As Low Carbon Development path is approved by the National Assembly…
THE MOTION on Guyana’s model of a Low Carbon Development path was on Thursday approved by the National Assembly with the support of the opposition, but with some reservations.

Members of the opposition had previously boycotted the debate on the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) motion in August.

And again, this time the People’s National Congress Reform-One Guyana (PNCR-1G) Parliamentarians walked out of the National Assembly after the Government side of the House declined to heed their proposed amendments to the motion.

Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, who moved the motion in the absence of Prime Minister and Minister of Public Works, Samuel Hinds, reiterated that the visionary strategy articulates how Guyana can use its forest to mitigate climate change while at the same time obtaining compensation for the services it provides to the world.

The minister pointed out that unlike what members of the opposition believe and have been saying in the media, there was wide and inclusive consultations on the strategy among all stakeholders following international best practices.

He reported that the Model on Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Path was scrutinised through a consultative process which involved more than 144 communities, particularly those occupied by Amerindians, as well as representatives of various sectors and groups, including forestry, mining, women, youth, academic and labour.

This process, he stressed, was managed and coordinated by a broad-based multi-sectoral committee, comprising the National Toshaos Council, Amerindian non-governmental organisations, forestry and mining groups, the Private Sector, organised labour and international monitors, under the chairmanship of President Bharrat Jagdeo.

Persaud said that the international community has applauded Guyana for its consultation process and efforts to pursue a low carbon development pathway, and among them being the World Bank Forest Carbon Partnership Facility and the unique Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Norway.

He also reminded the National Assembly that scientific evidence has pointed to the danger of the high and increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, leading to alarming levels of global warming and related sea level rise.

The causes of these phenomena, Persaud said, are also now accepted at all international fora and on that score, he underlined the need for global concerted action to avoid a widespread catastrophe.

Persaud told the House that Guyana continues to be a strong voice in the international arena, advocating the use of forests to combat the negative effects of climate change, as it has recognised the need for firm, timely and effective measures to address the problem.

PNCR-1G Parliamentarian Winston Murray acknowledged the threats of climate change, notably its implication on Guyana’s heavily populated and highly productive Coastland which is below sea level.

He said the PNCR-1G supports the Government’s innovative and visionary LCDS which outlines adaptation and mitigation measures against climate change by preserving the local forest and obtaining compensation for the services it provides.

Murray also noted that his party supports the Government efforts to raise the US$580M which Guyana can obtain annually for the services its forest provides to the planet, and praised President Bharrat Jagdeo’s strides in this regard.

The President, he said, undoubtedly has demonstrated a profound grasp, full understanding and passionate advocacy to tackle climate change, a good which is not only for Guyana but for the rest of the world.

But he underscored that the local forest makes up the national patrimony of all Guyanese and any money earned form the Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) initiative must be of equal benefit to all stakeholders.

Moreover, the PNCR-1G Parliamentarian said, any money obtained from REDD should be paid into the Consolidated Fund as set out in article 16 of the Constitution.

His colleague, Lance Carberry stressed that the PNCR-1G supports the LCDS because of the financial benefits it will bring for Guyana, but is opposed to the wording of the Guyana Model of a Low Carbon Development Path motion.

People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Parliamentarian, Donald Ramotar, said the motion is opportune and important as it is being debated at a time when a major global climate change conference is ongoing in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The threat climate change poses to the planet, he said, is irrefutable and countries in the developed world should be blamed because they are the major polluters of the environment.

Guyana’s forest, Ramotar said, has a role to play in the adaptation and mitigation efforts, and has articulated this not only at the national level, but also at international fora; and through the LCDS, can claim to be pioneer in this regard as well.

Alliance for Change (AFC) Chairman, Khemraj Ramjattan lauded the LCDS, but said the idea was around since 1997 and was developed by a consultant recruited from the Carter Centre.

The Government, he said, should not take undue credit for the creation of the strategy and referred to the LCDS consultations as a political propaganda exercise, suggesting that the Amerindians were not fully consulted.

Ramjattan told the House that the Government has a habit of devising excellent plans, but has been slow at implementing them, and in some cases, there has been no implementation.

He said too that the Government should say how they intend to use the money obtained from the forest and the spending must be a transparent and accountable process.

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh said Ramjattan has distorted the efforts of those who conducted and participated in the consultations and should cease from resorting to wild statements to score cheap political points.

This approach by the AFC Chairman, the minister said, is most contemptuous to the Amerindian people who were widely consulted on the strategy.

He also said under the current Government, the most constitutional amendments were enacted, paving the way for greater transparency and accountability; and therefore it has no qualms in maintaining what it has set out.

Guyana Action Party/Rise, Organise And Rebuild (GAP/ROAR) Parliamentarian, Everall Franklin registered his party’s support for the strategy, but was of the view that it is a short-term plan which should be taken full advantage of.

Amerindian Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai, also accused the opposition of spreading misleading information on the strategy, and told the House that the documentation is still a work in progress.