ECHO (Environmental Community Health Organisation) will be hosting a conference on corporate social responsibilities, targeting the business community, in its efforts to deal with climate change and global warming.

Chairman and Executive Director, Mr. Royston King said the one-day deliberations will take place today, at Hotel Tower, on Main Street, Georgetown, from 09:00 h to 14:30 h.

Head Teacher Ms Georgiana Lewis and pupils of St. Margaret’s at the launch of their ECHO club. At right is ECHO Executive Director. Mr. Royston King.

He said the aim is to heighten awareness of the environment and enlist the support of businesses to cope with climate change.

King said, among the topics to be discussed, are good economics or corporate irresponsibility, environmental health and ecological responsibility within corporate social mandate.

Those to speak at the forum include Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, Private Sector Commission (PSC) Chairman Gerry Gouveia, Dr. Patrick Chesney of the United Nations Development Project (UNDP) and representatives of Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and World Health Organisation (WHO).

King said the exchanges would draw on the knowledge of environmentalists, community representatives and others and would be useful to businesses, regulatory bodies and other allied agencies concerned with planning and monitoring projects that affect the resources of the natural environment.

He said it is hoped that participants will submit recommendations which could be formulated into a policy that will guide corporations in their actions in the environment.

King said it is desirable that such a blueprint would be endorsed by the Private Sector so that treatment of the environment could be enhanced.

He said corporations can register their delegates for a fee of $3,500 each.

According to King, ECHO has also been working with several schools to involve the community in the conservation of local biodiversity and the natural resources.

He said ECHO clubs have been established in nine schools in Georgetown and Region Three (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands) since the beginning of this year and another 20 are to be formed in Regions Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) and Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) by year end.
REGISTERED
King said, for each new club, between 20 and 25 students will be registered as members, as well as interested teachers who wish to be enrolled as ECHO club coaches.

He said teachers are responsible for ECHO Clubs in their schools and they will manage ‘green’ activities, such as growing trees and clean-up activities that involve collecting rubbish and, generally, improving the aesthetics of the environment.

King said schoolchildren are invited, initially, to help with the environmental programmes in their respective communities and those who are interested are then enrolled. They do not have to pay membership fees but will receive training, educational materials and individual badges.

Last Wednesday, an ECHO club was inaugurated at St. Margaret’s Primary School, on Camp Street, also in the city and a number of books were donated to the institution.

ECHO Administration Director, Ms. Claudette Fredericks told the Guyana Chronicle that was in keeping with the Government’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

She said the main objective is to help children become conscious of their environment.

“Children are our future and we have to bend the tree while it is still young,” Fredericks said.

She observed that the present adult generation has failed but better chould come in the future.

Headteacher of St. Margaret’s, Ms. Georgiana Lewis lauded the ECHO initiative, noting that the school and the country, as a whole, must cope with a littering problem.

She said the programme would also serve to highlight that the pupils can contribute to the betterment of the environment.