PARAMARIBO — The Policy and Management Team Transformation of Artisanal Gold Mining has been installed to organize and transform the artisanal gold sector. This happened on Wednesday at the President’s Office. The sixteen members received their resolution on this occasion. This concerns two teams, which have been established for a period of four years with effect from September 1, 2026.
The Policy Team consists of eleven members and is chaired by Egmond Letterboom, representative of the Office of the President. The team’s duties include providing solicited and unsolicited advice to the president on the artisanal gold sector and evaluating existing legislation and regulations. Where necessary, proposals for adjustments will be made.
“One of the issues is of course the use of mercury. We also see pollution of our environment. And of course it is important that the state generates more income from this sector”
“We are all aware of the major challenges we face and the situation at home. I think we all agree that this will have to change,” said Letterboom. The Policy Team also prepares the necessary legal and policy steps towards the establishment of a national gold authority. Bottlenecks, shortcomings and contradictions in current regulations are identified.
The five-member Management Team is chaired by Benjamin Hoever and is responsible for the operational implementation of the policy frameworks and guidelines of the Policy Team. According to Letterboom, the emphasis is on various urgent issues. “One of the issues is of course the use of mercury. We also see pollution of our environment. And of course it is important that the state generates more income from this sector.”
The teams will also orientate themselves in the field in the coming period. “We will have to go to the areas to personally orientate ourselves on what is happening, to properly determine matters and to set new policy goals on that basis,” says Letterboom.
