Introduction
Today’s column concludes the discussion on my Road Map recommendation that “sustained Government of Guyana (GoG) investment in renewable energy becomes a declared priority for optimising the use of its expected petroleum wealth. The ultimate rationale for this recommendation lies in Guyana’s extant commitments at global (United Nations Development Goals, SDGs), regional (CARICOM Sustainable Energy Road Map, C-SERMS), and national (Green State Development Strategy, GSDS); fora. I readily acknowledge that this can be interpreted as an “outside-the-box proposal”. Fundamentally, however, it reflects my deep concern that a petroleum-dependent path of economic growth could run afoul of the pursuit of a “green state sustainable development path”, with its deep environmental ethos.
Operationally, this spending recommendation rests on two foundations. One is my deeply held belief that only a Government Ministry, which is dedicated to this goal, would be positioned to deliver this outcome. Second, to achieve this goal also requires the stature of a Government Ministry in order to contend with the fierce competition this will encounter, and, despite this, to meet the requirement of intense cooperation so as to ensure the best use of Guyana’s oil wealth.