Costa Rica celebrates 199 years of independence this September 15 dealing with Covid-19, historically high unemployment rates, and street demonstrations from gold miners in Abangares, Guanacaste.

Gold miners of the area of Abangares blocked a sector of the Interamericana Norte street which connects to Monteverde and the road that leads to Cañas in Guanacaste for more than 24 hours not allowing transit to and from Guanacaste except for short 10 minute lapses every two to three hours in an attempt to pressure the government.

Due to the Independence Day Holiday, many people were returning from vacation and found themselves stuck for hours in traffic.

Small scale gold mining is an activity legally allowed only in the county of Abangares for over 100 years since back in 1884 a gold mine was discovered by Juan Alvarado Acosta, an event that marked the beginning of the exploration in the mountains of Tilaran, an activity that promoted the development of the region.

However, for almost a month now the commercialization of the gold in Abangares was stopped as a result of the Government’s efforts to deal with illegal gold mining in the area of Crucitas, a situation that has been going on for more than 8 years and has caused millions in losses to the country and an incredible and incalculable environmental damage.

Buyers of gold from Abangares cannot export the mineral since they need a process to certify that the gold was obtained legally from the area of Abangares. Cooperatives involved in the process requested the possibility of exporting the mineral themselves, but this was not authorized.

Over 1000 gold miners that depend on this activity are demanding a solution from the Government.

A Government commission met with representatives of the gold miners and after six hours of negotiations, they reached an agreement that allowed road blockages to be finally lifted.

The Government explained through a press release that they agreed to find the proper solutions to provide export permits to small scale mining organizations duly registered and in compliance with specific requirements. The government also agreed to request clarification from the Ministry of Environment (MINAE) and the General Directorate of Customs in relation to the export of gold and the types of gold that have regulation and those that don’t.

The miners have been proposing to let the County Union of Development Associations (UNCADA) in Abangares handle the commercialization and export of gold, a proposal that is now being considered and supported by the Government.