– Minister of Legal Affairs tells National Assembly during budget debate
Minister of Legal Affairs, Charles Ramson, Friday evening, said that the forestry sector is a valuable element in the developmental component of the economy. The Minister was at the time presenting his arguments during the National Budget debate in support of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).
Minister Ramson told the National Assembly that the LCDS has been established in the root of the country’s constitution (Articles, 14, 16 and 36).
He stated that the goal of economic development as outlined in Article 14 includes the objective of creating, promoting and encouraging an economic system capable of achieving and maintaining sustainable and competitive advantage in the context of a global competitive environment.
The maintaining of sustainable competitive advantage in the context of a global competitive environment by fostering entrepreneurship, individual and good initiative and creativity and strategic alliances with domestic and global business partners are embodied in the entire conceptual framework of the LCDS, Minister Ramson said.
Turning to Article 15, the Minister said that the goals of economic development includes the objective of laying the material basis for the greatest possible satisfaction of the people’s growing material, cultural and intellectual requirements.
Minister Ramson noted that there are competing interests in the pursuit of development of the country and in light of the creation of the programme of the LCDS, the country must now interweave its constitutional responsibilities, goals and objectives required by the constitution.
He contended that if the opposition can rely on Article 13, which speaks of the objective of the political system, he is taking the liberty to express that the government is entitled to rely on Articles 14, 15, 16 and 36.
Pointing to Article 36, which speaks to land and the environment, he noted that the well-being of the nation depends upon preserving clean air, fertile soil, pure water and rich diversity of plants, animals and the eco-system.
He said whatever might have been the motives and expectations of those responsible for the LCDS, they are on sure footing as far as the country’s constitution is concerned.
Minister Ramson noted that this remarkable and universally acclaimed programme (LCDS) has attracted unjustified and uninformed criticisms from some vexatious and maverick columnists and correspondents.
It should be known that Guyana has been elevated to the world stage by no less an internationalist than the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki Moon, he said.
“This gentleman (Ban Ki Moon) has seen it fit to name Guyana’s distinguished and illustrious President to the advisory board following the Copenhagen summit,” he added. (GINA)