FOLLOWING the recent publication of comments made by APNU at its press conference, it seems as though that party is shifting and dodging from responding to its non-support for the Amaila Falls  Project, the Anti-Money Laundering Bill, the Marriott and other major projects by now diverting on environmental issues. I find it appalling that the very same party is now making tall claims that it is concerned about the development and environmental well-being of the country, but do not support these projects/policies and is now claiming to be worried about the state of the environment.
Guyana is a developing country and priority should be given to the creation of jobs and reducing utility costs to all citizens, something the government is focused on, but is being constantly opposed by APNU. Most naturally,when people have more to spend they appreciate and aspire for improvement which will have a positive impact on the environment. This will also enable behavioural change towards garbage disposal and a renewed respect for our environment.
Mr. Editor, my message is simple: development is not one-sided, it’s holistic and all inclusive. So APNU cannot only want to see progress on the environmental front when they are attempting to block major projects that will transform this country. In addition, the garbage/environmental situation in Guyana as it obtains is not just a government issue, but all of Guyana. And APNU needs to get on board if the party is really interested in bringing solutions to the fore rather than pointing fingers.
On the environmental side, I have been privy to one of the many environmental workshops hosted by the Environmental Protection Agency and a lot of work is being done by that agency, which falls under the auspices of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment. While a concerted effort is being made a lot more needs to be done, taking into account Guyana’s economic capacity to respond.
APNU needs to demonstrate mature governance skills and move away from spreading misinformation, but rather seek clarification and highlight how we can all work together as citizens for a better Guyana.

SAMUEL SINGH