President Dr Irfaan Ali stressed that the protection of the environment is a part of Guyana’s global responsibility and highlighted systems that are in place for sustainable development.
He underscored the drive of the Government, including the country’s quest to become a leader in climate, food and energy security and the importance of the country’s standing forest, during a sit-down discussion with former UK Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair at the University of Guyana on Tuesday.
The President said that Guyana’s low deforestation rate does not only bring tremendous international points on conservation and positive contribution to the climate change equation but also economic value.
“We understand the importance of our forests for life in the global community. We understand the significance of the forests for biodiversity studies and for the advancement of modern medicine and research and development and importantly, we know for a fact the value of that forest knocked down and for the value of the forest standing.”
The sentiments were shared by the visiting former Prime Minister, who called the forest, which covers approximately 87% of the country, an “enormous global asset”.
“I think you’re in a very strong leadership position on this because you’re one of the very, very few countries in the world that actually prefer to preserve their rainforests,” Blair said.
He also lauded the structures that the Government has put in place, including the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).
He said that implementing the LCDS in 2009, was “remarkable” and that it gives President Ali and his team “credibility” when they speak at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), which is scheduled for later this year in the UAE.
“I think one thing that is remarkable, given that it was done in 2009 when frankly, it was quite difficult to do a strategy like that, is that the President will be able, with his team to come to COP and speak from a position of credibility. And, frankly, in the climate debate that is quite a rare commodity”, Blair added.
Through the Government’s LCDS programme, Guyana last year managed to become the first country to be able to sell forest carbon credits. The credits are being sold to Hess Corporation. The revenue earned has now been distributed to indigenous communities to support livelihood projects and Guyana’s flood mitigation measures.
Both officials spoke about the need to continue the sustainability drive.
During the event, moderated by Vice-Chancellor Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin, the President spoke about the importance of the country’s indigenous population and the integral role that they play in protecting the forest.
He called Amerindians the “custodians” of the forest and stated that their input in Guyana’s sustainability was “beyond important”.
“You are structurally, physically, and practically integrated into this product, the LCDS and the environment. So, it is of utmost importance our indigenous people, the Amerindians, is in this environment project, and let me say that importance is demonstrated in the formula that the Government is using in the disbursement of the resources.”
The President also lauded young Guyanese and said that their input is critical to long-term sustainability.
Blair said he believes “education also leads to better environmental protection”.
He explained that when the population is educated; a country has better opportunities to succeed. Education, he pointed out, opens up the minds of people allowing them to be creative and think constructively about the world they live in.
“I think it’s very clear but the link with the environment is that you then understand that it’s not just about increasing the wealth of the country, but it’s also about playing your part in the world… I still think if you focus on education, education, education, you will end up with environment, environment, environment that’s what I’m saying…” Mr Blair added.
POSITIVE CHANGES
Overall, the former Prime Minister lauded the Government’s developmental drive and its sensible balance.
“I think, Guyana because of the enormous opportunity and the consequent challenge, and the way the Government’s approaching it, which is very careful, and deliberate and learning the lessons of similar countries that have been through these types of process and how they avoid the errors, and embrace the successes, I think Guyana is going to be one of the most, if not the most, exciting place on the planet to be in the next few years.”
He said that the Government is not only developing sustainably, it is involving all facets of society.
“…That’s why the One Guyana…is such an important concept. If you do that, believe me, you will succeed. No matter the geopolitics, no matter the technology revolution. Indeed, in the end, you can become a symbol and a signal to the rest of the world about how you can govern yourselves well and live better,” Mr Blair stated.
After the event, President Ali and Blair visited the ongoing construction of the Vreed-en-Hoop Shore Base Inc (VESHI) on the Demerara River and the operations of the Guyana Shore Base Inc (GYSBI) at Houston, while the visiting official also met with members of President Ali’s cabinet.
Blair, who served as Prime Minister of the UK from 1997 to 2007 is the first former or sitting British Prime Minister to visit Guyana.
