Former President Bharrat Jagdeo was conferred with a Doctor of Laws degree by Trent University of Canada in recognition of his leadership achievements and his advocacy for the environment, at a convocation ceremony held on Wednesday.
The citation was read by Guyanese Professor Suresh Narine, Director of the Trent Centre for Biomaterials Research, at an outdoor convocation ceremony attended by about 20 Guyanese dignitaries and academics.
According to a press release from the university, it conferred the honour on Jagdeo in recognition of his global advocacy for averted climate change through avoided deforestation, by linking economic development in forested countries to carbon sequestration, ecosystem services and preservation of biodiversity. Trent has a world-class reputation in Environmental and Resource Sciences, Water Science and Biomaterials.
In his address to the graduating class of 2013, Narine said of Jagdeo, “We face a series of interrelated challenges… availability and affordability of energy, availability of clean water, a growing world population and increasing food scarcity, sustained meltdown of the world’s financial systems, continued mal-distribution of wealth, resources and opportunities between the developed and developing world, and, Climate Change as a result of anthropogenic activities, including massive deforestation. These challenges urgently demand global leaders who are transformative thinkers: women and men who are capable of convincing political leaders, the private sector and mass populations alike, across borders, cultures and nationalistic interests, of the urgent imperative for concerted action. Bharrat Jagdeo is such a leader.”
In his address, Jagdeo urged the graduating students, parents and assembled academics to ensure that they play a role in the efforts to address the environmental issues facing the planet, in particular, climate change, as it was not sufficient to leave the issue up to scientists and political leaders.
