Suriname establishes teams to transform artisanal gold mining

Suriname has established a Policy and Management Team for the Transformation of Artisanal Gold Mining to reorganize and reform the sector. The initiative, which began on September 1, 2026, consists of two separate groups serving a four-year term.

The eleven-member Policy Team, chaired by Egmond Letterboom, is tasked with advising the president on the artisanal gold sector and evaluating existing laws and regulations. This team is also responsible for preparing the legal and policy framework required to establish a national gold authority.

The five-member Management Team, led by Benjamin Hoever, will handle the operational implementation of the policy guidelines. Key priorities for these teams include addressing mercury use, mitigating environmental pollution, and increasing state revenue from the sector. Members will conduct field visits to assess local conditions and establish new policy objectives.