The preparation of a National Land Use Plan, which was finalised earlier this year, is among the achievements of the 2011-2013 $768 million EU-funded Development of Land Use Planning Project (DLUPP), which has come to a close.
According to a statement from the Delegation of the EU to Guyana, Ambassador Robert Kopecký noted that the development of the Land Use Plan and the Lease Approval and Management Systems were milestones in managing the waste land resources of this country efficiently and sustainably.
“The European Union was a proud partner in this endeavour. I have full confidence that the Government of Guyana, in particular the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MNRE) led by the [Minister Robert Persaud], will ensure full implementation to ensure the fruits of this project … materialise also in the future,” he was quoted as saying.
Kopecký also pointed out that at the same time it is crucial that other relevant ministries and governmental agencies are also involved.
The EU said that the land use plan will form the basis for the government to ensure a more holistic approach to manage the land resources, towards realising new opportunities for utilising the waste land resources of Guyana, ensuring a sustainable use of the land and safeguarding the land masses for the future generations.
It added that the Lease Approval Management System, which is Guyana’s first E-government system, will considerably improve the service provided in connection with applications and processing of land leases. “It substantially increases transparency allowing for a faster and streamlined process,” it noted, while adding that the system also strengthens the attractiveness of Guyana as an investment destination.
The statement said that implementation of the project over the past three years has entailed a partnership involving the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC), the EU, the National Authorising Office (NAO) in the Ministry of Finance, and the MNRE.
It said that the overall objective of the programme was to promote sustainable and equitable regional development and land management.
It also ought to enhance the capacity of the GLSC in regional planning, mapping and database management, strengthen the linkages between GLSC and external agencies and stakeholders involved in the sector and support the ground work for the improvement of the planning process for continued reform of the sector.
According to the EU statement, the idea was conceived in 2008 with an overall view to provide the necessary assistance to Guyana to establish an improved basis on which the Government can manage its land resources.
