Indigenous organisation congratulates Guyana on 1st carbon credits’ sale

Dear Editor,
As President of the National Amerindian Development Foundation (NADF), I wish to extend heartiest congratulations to the Government of Guyana for achieving this historic milestone of signing the first sale agreement of carbon credits between Guyana and Hess Corp.
I shall not attempt to repeat the sterling presentations made by our President Dr. Irfaan Ali, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, and by Mr. Hess.
In retrospect, COP 15, which was held at the Bella Centre in Copenhagen, Denmark in December 2009, proved to be a motivational, empowering and energizing tool for the Indigenous Peoples of Guyana. The Government of Guyana on that occasion had a battery of Indigenous NGOs waving to the world the flag of the Low Carbon Development Strategy and the fight against Climate Change. On return to Guyana, the National Amerindian Development Foundation (NADF), Guyanese Organisation of Indigenous Peoples (GOIP), and The Amerindian Action Movement of Guyana (TAAMOG) worked assiduously with the Government in its collaboration and interaction with the Indigenous population on climate change awareness.
At the signing of the carbon credits sale agreement, the Vice President sadly reported that COP 15 did not foster many positive results, as some developed countries failed to accept climate change as real, and some failed to honour their commitments to mitigate climate change. However, that did not deter Guyana’s position, as we are recognised for our global leadership on climate and forests. Those who echoed the opinion of misguidance and non-realistic evidence to refute the fact that climate change is happening are silenced today through the historic signing of the ‘agreement of sale of carbon credits’ between Guyana and Hess Corp. To curtail the prolonged chronology of a masterful vision of garnering benefits from the preservation of forests, I now shelve this grand accomplishment in the archives of climate change.
The National Amerindian Development Foundation applauds the Government of Guyana for its committed and strong leadership, strategic planning, and astute ability to propel the fight against climate change. The success story of sales of carbon credits did not evolve without its challenges. As mentioned, COP 15 motivated, empowered, and energised the Amerindians, as at that forum the road to mitigating climate change was never visualised to be a walk through the park. Forest preservation and dwelling within the forest is a way of life for the Amerindians, and so they supported and stood steadfast with the Government while negotiations on the carbon storage capacity of Guyana’s 18 million hectares and the service it can offer to the world were being negotiated.
Today, the sale of carbon credits to Hess Corp has created one of the most robust intervention platforms for the Indigenous Peoples of Guyana. These platforms include economic development, governance, land security, health, education, social, food security, and infrastructure development. This great achievement follows closely on the heels of one of the most successful National Toshaos Council Conferences, wherein a clear commitment to making life better for the Indigenous Peoples was demonstrated.
Finally, this manifestation came from the Government’s hard work, strong leadership, clear vision, commitment, and astute planning, which clearly validate the Government’s commitment to Guyana and its Indigenous Peoples.
NADF now joins the Government in charging the Indigenous Peoples to be visionary, projective, and crafty in planning; develop a community “think-tank”, and be supportive of Government’s efforts to spread benefits that would enhance the development of communities throughout Guyana.
Lastly, there should be established a financial mechanism to manage, monitor and control the expected wave of activities and expenditures that would flow towards Amerindian development.

Respectfully,
Ashton Simon
President – NADF