and boast of impressive returns for their shareholders. Yet the citizens of this country cannot evaluate whether Guyana receives comparable benefits.
It is worth remembering that when the PPP was in opposition, they loudly demanded the release of the ExxonMobil oil contract, arguing correctly that transparency was necessary to determine whether the deal benefited the Guyanese people. Today, however, under their leadership, and in a mining sector expanding even faster than oil did in its early phase, not a single mining contract has been released.
If these deals are as beneficial as government officials claim, then why hide them?
If the sector is poised for massive growth, then why fear transparency?
This government offers promises. Guyanese deserve the contracts.
Release the contracts now!
Sharma Solomon
Member of Parliament
