GUYANA has fulfilled its requirements as a party to the Convention on International Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and protection of the nation’s flora and fauna is guaranteed with the passage of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Bill.

The bill, which was read for a second time and passed with eight amendments within the early hours of Tuesday morning in the National Assembly, was moved by Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman. Trotman in opening remarks to the National Assembly, said that the bill has its genesis in the CITES convention and was taken to Parliament twice. “This is its third attempt at being passed, its third incarnation, there have been some changes made to it and I wish to recognise that this is not a new bill “, he said.

He said Guyana is a party to CITES and the membership process revolves around certain responsibilities, including having appropriate laws and regulations to safeguard that flora and fauna to the curb illegal trade of wildlife and to provide for the safe and regulated breeding, movement and trading of wildlife, without and within of state parties.

Further, he pointed out that though being a state party, Guyana has not been fully compliant even though every effort is being made to do so. “We have been using regulations published under the EPA (Environmental; Protection Agency) Act and these have since been deemed inadequate, hence the presence of this bill”, he said. He said the country cannot go forward without the adequate legal framework and laws being in place without facing sanctions for non-implementation.

Trotman noted that the legislation attempts to remedy a jeopardy, which he noted is the CITES conferences which are held triennially, the next which will be held next month in South Africa. He said it would not be until the year 2019 when another CITES conference will be held and Guyana risks being sanctioned for non-compliance if the deadline in September is missed.

He said during the 10th Parliament, moves were made to pass legislation relevant to wildlife in the form of two bills; unfortunately neither bill was enacted into law. “Time is of the essence and we must seize the opportunity that presents itself”, he noted. He said that the time is ripe for Guyana to move from a category two listed nation to category one, regarding wildlife.

Trotman told a visibly tired House of MPs that at the last CITES conference held in Bangkok , Thailand in 2013, Guyana was cautioned “very strongly“ regarding its status and that the country risked being shortlisted for possible sanctions if the legislation was not in place by this year. He said several weeks ago, CITES dispatched a note to Guyana, noting that the bill meets that body’s requirements and the country was commended in that regard.

Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) MP, Anil Nandlall raised several concerns about the bill, including the auditing process under which monies relevant to the mandate of the wildlife entities would be expended. He said the bill consists of the “technical” requirements of the CITES convention, as well as an obligation of the subject minister to pilot regulations which he noted would be necessary for the effective discharge of the bill. He later registered his support and that of the opposition, of the bill.

The bill, which is lengthy, is divided into 85 parts. Its key objectives are to create a supportive mechanism cognizant of the national goals of wildlife protection, conservation management and sustainable use and to create a national framework and mechanisms governing the local and international trade in all species of Guyana’s wildlife. It will lead to the implementation of the primary provisions of the CITES convention and also to provide a framework of licencing and decisions which support core principles of transparency, certainty, natural justice and fairness. The bill also makes provisions for captive breeding and wildlife-ranching.