– gives assurance that ‘serious attention’ will be paid to concerns raised
PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo said he is pleased that the Parliamentary Opposition has finally debated the motion on Guyana’s model of a Low Carbon Development path in the National Assembly.

The Head of State was speaking at a press conference yesterday at the Office of the President, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown.

“I was pleased that the Opposition finally debated the document in parliament,” Mr. Jagdeo said, assuring that the Government will “pay serious attention to the issues” that they raised.

“We have a duty to do that, to pay attention to the issues they raise, as I said before, we want to approach this in a non-partisan manner.”

The motion on the country’s Model of a Low Carbon Development Path was approved by the National Assembly last week with the support of the opposition, but with some reservations.

Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, who moved the motion in the absence of Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, told the House that the visionary strategy demonstrates 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.

He also pointed out that there was, wide and inclusive consultations on the strategy among all stakeholders following international best practices.

Alliance For Change (AFC) Chairman, Kemraj Ramjattan said his party supports the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) but expressed concerns about the Government’s slow pace or non-implementation of schemes that were approved by the National Assembly.

People’s National Congress Reform-One Guyana (PNCR-1G) Parliamentarian, Winston Murray, acknowledged the timeliness of the strategy in light of the overwhelming and irrefutable evidence of the danger of climate change.

He also lauded the work of President Bharrat Jagdeo in championing the fight against climate change both at the local and international levels.

The PNCR member stressed that the local forest represents the national patrimony of the Guyanese people and any money received for its services to the world must be used in a manner that will ensure all stakeholders enjoy equitable benefits.

He also called for full transparency in the management of any proceeds obtained from the Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) initiative.

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

Members of the opposition had previously boycotted the debate on the LCDS motion in August.

And again, at last Thursday’s sitting, the 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.

The PNCR -1G later walked out of the National Assembly before the motion was carried.