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I felt very proud and even happy when I read the Guyana Chronicle of February 1, 2013 on the warning to environmental offenders by the Hon. Minister Robert Persaud, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. We cannot allow development to destroy our country and its future, and in the case of mining and sawmilling and lumber industries, I say, even greed is responsible, for the irresponsible exploitation of our resources.
We have seen hundreds of rivers and lakes made uninhabitable due to pollution caused by dumping of industrial by-products and waste in Europe and the USA. We have seen historical rainforests made desolate and become barren, deserts, dead, by over-exploitation in several continents. People are warned by public warnings not to swim or eat the fish. This is the cost of their industrialisation and development. We must never allow our countries in the lush and green Third World to turn like this, where our waters are murdered by our greed for wealth, and so-called development.
Even here in Guyana, when we pass DDL in Diamond and Banks DIH Ltd., on the East Bank of Demerara, we can smell the pungent stench, which make it difficult to breathe, worse than the rotting, dead flesh of animals or even humans, and we can see the canals where all life is virtually gone, with black soot at the side of the drains and canals. They look unsightly due to loss of life’s nutrients. This is not a critique of these important companies to livelihoods and development of Guyana , but I merely call attention to the effects of industry to environment. We need sustainable development that will not destroy the environment, as we have our future generations to care for. They must not see us as having wrecked the environment, and leaving them desolate lives to live.
I recall, when travelling by air in the interior with the Hon. Minister Clement Rohee, as members of the National Commission on Law and Order, on a citizens’ outreach, we were aghast to see numerous pools which were mined out with coloured water, caused by the chemicals used to extract the gold and diamonds. I was sad for the living earth being murdered slowly, being choked to death even slower.
The earth, people of Guyana and the world, is a living creature. Some nations worship it as God for it is alive, it creates and sustains life by God’s permission. It breathes. If we kill the earth, we kill the trees, if we kill the trees, we kill them, the animals, then it is man’s turn to go. let us as a people think of that.
Then came the minister’s warning of prosecution, and rightfully so. I applaud his and the government’s seriousness on this, and what appears to be political will, which is doing things and enforcing laws that may not be popular with people or a segment of people. He warned that calling on their political allegiance will not work. This is good, and right, and the way to go.
Then the Hon. Minister spoke of the localised issues of dumping garbage in communities and neighbourhoods where people live, whether by households or business. It is known that some do this in the dark of night, making it difficult for responsible citizens and the RDCs and NDCs. I am proud that government and this minister are taking this issue to the people.
But he did not address the lighting of open fires in communities by people who even burn tires in the open, affecting citizens’ health and well- being. The heat of these numerous man- made dumps make it difficult for babies, people with asthma, and citizens in general to breathe, and the scent lingers in the body for hours, if not days, with chest puffed up, as if we are inhalers of smoke. The minister has to go one step further to warn and enforce laws against the open lighting of fires. People who like to openly burn usually do so in a manner never to inconvenience themselves, but always at the back of their homes or side, so it bothers others but never themselves. When one complains to them, some will abuse and threaten the neighbour. Some were fined for this. It is illegal to light fires. The smell would linger in peoples home for days;in their curtains and carpets. Then it affects religious ceremonies, people dine out of their homes. If only our people could grow up and think responsibly.
I am happy that our Minister Robert Persaud is taking the fight for a safe and friendly environment to the big companies, the local and foreign companies and the citizens at large for better health and life for all.
We have seen hundreds of rivers and lakes made uninhabitable due to pollution caused by dumping of industrial by-products and waste in Europe and the USA. We have seen historical rainforests made desolate and become barren, deserts, dead, by over-exploitation in several continents. People are warned by public warnings not to swim or eat the fish. This is the cost of their industrialisation and development. We must never allow our countries in the lush and green Third World to turn like this, where our waters are murdered by our greed for wealth, and so-called development.
Even here in Guyana, when we pass DDL in Diamond and Banks DIH Ltd., on the East Bank of Demerara, we can smell the pungent stench, which make it difficult to breathe, worse than the rotting, dead flesh of animals or even humans, and we can see the canals where all life is virtually gone, with black soot at the side of the drains and canals. They look unsightly due to loss of life’s nutrients. This is not a critique of these important companies to livelihoods and development of Guyana , but I merely call attention to the effects of industry to environment. We need sustainable development that will not destroy the environment, as we have our future generations to care for. They must not see us as having wrecked the environment, and leaving them desolate lives to live.
I recall, when travelling by air in the interior with the Hon. Minister Clement Rohee, as members of the National Commission on Law and Order, on a citizens’ outreach, we were aghast to see numerous pools which were mined out with coloured water, caused by the chemicals used to extract the gold and diamonds. I was sad for the living earth being murdered slowly, being choked to death even slower.
The earth, people of Guyana and the world, is a living creature. Some nations worship it as God for it is alive, it creates and sustains life by God’s permission. It breathes. If we kill the earth, we kill the trees, if we kill the trees, we kill them, the animals, then it is man’s turn to go. let us as a people think of that.
Then came the minister’s warning of prosecution, and rightfully so. I applaud his and the government’s seriousness on this, and what appears to be political will, which is doing things and enforcing laws that may not be popular with people or a segment of people. He warned that calling on their political allegiance will not work. This is good, and right, and the way to go.
Then the Hon. Minister spoke of the localised issues of dumping garbage in communities and neighbourhoods where people live, whether by households or business. It is known that some do this in the dark of night, making it difficult for responsible citizens and the RDCs and NDCs. I am proud that government and this minister are taking this issue to the people.
But he did not address the lighting of open fires in communities by people who even burn tires in the open, affecting citizens’ health and well- being. The heat of these numerous man- made dumps make it difficult for babies, people with asthma, and citizens in general to breathe, and the scent lingers in the body for hours, if not days, with chest puffed up, as if we are inhalers of smoke. The minister has to go one step further to warn and enforce laws against the open lighting of fires. People who like to openly burn usually do so in a manner never to inconvenience themselves, but always at the back of their homes or side, so it bothers others but never themselves. When one complains to them, some will abuse and threaten the neighbour. Some were fined for this. It is illegal to light fires. The smell would linger in peoples home for days;in their curtains and carpets. Then it affects religious ceremonies, people dine out of their homes. If only our people could grow up and think responsibly.
I am happy that our Minister Robert Persaud is taking the fight for a safe and friendly environment to the big companies, the local and foreign companies and the citizens at large for better health and life for all.
