“He was a stellar stalwart of our nation’s forests” – Pres Ali

…pays tribute to former Forestry Commissioner James Singh

Recognising his decades-long contribution to Guyana’s forestry and environmental conservation efforts, President Dr Irfaan Ali on Tuesday paid tribute to former Commissioner of Forests James Singh, who recently passed away. Singh was praised for leaving a lasting impact on the sector through years of dedicated public service.
During his tribute on Tuesday, President Ali paid homage to former Commissioner underscoring the impact he had on Guyana’s environmental and forestry landscape.
The head of state emphasised that Singh was instrumental in laying the groundwork for sustainable forest management in the country, helping to shape key policies that now guide national and regional approaches to environmental stewardship.
He credited Singh’s leadership and vision as being central to the development and implementation of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), which has positioned the country as a global leader in climate action and green growth. President Ali described Singh’s contributions as not only vital to the forestry sector, but also to Guyana’s broader efforts to transition toward a sustainable and resilient economy.
“He was a stalwart, a stellar stalwart of our nation’s forests. A man whose contribution did not simply facilitate routine forestry administration, but helped shape the very foundations upon which our modern low-carbon development strategy was built. Let it be said clearly, in this solemn moment of remembrance, James Singh was instrumental in helping Guyana transform its forests into a globally admired model of sustainability and national prosperity,” President Ali said.
He added, “I repeat James Singh was instrumental in helping Guyana transform its forests into a globally admired model of sustainability and national prosperity. When today we speak of Guyana cutting millions, earning millions of dollars annually from the sale of jurisdictional carbon credits, we must remember, that system did not spring up overnight. It was built layer by layer through careful planning, rigorous governance, and credible systems.”
The President also spoke about Singh’s role in the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) between Guyana and the European Union (EU) which aims to ensure that timber products exported from Guyana to the EU are legally produced, thus preventing illegal logging and promoting sustainable forest management.
“James Singh was a lead negotiator of that process he guided the complex consultations.
He liaised with international experts. And he did it with calm, poise, and clarity. Because of this partnership, Guyana could say to the world, we are serious about legal, sustainable, and verifiable forest governance.”
“Without James Singh, none of this would have happened as it did, he was the invisible engine behind the visible success and it is for this reason, this foundational role, this enabling leadership, that this country owes James Singh an enormous debt of gratitude.”
Singh passed away on June 6. His passing has drawn tributes from national leaders and institutions, highlighting a life dedicated to sustainable forest management and global climate advocacy.