University of Guyana Vice-Chancellor Professor Lawrence Carrington says the University of Guyana is preparing a draft response to the Low Carbon Development Strategy even as he stressed the importance of UG serving the society by producing informed opinions based on research related to critical societal issues.
At a press conference on Wednesday at the headquarters of the Guyana Manufacturing & Services Association (GMSA), Carrington said that a group consisting of scholars from various fields was being formed so that collectively they could create a formal response to the Low Carbon Development Strategy, which was recently launched by President Bharrat Jagdeo. The vice-chancellor said that it was important for the group to be “mixed” since the strategy contained a number of facets.
Carrington said it was hoped that the scholars would submit their findings to the Office of the President where they could be used as an informed opinion as they government moves forward with the strategy. He pointed out the issue of Climate Change is a major one.
He said the location of the Turkeyen campus on the low-lying coast made the matter one of “self-interest” to the university.
He emphasised that the research that is being undertaken should not be simply seen as an endorsement of the strategy, but rather as an attempt to apply academic knowledge to the proposition and to make commentary that can assist the government as it proceeds.
Carrington opined that one of the ways in which the institution will move forward is by taking note of issues in the society and to have an informed perspective as a result of research that has been conducted. He said that the university had to serve the country and had to address national issues and that it had to ensure that the best judgments are made on these issues.
He emphasised that it was not necessarily a matter of agreeing with the popular opinions. The Vice Chancellor also pointed out that at times this may require additional financial, human and other resources.
Meanwhile, GMSA President Ramesh Dookhoo said that members of the private sector will also be contributing to consultations on the LCD strategy and said that technical presentations will be done. Dookhoo noted the importance of the strategy and said that the private sector may want to add to the design of the programme.
