Dr. Paulette Bynoe is the current Director of the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Guyana. She has more than 16 years of professional accomplishment as an interdisciplinary trained Environmental Specialist and has recently completed a 15 month stint as Visiting Research Fellow in the Department of Life Sciences at the UWI St. Augustine Campus.
Dr. Bynoe teaches post-graduate courses related to environmental management, environmental research methods, community disaster risk management and sustainable development at University of Guyana and environmental resources policy the University of the West Indies (St. Augustine Campus). She has conducted research/consultancies in the areas of in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, Payment for Ecosystem Services, Environmental Impact Assessment, Community Disaster Risk Reduction, Integrated Water Resources Management and Sustainable Livelihoods.
Apart from her academic position, Dr. Bynoe has been requested to serve as a member of the President‘s National Science Council and Co-Chair of the Natural Resources and Environment Committee; a member of the Multi-Stakeholder Committee for the Low Carbon Development Strategy; and a Director on the Board for the Guyana Water Incorporated. She also serves as the Chair of the Water Resources Sub-Committee. At the Regional level, she is the Co-Chair of the Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Management agency (CDEMA) Education Sub-Sector Committee, and the Convenor of the Caribbean Examination Council Advanced Subject Panel on Green Engineering.
1. What do you love most about the Caribbean? The natural environment (including landscape and climate)
2. What brings you the greatest joy? Being able to serve humanity with the gifts God has blessed with. In particular, teaching, the love for, knowledge and skills in research
3. What is the best advice you've been given? Make education a priority in your life as learning is better than silver or gold. It transforms lives and opens doors of opportunities
4. What is on your bookshelf? Apart from text books on environmental management, environmental science, disaster risk management, climate change etc, I have many Christian books written by TD Jakes (example, Reposition Yourself), Joel Osteen (including Your Best Life Now, Breakout; and It’s Your Time), Joyce Meyer (including Battlefield of the Mind, and God is not Mad at You). Of course, the word of God is my daily spiritual nutrient
5. What charity do you support? Well, I am a Member of the Harvestime New Testament Church of God located in Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, Guyana, and so I support the social programmes executed by the local assembly
6. What is on your bucket list? To be promoted to the rank of Professor at University. To return to Africa and work with an institution that focuses on the development and implementation of policies promoting sustainable development in poor communities
7. What is on your perennial to-do list? To continue to serve God and humanity
9. Who are your Caribbean heroes? The late Cheddi Jagan for his humility, simplicity and commitment to addressing human development and working class issues. The late Hugh Desmond Hoyte for his courage to make un-popular policy decisions. Professor Clive Thomas for his courage to research and publish analytical essays on social and economic issues that have grave implications for all Guyanese. Retired Judge, Madame Justice Desiree Bernard, a champion of the judiciary both nationally and regionally
10. What quote do you live by? I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
11. What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you? I love singing and cooking. In fact, I am a worship leader in my local church in Guyana
12. What is one thing you wish you knew when you were younger? Change happens for a reason and in the end all things would work together for my good; therefore I should not be afraid of change
13. What would you want to say to the Caribbean about any one of these: Agriculture, Arts & Culture, Climate Change, HIV/AIDS, Tourism? Climate change is real whether or not we want to accept it. Doing nothing is NOT an option, given the huge economic cost that will be incurred by the impact/consequences of this global phenomenon. We, in the Caribbean, need to embrace a culture of preparedness and begin to make adjustments in our economy, our lifestyles, our development trajectory and economy as a means of adaptation. Further, we must adapt a risk based approach and implement measures to enhance our preparedness for climate change and its effects, and to build our resilience by means of appropriate measures for mitigation, response and recovery
14. Any final words? Yes, the Caribbean environment is exceptionally beautiful. We must do our best at every level of society (state, community, private sector, community, household, individual) to ensure it remains this way
