As efforts are being made to advance a green economic development path, the Green Conversations was taken to the country’s oldest town – New Amsterdam.
Prior to Monday’s activity, the Green Conversations was taken to the mining towns of Linden, Bartica and Lethem. Monday’s seminar in New Amsterdam focused on opportunities in sustainable agriculture.
A section of the audience at the Little Rock Suits during the Green Conversations in Berbice
It was held under the theme, “Innovations for better opportunities and sustainable enterprise in agriculture.” The event which was held at the Little Rock Suits, New Amsterdam, catered for schools, persons in the agriculture sector and other stakeholders including the Berbice Chamber of Commerce.
Green Conversations is an initiative of the environment department within the Ministry of the Presidency and is being executed by Conservation International, with funding from the United Nations.
Addressing the forum at the Little Rock Suits, Country Manager for World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Aiesha Williams, said the strategic goal of the Green Conversations series is to have Guyanese people from a wide cross section of society embrace and advocate for a green economic development path.
“Green Conversations will be open, non-partisan, inclusive spaces (physical and online) where Guyanese team about green economic development and what it means to their future and engage in discourse around the subject in ways relevant to their unique circumstances. Creating spaces for learning through candid discussions will transform the meaning of green to Guyanese through situating people and their interests at the heart of the conversation,” she told the gathering.
These spaces, she noted, will promote an understanding of green economic development – including the social, economic and environmental aspects – help people to grasp why a green economy is important to their future, and build their capacity on the various themes presented.
In Linden, the Green Conversations focused on the Sovereign Wealth Fund, while in Lethem it focused on good governance. In Bartica, focus was placed on responsible mining.
Williams said the proposed series will achieve several key outcome; one being allowing Guyanese to understand that green state/sustainable development concerns are more than just environmental in nature and therefore must involve all sections of society.
She said it also hopes to help in building the capacity for Guyanese to participate effectively in green/sustainable development conversations.
Limited to conversation
However, as talks get underway in Berbice, Regional Chairman David Armogan is of the view that Government’s idea of a green economy is limited to conservation.
He noted that in today’s world, it is important to live in sync with nature and preserve both the environment and eco system. This, he said, is important for our continued development.
“Even as we develop our country, we have to make sure that we do not destroy our environment, otherwise the wrath of Mother Nature will come on us and that is something that we don’t want in this country.”
The Regional Chairman noted that the effects of climate change are visible.
“This in itself tells us that we have to bring a number of issues to the table.”
Armogan said in the conversations which have been taking place in Guyana as they relate to a Green State will suggest the use of solar power.
He applauded Conservation International for focusing on sustainable enterprise in agriculture. “This is an area that has never been touched basically in Guyana. We all know agriculture from our grandparents and our parents. We know that our agriculture is based on the use of pesticides, insecticides and fertilisers.”
These methods are being used in cash crop farming, rice and cane.
While Guyana has been heavily dependent on the use of chemicals to grow crops, many other countries have been moving in the direction of Green Agriculture whereby they are utilising biological waste for enhanced agriculture production.
Organically grown agriculture produce is in high demand and carries a higher price. “This is the way we have to go in Guyana and not only to talk about the preservation of our forest and our environment but we also have to look at organic agriculture where we can utilise our environment to produce our crops,” Armogan said, while adding that this form of agriculture will allow farmers to receive better priced for their produce.
