SECRETARY General of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation (ACTO), Mr. Alejandro Gordillo, who is currently on a familiarization tour with member countries since his assumption of office on March 1, 2011, yesterday paid a courtesy call on Agriculture Minister Mr. Robert Persaud where they discussed issues pertinent to the Organisation and Guyana’s membership.
“We value the ACTO efforts but also the need for coordination within the wider framework to a greater collaboration and corporation among South American states and ACTO is crucial partner in this regard,” stated Minister Persaud.
With regards to Guyana, Minister Persaud noted that focus is being placed on how ACTO can give support in the area of climate change, REDD + and working with the persons in the forestry sector. “We believe that ACTO can play a greater part in supporting us because I know some of the strategic focus of ACTO includes those two areas, climate change and looking at forest management,” he added.
He underscored that coming out of the recent Congo meeting emphasis will be placed on how the three rainforest basins can better coordinate; as deviating from this does not allow the maximization of linkages.
Minister Persaud recognised the need for capacity building, sharing of satellite imagery, enhancements to areas of commonality and ideas that can be put before the members of ACTO thereby directing their focus on the more strategic issues; particularly at the Rio +20 Conference, which will be held in Brazil in June 2012.
“We are preparing ourselves so that we have a uniformed position,” he added.

Secretary General of ACTO Mr. Alejandro Gordillo yesterday paid a visit to Mr. Manniram Prashad, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, at his South Road office, in Georgetown.  ACTO’s two-day Regional Technical Workshop and Public Forum on Developing Environmentally Sustainable Community-based Tourism in the Amazon Region opens today at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal.