PRESIDENT of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou-Nguesso, and former Guyanese President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday held meetings in the Congolese capital, Brazzaville to promote the Three Basins Initiative, established in Brazzaville in 2011, by Heads of State and other leaders from the world’s three major rainforest basins. Former President Jagdeo was asked by the Heads of State and other leaders to act as Roving Ambassador for the world’s rainforest countries, and he was in Congo as part of the first stage of identifying strategic actions that can be taken to facilitate global progress.
Speaking after the meeting, former President Jagdeo said; “We had the opportunity to discuss the importance of South-South relationships in solving the world’s biggest problems, and in particular how forest countries are at the forefront of solving the inter-linked global problems of climate and food security. Under the leadership of President Sassou-Nguesso and Minister Henri Djombo, Congo has kept up the fight to ensure that the vital global assets that are present in the world’s rainforests are recognised. We cannot let the world ignore the need for action on forests.
“If we do, ten years down the line, we will have not just a worsening climate crisis, but greater food insecurity and major resource shortages – which will cause massive setbacks to poverty alleviation, sustainable development and physical security across the world. That is why the Three Basins Initiative is so important. Now that I am starting to look at helping the other countries as the Roving Ambassador,  I hope that I can make a useful contribution to the work of the President of the Congo and the other Heads of State in the preparations for the Rio+20 conference in June this year, and beyond.”
Over the coming months, former President Jagdeo will work with other forest countries to identify specific ways in which solutions can be found to move forward with ambitious action to maintain the world’s forests.
In November 2011, President Jagdeo demitted office from the Presidency of Guyana in accordance with term limits he signed into the Constitution. When leaving office, Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy was continuing to shift Guyana’s economy onto a new trajectory, where consistently strong economic growth was being allied with the maintenance of 99.5% of Guyana’s forest cover and a transition to renewable energy use.