Regions seven and eight residents on Monday asked for more time to study the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).
The predominantly Amerindian communities were also told that all their concerns will be addressed when the team charged with taking the LCDS concept across the country held meetings with over 200 residents from Kamarang, Upper Mazaruni, Region Seven and satellite communities Waramadong, Kako and Phillipai on Monday. A press release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) said sessions were also hosted with 150 residents from neighbouring communities Kaibarupai, Waipa, Kamana, Kanapang, Itabac, Paramakatoi, Bamboo Creek, Monkey Mountain and Kopinang.
GINA said so far only state lands have been committed for implementing the LCDS. Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai told the meeting that the purpose of the consultations was to explain how the Strategy could benefit Guyana and to make the draft available for their input. “There is no way that the Government would commit the Amerindian lands within the strategy without you the people being able to do that for themselves,” she said.
Mario Hestings a resident of Kamarang, Upper Mazaruni said residents need more time to study and examine the LCDS. Another resident, Norma Thomas, called for a clause to be included in the Strategy for the traditional lands of Amerindians to be respected. The minister reiterated that residents will not be pressured to support the LCDS but she also said that if a community chooses to support the initiative it must engage in discussions with the government to draft a development plan. Representative of the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) Vanda Radzik also gave assurances that consultations have just begun and “nothing is yet written in stone.”
Meanwhile, Kamarang resident John Andres criticised the mining sector for a substantial degree of damage which has been done to the forests. “When we cut down our trees we allow it to grow; when the miners cut down trees they don’t grow back so I feel people should look at us Amerindians for a good example of how to preserve the forests,” he said.
According to GINA the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has intensified its campaign to promote sustainable mining in an effort to align itself with the LCDS. Representative of the Office of Climate Change Andrew Bishop said the GGMC will be instituting more rigid monitoring particularly for turbidity levels and mercury use.
