In a landmark step toward equitable, environmentally responsible gold extraction in Suriname, the Traditional Authority of the Matawai people and representatives from the planetGOLD Suriname project have held their first formal collaborative dialogue focused on sustainable gold mining, community-led development and conservation of local ecosystems.
Hosted at Oxygen Resort, the meeting laid the foundational groundwork for a long-term engagement process centered on mutual trust, inclusive community participation, and full respect for the Matawai people’s traditional governance and decision-making structures. The session was organized jointly by planetGOLD Suriname and the Foundation for Research and Development in Caribbean Communities, bringing together Matawai leadership, project partners and a broad range of cross-sector stakeholders.
Attendees received a detailed overview of the planetGOLD initiative’s core objectives. This global program is specifically designed to advance responsible and sustainable practices in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), with a key priority of cutting mercury use—a pervasive environmental and public health hazard in the small-scale mining sector. Beyond reducing mercury pollution, the initiative works to minimize broader ecological damage from mining activities, improve unsafe working conditions for mining workers, and strengthen the voice and agency of local communities that are directly impacted by gold extraction operations.
The focus on collaborative governance with Indigenous and tribal communities is particularly relevant for Suriname, where a large share of the country’s gold production takes place on or adjacent to lands stewarded by tribal and Indigenous groups like the Matawai. For this reason, meaningful partnership with traditional authorities and local communities is a non-negotiable core component of the planetGOLD Suriname project’s approach.
In alignment with the Matawai community’s long-standing decision-making frameworks, traditional leaders were given extended space to raise questions, highlight priority concerns, and share their community’s collective vision for responsible resource management. Discussions covered a range of critical topics, including the potential impacts of mining expansion on ancestral territories, natural resource protection, and long-term community development outcomes.
The entire dialogue unfolded in an open, constructive atmosphere, with all participants centering mutual respect for Matawai culture, traditions and community interests. The agenda included a formal project presentation, an extended question-and-answer session, an internal deliberation by Matawai traditional leaders, and a collective discussion of potential collaborative models moving forward.
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Participants across all groups emphasized the critical need to sustain ongoing dialogue between project implementers, local communities and traditional authorities through every stage of the initiative. They underlined that lasting, sustainable solutions can only succeed if they are rooted in and responsive to the unique needs, lived experiences and expectations of the Matawai community that calls the mining region home.
This introductory meeting marks the official starting point of a process that will center participation, transparency and shared accountability for all stakeholders moving forward. All key insights and concerns raised during the dialogue will be integrated into the next phases of project planning and implementation.
Overall, the first formal gathering has established a solid foundation for continued partnership between planetGOLD Suriname and the Matawai Traditional Authority, aligned around shared goals of sustainable development, responsible stewardship of natural resources, and meaningful community participation in all decision-making processes related to gold mining.