Dear Editor,

WITHIN a few months, in October 2019, Guyana will be observing the 30th anniversary of a magnificent gift of nature — The Iwokrama International Rainforest Conservation Project. This natural gem, a portion of our giant emerald-green rain forest, was brilliantly

conceptualised and presented to the world at the 11th Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Nations, in the great city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in October 1989 by former President Hugh Desmond Hoyte. According to the Langkawi Declaration on the Environment, which was issued at the end of the summit on October 21, 1989, “The main environmental problems facing the world are the ‘greenhouse effect,’ (which may lead to severe climatic changes that could include floods, drought and rising sea levels); the depletion of the ozone layer; acid rain; marine pollution; land degradation and the extinction of numerous animal and plant species. Some developing countries also face distinct environmental problems arising from poverty and population pressures. In addition, some islands and low-lying areas of other countries are threatened by the prospect of rising sea levels.”

At that crucial meeting, President Desmond Hoyte in recognising the importance and urgency of ‘Climate change,’ offered to the world, on behalf of the people of Guyana, “to set aside part of Guyana’s rainforest for study under Commonwealth auspices, for developing and demonstrating methods of sustainable management of tropical rainforest and conserving biological diversity” (Commonwealth Secretariat, London UK). This gift of approximately 1,000,000 (one million) acres of pristine rainforest, has cemented Guyana’s role as a global environmental activist and leader in sustainable development.  It was a gift that was given long before the landmark UN Conference on the Environment and

development also known as, ‘The Earth Summit,’ which was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 1992. It was given at a time when it was not so popular—politically– to do, nor when Guyana, from an economic standpoint,could really have afforded to do so.  There were many critics who felt it was a giveaway of our natural resources, causing future

generations of Guyanese to be robbed of their national patrimony. Today, as Guyana gears up to become a major oil-producing nation, history is being repeated with many of those same short-sighted critics making the same spurious claims that the government would cause Guyanese to be robbed of their natural resources. They argue that the multi-national companies, particularly Exxon Mobil, are shortchanging us with agreements that are not favourable to Guyanese. They criticise the government’s preparedness and expertise in oil and gas, despite expert advice on international best practices from around the world,

including the prestigious Chatham House of London.  They ignore all the precautions being undertaken by the government to prevent the Dutch disease and Resource curse. They are transfixed and salivating as Guyana is about to harvest one of the world’s biggest oil and gas reserves that will redound to the benefit of all Guyanese and swiftly transform Guyana into the Malaysia of the Caribbean.  There is a unique link between that magnanimous act by Guyana 30 years ago in Malaysia and what is occurring in Guyana today. Iwokrama was a seed that was planted. It was a sacrificial giving. The foundation was laid for the

prosperity of Guyana with the planting of that emerald-green gift to the world. In a sense, Iwokrama is the genesis of the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) being implemented by the APNU+AFC coalition government, which will establish Guyana as a ‘Green’ State. As the ‘green’ state is about to take off, Guyana is about to reap a bountiful harvest from the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. The advent of oil and gas has imposed upon Guyana another concept of development known as the ‘Blue Economy.’  What is the ‘blue economy’? According to the Commonwealth Secretariat, “The ‘Blue Economy’ is a concept which encourages better stewardship of our ocean or ‘blue’ resources. It underpins the thinking behind the Commonwealth Blue Charter, highlighting, in particular, close linkages between the ocean, climate change, and the well-being of the people of the

Commonwealth. At its heart, it reaffirms the values of the Commonwealth, including equity and public participation in marine and coastal decision-making.  It supports all of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG14 ‘life below water,’ and recognises that this will require ambitious, coordinated actions to sustainably manage, protect and preserve our ocean now, for the sake of present and future generations.” In short, it has to do with the wealth of the ocean and the health of the ocean.

For Guyana, the ‘green’ revolution must be the blueprint for the ‘Blue Economy.’ Guyana must embrace the ‘Blue Economy’ as the flipside of the ‘Green Economy,’ with the ‘Green Economy’ being terrestrial-based and the ‘Blue Economy’ being aquatic-based.  The concept of the ‘Blue Economy’ may strike many as being strange, since the color blue has never been associated with Guyana. It is not even in our flag! Blue waters and white sandy beaches have never been a feature of our coastline like the rest of the Caribbean. The brown waters which wash our shores flow from the mighty Amazon and is immortalised in our national song, O beautiful Guyana; ‘the great Atlantic blowing to a fury or asleep.’ Alas, we can now have the last laugh, as our hidden blue waters lie afar offshore, over 100 miles from our coast where no one could ‘bad-eye’ it! So, all along we have had beautiful aquamarine waters which remain unspoilt and pristine just like our emerald-green rainforest. It contains one of the world’s richest reserves of oil and gas which we are about to harvest. It is therefore the ‘Blue Economy’ that will bring lasting prosperity to all Guyanese, which President David Granger refers to as ‘the good life.’

With the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS-2040), Guyana is well on its way to becoming the world’s first ‘Green’ State with a ‘Blue Economy.’  All the indications are there; the establishment of the Sovereign Wealth Fund, educational initiatives such as Masters, Bachelors and Associate degree programmes in Petroleum Engineering at the University of Guyana; the establishment of the Department of Energy; the appointment of technical experts and overall general capacity-building activities.

Every patriotic Guyanese should support the coalition government as it establishes the world’s first ‘Green’ State with a ‘Blue Economy’ under the leadership of President David Granger. All stakeholders across the public and private sectors, as well as civil society organisations should call on Opposition Leader Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo to stop the hostility and to stop seeing only ‘Red.’  If he is truly a Champion of the Earth, Mr Jagdeo will cease stirring up strife in the society and meet with President Granger ASAP to fulfil his constitutional duties and use his ‘Environmental Laureate’ to promote Guyana’s version of a ‘Green’ New Deal with President Granger, thereby showcasing Guyana’s true colours to the world.

Yours sincerely,

Stanhope Williams