Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud is not too concerned about the move by WWF France to have oil drilling off the Guianas halted, saying that Guyana will ensure that all environmental safeguards in place.
At the ongoing World Conservation Congress in Jeju, South Korea, the WWF France is piloting a motion to have drilling ceased off the shores of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. The motion cites the potential for oil drilling to have disastrous consequences for the environment.
“We will continue to drill in our national territory adhering to all international safeguards,” the Minister said to Stabroek News in an emailed response yesterday. “Our most recent track record is testimony to our commitment to drill in a manner that is environmentally-sound but attractive to the investors,” the Minister said.
Approached for a comment on the motion, Head of Guyana’s Office of Climate Change, Shyam Nokta who is attending the meeting on behalf od Guyana said that “we have noted” it. Nokta and former President, Bharrat Jagdeo comprise the Guyana delegation at the Congress.
The motion referred to the ecological fragility and the socioeconomic importance of the coastline of the Guianas and its distinction as the place with the highest concentration of migrating and wintering waders in northern South America, and that their beaches are a site of international importance for the laying of sea turtle eggs.
It said that the Guiana Shield is an area frequently visited by delphinids such as the common bottlenose dolphin and by certain cartilaginous fish such as the manta ray.
It stressed that the local population on the coasts of French Guiana, Suriname and Guyana depend directly on fishery resources.
The motion in its resolve clause calls on the governments of France, Suriname and Guyana to adopt a moratorium on deep-water oil extraction in the three countries in the Guiana Shield; strengthen the energy conservation policy and support for renewable energy sources, compatible with biodiversity conservation, in order to support the ecological transition of these territories; establish an international, cross-border marine protected area on the Guiana Shield, linked to the project for a marine mammal sanctuary stretching from the coasts of Brazil to Venezuela; and strengthen the sustainable management of the fishery resources in order to protect marine biodiversity as well as the needs and economic activities of the local populations on the Guiana Shield.
During the first half of this year, Guyana has had two failed attempts at oil exploration, coming up dry in both drill campaigns despite encouraging 3D Seismic surveys which suggested that the sites might be viable.
