(Continued)

THE Opposition had voted against the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and the Amaila Hydro project, but are now extolling the virtues of the sustainable management of our forestry resources and the dangers of climate change.Old Kai is pleased that the AFC and APNU have apparently come around to recognising the importance of protecting our forestry resources and providing sustainable livelihoods for those who are dependent on this sector.

It is heartening that they have recognised the dangers of climate change. Sadly however, it appears that this concern of theirs is quite convenient. It started when they jumped on the bandwagon of misinformation, regarding the Chinese logging firm Bai Shan Lin, only for the stakeholders to reveal the truth.
But that is not Old Kai’s focus today; rather we will put to the test exactly how committed the Opposition has been on the issue of climate change and the sustainable use of our forestry resources.
Three years on from the 2011, regional and general elections, our energy sector still depends almost 100% on fossil fuel which is one of the main contributors to climate change. Therefore, when the Amaila falls hydro project was conceived, it was to tackle this particular issue and ensure most of our energy needs were through sustainable and environmentally friendly methods.
It was the APNU and AFC which teamed up to cut funding for this project in the national budgets, and publicly launched a vilification campaign with their friend, the Kaieteur News, as they are seeking to do from the other side of their mouths today.
What a way for them to show they are concerned about the environment! This fatal decision of theirs must also be contrasted with their recent statement of banning the export of logs if they are elected to government, and ensure that the processing of lumber for value added production is done to create more jobs in Guyana.
How can this be when this is the very Opposition that sought to kill the Hydro project which would have provided cheaper electricity to spur productivity in our local manufacturing sector?
It has long been recognised that the number one hindrance to value added production in all sectors of our country is the cost of energy; so having butchered the Hydro project in the budget; they have now turned around like angels preaching the virtues of assisting the manufacturing sector. Can the Opposition possibly get more hypocritical?
President Donald Ramotar’s recent statement that his Government is still committed towards realising the hydro project is heartening; however, by now it is obvious that this will not be possible under the present dispensation of the combined Opposition having a one seat majority over the PPP/C in the National Assembly.
Old Kai is now convinced that the only way citizens can benefit from the Hydro project is through elections. Our people will have to decide if they will settle for the AFC/APNU brand of development, which entails cutting and derailing every single project, or support the plans and programmes of the PPP/C Government of President Ramotar which is intended to advance the interests of all Guyanese.