Amerindian groups meet with carbon credits scheme verifier

By Stabroek News On In Guyana News |
Seated from left are South Rupununi District Council’s Communications Officer Immaculata Casimero, Aster Global lead auditor Kevin Markham, APA’s Executive Director Jean La Rose, APA’s Treasurer Earl Thomas. Standing at the back are representatives from the Moruca District Council, Upper Mazaruni District Council, North Pakaraimas District Council, ART Secretariat and other APA Executive Committee members and staff.
Seated from left are South Rupununi District Council’s Communications Officer Immaculata Casimero, Aster Global lead auditor Kevin Markham, APA’s Executive Director Jean La Rose, APA’s Treasurer Earl Thomas. Standing at the back are representatives from the Moruca District Council, Upper Mazaruni District Council, North Pakaraimas District Council, ART Secretariat and other APA Executive Committee members and staff.

The Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) and representatives from several district councils on Saturday met with the verifier of a controversial carbon credits scheme under which this country is to receive US$750m over 10 years with 15% of the monies to go to Indigenous communities.

In a statement yesterday, the APA said that it,  the Moruca District Council (MDC), Upper Mazaruni District Council (UMDC), North Pakaraimas District Council (NPDC) and South Rupununi District Council (SRDC) met with the verifier Aster Global on June 24, at Cara Lodge in Georgetown.

It followed the rejection by the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) Secretariat in May  of a complaint by the APA that there had not been Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) given by indigenous communities to the scheme.  Aster Global had been interviewed as part of the complaint process.