Artisanal Gold Council Urges ASGM Formalization at Historic Canada-Caribbean Summit

The Artisanal Gold Council (AGC), while not a formal participant in the CARICOM Summit, wishes to emphasize the importance of supporting the formalization and professionalization of the artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector, as leaders from Canada and the Caribbean convene in Ottawa for this historic event.

“Canada and the Caribbean are longstanding partners, sharing vibrant communities and close ties. Welcoming Caribbean partners to Ottawa for the Canada-CARICOM Summit is another chance to keep strengthening this relationship and continue delivering community-sustaining employment opportunities, a healthy environment, and a safe future for people in Canada and the Caribbean alike,” said Artisanal Gold Council Executive Director Roger Tissot.

“For generations, Canada and the Caribbean have been bound together by friendship, people, and business ties. This summit, aptly themed “Strategic Partners for a Resilient Future,” represents an opportunity to address critical issues that extend beyond borders and impact the well-being of CARICOM communities, economies, and the environment.”

“We are proud to be working in Guyana with the US Department of State to executive the Roadmap to Responsible Gold, a 36-month-long project to enhance existing national strategies to build a legal, professional, and mercury-free ASGM sector in Guyana. We have also executed two projects in Suriname (Reducing the Use and Release of Mercury by Artisanal Gold Miners in Latin America, 2015 – 2016 and Abating Mercury Emissions via Mobile Processing Units for Smal=Scale Gold Processing in Suriname, 2018-2022).”

“As discussions at the Summit revolve around climate change, resilient communities and economies, regional and global security, and anti-corruption, the AGC is committed to highlighting the intersectional connections between ASGM formalization and these crucial global challenges.”

For more information on the Artisanal Gold Council and our efforts to support ASGM formalization, please visit AGC’s Website.

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