Dear Editor,
WHEN Bartica was identified by His Excellency, President David Granger, to be Guyana’s first Green Town, it meant that any and every new Green initiative should be modelled first in Bartica.Bartica is expected to be an example to the rest of the country and the Caribbean as a Green Town. It must be seen as Guyana’s pilot Green Project.
This objective is achievable well within five years, given the small population and few infrastructural changes required of the town when compared to other municipalities. A serious approach to the vision by all stakeholders should have seen 50% of our short-term goals achieved. It is regrettable that some have not either understood the vision,nor are deliberately forging ahead with selfish ambitions.
For the benefit of the reader, The Greening of Bartica’s short-term goals are as follows:
1. Sustainable Land-use Planning, which takes into consideration cross-cutting issues which are likely to affect water quality, air quality, access to transportation, economic vitality and quality of life, as we pursue the development of our community.
2. A change in policies with respect to infrastructural development, building designs/construction standards and types of materials used, e.g., incorporating green building codes for constructing homes for more energy-efficient homes, our road designs must include but not be limited to sidewalks, cycle-lanes etc.
3. On-going community engagements and education, which are important for awareness, ownership and encourages them to buy into this initiative.
4.Transitioning our power supply to renewable energy and promoting the implementation of energy- efficiency measures at all levels.
5. A change in purchasing policies in keeping with standards for Green Public Procurement, to ensure our purchasing decisions cause minimal damage to the environment, e.g., replacing of Government vehicles in Bartica with fuel-efficient, hybrid vehicles and possibly electric vehicles, and creating an enabling framework so that similar actions can be taken by residents.
6. Maintain close working relations with central Government to craft policies and incentives to promote green investment in Bartica.
7. The creation of green spaces, parks and recreational facilities.
8. The implementation of an Integrated Solid Waste Management Programme.
Most importantly, of all of the above, is sensitisation and stakeholder engagement. An educated populace on our Green programmes will make governance at the local level less burdensome.
Residents will better understand the vision and why we do what we do. The question therefore, is What is greening?
The green economy is defined as an economy that aims at reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities, and that aims for sustainable development without degrading the environment. In other words, it is the process of transforming from the traditional development model, to one that is more sustainable with people at the centre. For example, when buildings are powered by renewable energy and street or building lamps are led lights, it reduces the energy demand which in turn decreases our dependency on fossil fuel. The burning of fossil fuel emits carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, which is the number one contributor to climate change.
The Greening of Bartica must not be left to chance. It’s a vision that requires the support of all stakeholders, after all, Bartica is just the pilot, a Green Guyana is a Good life for all.
Gifford Marshall
Mayor, Bartica