SITUATION ANALYSIS OF THE SMALL-SCALE GOLD ... - WWF

Chapter I
INTRODUCTION
Chapter 1 outlines the objectives, purpose and strategy in greater detail. Reliable
information, a presence in the field and public-private partnerships is considered
strategic preconditions for achieving the expected outcomes.
Simple interventions, such as the introduction of retorts can help set the stage for
more complex activities such as the organization of miners. The zoning of the
mining areas is also a necessary condition for bringing the sub-sector under
control. With these instruments in place the process of policy formulation,
legislative and institutional development can be greatly facilitated.
The chapter briefly discusses the ideas of the Peruvian economist Hernando de
Soto, that have influenced this approach. Among these ideas, an important
concept is to promote regulation of the sub-sector in such a manner that that the
interests of all stakeholders are served. This chapter explains how much they have
to gain from the regulation of the sub-sector.
Remedial action can only be effective if the root-causes of the many challenges
that face the sub-sector are thoroughly understood. In box 1 the historical causes
of the absence of a strong administrative presence in the interior are outlined.
1.1 Objectives, purpose and strategy
The objective of this report is to analyze the key issues in the SSGM sector and use the
lessons learned to formulate a number of feasible proposals that can be implemented to
better manage the sector for the significant reduction of negative health, social and
environmental impacts . The ultimate purpose is to suggest ways in which all relevant
stakeholder groups can help the government, private sector, the miners, the communities
of the interior and others can work together to bring the sub-sector under control and
ensure the use of less destructive and polluting mining methods. The report sets out to
answer the following three key questions:
1. How can the SSGM sector be regulated and incorporated into the formal economy
of Suriname, and become a more sustainable means of earning a livelihood?
2. What roles and responsibilities should be assigned to the government, private
sector and civil society?
3. How can these roles and responsibilities be translated effectively into operational
rules, assistance schemes and mechanisms of control?
The key challenge is to bring the sub-sector under control by creating a win-win-win
situation. Government, private sector and civil stakeholders should benefit from the
reforms. Reform is to be achieved under severe geographic constraints: isolation,
1