THE Wildlife Conservation Management Commission is expected to come on stream in January 2017 with the anticipated assent of the relevant bill by President David Granger.

For 2017 a sum of $20M has been allocated for the body which falls under the Ministry of the Presidency and the relevance of the allocated sum was raised by the Opposition when the 2017 Budget estimates were scrutinised On Tuesday.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon in response to queries raised said that the commission will be signed into law shortly – at least by January 2017. “We are looking at all the provisions of the bill right now to see how best we can activate those mechanisms that are placed under it,” Harmon told the Committee of Supply, noting that the matter is within the immediate contemplation of the government.

Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira questioned whether it is legal for a body to be budgeted for when a statute has not been assented to. However, Harmon noted that provisions have to be made in anticipation of the body come into fruition. He reminded the committee that the bill has already debated and is now awaiting the signature of President Granger. He reiterated that the body will be made functional next month once the legislation is assented to by the President.

The National Assembly green-lighted the Wildlife Conservation and Management Bill 2016 in August this year paving the way for the better management of the country’s flora and fauna while bringing the country into compliance with its international obligations. In August, Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman told the National Assembly that the Bill has its origins in the International Convention on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and can be traced back several years.

“This is its third attempt at being passed…its third incarnation. There have been some changes made to it and I wish to recognise that this is not a new Bill but one which has passed this way before though it has never made it this far where it is likely to be passed into law,” Trotman said at the time.

Guyana is a signatory to CITES, and as such member states are required to carry certain responsibilities, including having appropriate laws and regulations to safeguard that flora and fauna and to curb the illegal trade of wildlife. The member state is also expected to have mechanisms to ensure the safe and regulated movement of wildlife both within and without of state parties.

As part of its responsibilities, the Wildlife and Conservation Management Commission is tasked with the enforcement of all wildlife laws, regulation of international and domestic wildlife trade and the body is also expected to conduct research. It will also develop and execute management and conservation plans, ensure protection of endangered species, assist with the development of wildlife-based initiatives, as well as assist local communities to develop and manage their wildlife resources.