Benefits to Guyana are indirect but significant – Granger

Paris Agreement

President David Granger has pointed out that signing onto international declarations such as the Paris Agreement has served to prove that Guyana is serious in its quest to become a ‘green economy’.
Speaking with local reporters during a special taping of ‘The Public Interest’ programme in New York, where he is attending the 71st United Nations General Assembly, the Head of State explained that agreements such as the Paris Agreement will enhance Guyana’s economy in a real way.

“It’s not ornamental, it’s not ceremonial, it’s real economic advancement and it’s not just, as what happened in the past, a narrow definition of LCDS (Low Carbon Development Strategy). I think more people are understanding now the complexity of becoming a green state, not just some abstruse thing about land titling or about reducing climate,” President Granger said while adding that “it’s about the (country) we are living. People are saying hey this is my country, here is the harper eagle – the biggest eagle in the entire world; here is the arapaima – the biggest [fresh water] fish in the entire world. People are saying this is my country, I’m part of it.”
Last year, more than after 195 countries gathered in Paris, France, to negotiate a new global climate agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and Guyana was among the signatories of the historic and ambitious Paris Agreement.
The agreement is a response to the threat of climate change and seeks to bring nations together into a common cause to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects, with enhanced support to assist developing countries to do so.
According to President Granger, the benefits of the Paris Agreement to Guyana are indirect but significant, nonetheless, since the country has committed to certain objectives. He noted that when people realise that Guyana is serious about those objectives – whether they relate to the land, forestry or human development and other aspects such as the eliminating poverty or literacy – it will encourage new relations and investments.
“There are 21 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and when people realise that we are working to build those goals, it is easier to build partnerships with them. This is what is happening in the environment and what is happening when you becoming a green state,” the Head of State posited.

Moreover, he outlined that because of the measures undertaken by Guyana, other countries are approaching Government to lend assistance in areas such as the protected areas. In fact, he noted that he is currently looking at increasing the number of protected areas in the country. “I am establishing a protected area in every region – every region is going to have a protected area, whether it’s a swamp land because in the swamps and wet lands you have a particularly type of bio diversity (frogs, snake and birds) which you don’t see elsewhere. In the Savannahs, you have a different set of flora and funa, in the forested area different set of flora and funa,” he explained.
Currently, Guyana has four protected areas. These are the Kanuku Mountains in the Rupununi Savannahs, Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo); Iwokrama Forest, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); Kaieteur National Park, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), and Shell Beach, Region One (Barima-Waini).
On the other hand, while on the topic of agreements, the Guyanese Head of State was asked about the accusations of secrecy by the coalition Government with regards to the Norway Forest Agreement. He responded saying that his Administration is managing the Agreement “quite admirably”.
He explained that the Norway Agreement was linked to the then Natural Resources and the Environment Ministry but he has since separated the extractive industries, which are now formally under the Natural Resources Ministry, from the environmental industries. The President noted that he could not put environment protection under a ministry that is responsible for sectors that destroy the environment, adding that it is like putting the rat to watch the cheese.
Nevertheless, the Head of State is optimistic that this separation will not affect the multimillion-dollar forest protection compensation programme with Norway.
“I’m convinced that Norway will be satisfied with the arrangement and Guyana will be able to benefit more by having the (environment) separated from the Ministry of Natural Resources. The Norway Agreement is sound,” he added.
Government had previously announced that the management of the environment will now be a department – Department of the Environment – under the Ministry of the Presidency and will cover areas such as wildlife management and protected areas. However, Granger noted during the programme that the department is yet to be formally established.