Dear Editor,
It is with deep regret that I note the appointment of Mr. Kemraj Parsram as the new Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Guyana. The EPA has remained one of the most troubling Government agencies to witness during the tenures of both political parties, especially since the emergence of the petroleum sector and the growth experienced in developments associated with the sector. The handling of the mangroves along the Demerara River, which directly affects me as a resident of the West Coast area, was very poor and so many other projects which have recently landed the EPA in hot water along the East Bank corridor. I am still awaiting word on what enforcement action was taken by the EPA or the Sea Defence Board regarding the developer removing the mangroves along Malgre Tout without the required approvals.
It is generally understood that Mr. Parsram has been a staple of the PPP/C from its previous governance when he was appointed Acting Executive Director and subsequently removed under the APNU Government. However, Mr. Parsram did not have the attributes to be the Executive Director of the EPA then, and to date, it is unfortunate to note that he still does not, yet he is responsible for managing one of the most important agencies tasked with the welfare of current and future generations. Following on the heels of a previous Executive Director with a PhD and a wide range of qualifications and experience, Mr. Parsram has huge shoes to fill, which I remain pessimistic about with good reason. It seems like we have conveniently forgotten that it was Mr. Parsram who issued the first permit for more than the period of time allowed by law to ExxonMobil Guyana during his previous tenure, which landed the EPA in hot water before the courts last year.
Mr. Parsram was also responsible for issuing the same permit which was void of basic insurance requirements and many of the other issues being highlighted in the past by the media, including this very newspaper. In fact, it was that permit, issued under his hand, which did not have proper requirements for flaring and led to the flaring fiasco we still see playing out to date. I remain unconvinced that Mr. Parsram has the skills and experience to lead such an agency, made evident by his poor disposition during a recent virtual scoping meeting for the Gas-to-Shore Project where he berated members of the public for asking basic questions about the project. Is this the type of leadership expected for a government agency of this nature? One that is supposed to be of service to the people of this country? Where the members of the public are entitled to be heard and consulted without fear or intimidation?
Mr. Parsram himself has no experience in the petroleum sector and my understanding is that there is no one at the EPA with such requisite experience. They have a poorly staffed petroleum department, therefore, it just seems like we are moving backwards and the EPA is being set up to become a rubber stamp for development in this country to the peril of Guyanese citizens. I will still hope and pray that I am proven wrong and the EPA significantly improves, but if history is any indication, Mr. Parsram at the helm of the Agency fills me with much despair. Despite whichever political party you may support, it may be too late for us when we realise how much more attention we ought to have paid, and continue to pay to the environment and those we put in positions of power to protect it.
Sincerely,
Shawn Johnson