Prime Minister Sam Hinds yesterday represented Guyana in a meeting on tropical deforestation that featured representatives from several of the G20 countries.
Guyana was one of three non-G20 countries which attended the meeting at Clarence House in London, which was convened by Britain’s Prince Charles. The other non-G20 nations represented were Norway and Gabon, who were represented by their Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Defence Minister Ali Bongo Ondimba. These nations were invited because of their countries’ leading positions on combating deforestation, a GINA release said. Among those in attendance were US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Speaking after the meeting, Hinds, said that “for Guyana to be asked to attend this meeting during the G20 summit is an unprecedented global endorsement of Guyana’s leadership on addressing deforestation, and in particular President (Bharrat) Jadgeo’s recent international advocacy. I told the leaders of my belief that the majority of Guyana’s population supports efforts to combat deforestation.” Hinds was at the time representing President Jagdeo, who returned to Guyana for the funeral of former President Janet Jagan.
President Jagdeo recently unveiled the first part of Guyana’s low carbon development strategy-a paper which sets out Guyana’s view on how the United Nations Framework Con-vention on Climate Change can create incentives to avoid deforestation. The remainder of Guyana’s low carbon development strategy will be published in Georgetown before the end of May.
Guyana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Mr Laleshwar Singh and Presidential Advisor Kevin Hogan also attended yesterday’s gathering.
