President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday called on all Guyanese to embrace “a green economy,” which he said is key to transforming the country into one of the richest economies in the world, on par with the US.
Addressing a few hundred at a special reception organised and sponsored by Cabinet to celebrate his recent receipt of the Champion of the Earth award from the United Nations Environment Programme, Jagdeo said while climate change is the country’s greatest challenge, it presents one of the biggest opportunities as well. “In Guyana’s case, the green sector can emerge as the largest sector in our economy. We could probably, in the future, if the carbon prices go the way they should go, and that the world development model values the externalities of fossil fuels at the right price, we could earn US$400 to US$500 million a year from this industry,” he said at the International Conference Centre. He noted that the country’s economy could benefit from a massive turnaround within three years and emphasised that work needs to start now. He also said that no development strategy could be crafted in Guyana by ignoring the impact of climate change. “The green economy will do for the world, what ICT development did in the 1990s,” he opined, “[It] is the next catalyst for that huge leap forward.”
‘Negative voices’
Jagdeo stressed that the government will use the funds received from its Low Carbon Development Strategy to push development in the country, including investments in hydropower plants, biodiversity research and in the hinterland region. He noted that while the hinterland had been ignored in the past, the PPP/C government would keep its promise of development. Jagdeo has already pledged to donate US$40,000 that he won as part of the award to the Amerindian community.
He also stressed that it is necessary for Guyanese to be positive and to ignore the few negative voices in the country. “We must not give up our country and its future to the few in our midst who are negative about everything single thing on earth,” he said. “They’re always negative. And many of them, frankly speaking, are very old people, many of them…. there are about five of them you see recurring in the newspapers …five very old… people who have lived their lives very bitter,” he said. “The future doesn’t belong to them, it belongs to you, the positive people and your children and they need to get involved,” Jadgdeo added. He urged Guyanese to think about “the benefits that will flow three years into the future” and start to do the “heavy lifting now.”
Jagdeo did voice disapproval at the dirty state of the country, noting that there is “too much garbage in the streets.” He urged communities to get involved to address the problem. He said that the government is willing to work with community groups to fund small recycling plants as well as other initiatives to beautify the environment.
The ceremony featured several speeches and cultural items. Attendees were also given memorabilia of bookmarks and magazines relating to the “Champion of the Earth.” UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Kiari Liman-Tinguiri and IDB Country Representative Marco Nicola both congratulated Jagdeo for his awarded and for his strong advocacy to combat climate change. Nicola, during his presentation, read a congratulatory message from the President of the IDB Luis Moreno.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, speaking on behalf of Cabinet, congratulated the President on his award and for the example it set. Hinds said that the President’s campaign on environmental issues was not a case of receiving handouts but demonstrated how developed and developing countries can work together to address issues to their mutual benefit.
President of FITUG Carvil Duncan saluted Jagdeo for being “a champion in many ways.” He said that Jagdeo was responsible for improving the country’s education system, for transforming the landscape of the country’s economy and for the reduction of debt, which resulted in benefits for the workers he represents. According to Duncan, Guyana had been changed from a “little known” nation into one recognised as one with “a dynamic and powerful leader” involved in pushing environmental issues.
PPP General Secretary Donald Ramotar, Chairperson of the National Toshaos Council Yvonne Pearson and Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon also addressed the gathering. The proceedings were chaired by Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh. There were no opposition party representatives at the reception.
