Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai and Head of the Office of Climate Change Gitanjali Chandarpal on Monday conducted an outreach exercise in Kato and nearby villages in Region Eight to further sensitise residents on the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).
According to a report from the Government Information Agency (GINA) after explaining what constitutes climate change, Chandarpal “went into details of climate change and the LCDS project” to an audience including residents from Paramakatoi, Kanapang, Kurukubaru, Kamana and Monkey Mountain at the meeting held at the Kato Nursery and Primary School building.
The Norwegian government agency through which funds are channelled to Guyana for protecting its forests earlier this month described Guyana’s LCDS as being a “stand-alone more-or-less ad hoc collection of projects”.
The Norwegian Agency for Development Coopera-tion has also pointed out that despite the LCDS, the Government of Guyana is still maintaining a high carbon development path.
Chandarpal also cited some of the impact climate change and global warming have had on Guyana, including the 2005 flood, where the rainfall pattern was extreme. Chandarpal also spoke of some of the initiatives that Guyana has embarked upon and the partnerships it has entered into to further alleviate them. These include the Guyana-Norway agreement which to date has garnered the country US$115M.
Chandarpal further said that focus is being placed on adaptation and mitigation in which residents have an important role to play. With Guyana’s landmass estimated at 85 per cent forested land, she said the country has maintained a generally low deforestation rate over the years though sustainable forestry practices are important.
Meanwhile, the minister said that the Indigenous people have been “good stewards” of the forests for decades and they would continue to play an important role in the LCDS. Despite claims to the contrary, Sukhai said the LCDS is not discriminatory and will benefit the entire nation. Giving an example, she outlined plans for the Cunha Canal on the East Bank which will eventually see it serving several communities on the coastland as well as aiding in drainage and irrigation.
Sukhai also urged leaders to play a greater role in educating those who they serve on national and other issues that can affect them. She also encouraged them to caution persons against abuse of the forest and the environment. Speaking directly to the issue of mining and forestry in the hinterland communities, the minister advised residents that it is their right to ensure that these trades are carried out sustainably.
