Minister Harmon

Agriculture producers are among the beneficiaries who will be assisted to overcome persistent barriers through initiatives of the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS).
This was noted by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon during his contribution to the budget debates which concluded at the National Assembly on Friday night.

While addressing parliamentarians on Thursday afternoon, Harmon said the foundation of the GSDS lies atop several existing and prior national strategies including the National Development Strategy, the Poverty Reduction Strategy, the Low Carbon Development Strategy , the Social Cohesion Strategy and the Cultural Policy among others , the principals of which are still relevant today, he added.

He said the GSDS came from a multi-layered national stakeholder consultation process which began in 2017 and involved 1700 participants from 200 communities’ nationwide, expert groups comprising 130 professionals who met frequently to determine its policies and priorities.

Harmon said two separate presentations were made to Cabinet and according to him, by January 2019 it will be put to the public for comment and review. He said it will then be laid in the National Assembly and government anticipates the entire process will be completed in 2019.

Harmon said that the APNU+AFC government has already matched rhetoric on the GSDS “with solid action.” To this end, he said government’s vision is already in motion, from conception to policy to implementation at a rapid pace. He said one core area of the GSDS is about supporting economic and environmental and infrastructural resilience.
Harmon explained that this will occur through the green and inclusive economic diversification, the transition to renewable energy and transition and establishment of resilient infrastructure.

In this regard , the said agriculture producers will be assisted to overcome persistent barriers and to switch to more lucrative and sustainable technique such as organic farming while expanding into processing and value- added activities.
The Minister of State also noted that the strategy is development that provides a better quality of life for all Guyanese based on sustainable exploitation of the country’s natural resources and the protection of the environment.

He said it presents priorities for Guyana’s development including -sustainable management of the natural resources through mechanisms such as the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF, ) that will protect the prosperity of the country and pave a pathway to long term growth and sustain priority.

He said the SWF fund will be in line with Santiago principles and practices which covers the legal framework , objectives and coordination with macro-economic policies and the institutional framework and governance structures and investment and risk management framework.

Harmon told parliamentarians that said the world has recognised the threat posed by climate change and has embarked on a multi-lateral international climate change policy.
He said the GSDS will assess the case for coordinated support schemes such as technology parks, improve the operating environment for business and build resilient infrastructure, green towns and urban and rural public spaces.

He said the GSDS will see diversification of production, reduce Guyana’s dependence on fossil fuel, generate renewable energy and emphasis low carbon manufacturing.
The Minister of State noted that the GSDS also proposes the sustainable management of land resources as a principle undertaking that will secure and safeguard “our natural patrimony” for future generations from a land-use planning perspective.

Harmon described the GSDS as a “comprehensive document of strategic actions, policies and programmes “to guide the country’s development trajectory over the next two decades.

He said its objective is broader than other previous development strategies and captures a more holistic view of social, economic and environmental well-being, which he noted is in line with the United Nations sustainable goals.