EPA, WMA, EAB Boards called on to assume ‘one team’ approach

Georgetown: Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. Raphael Trotman, Friday inducted a number of new faces to State boards under his remit at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre (ACCC). These include Director of Resource Management and Training at the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development, Dr. Raquel Thomas-Caesar and former First Lady, Ms. Varshnie Singh to serve on the Protected Areas Commission (PAC).

Head of Conservation International, Dr. David Singh be the Chairperson for the PAC and will serve as a member on the Wildlife Scientific Authority (WSA).  Former Parliamentarian, Ms. Vanessa Kissoon will serve on the board of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), which will be chaired by businesswoman Ms. Jocelyn Dow and former Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Mr. Phillip DaSilva will chair the board of the Wildlife Management Authority (WMA).

Appointees for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Environmental Assessment Board (EAB) were also inducted at the simple ceremony. The EPA’s Board will now be headed Dr. Allyson Stoll; the WSA by Mr. Calvin Bernard; and the EAB will be chaired by Mr. Marcel Gaskin.

Minister Trotman challenged the new Board members to assume a ‘one team’ approach in the conduct of their duties, as they are all bound by a common mandate to protect the environment and to protect the national patrimony.

“We expect that high ethical standards will be applied and all Guyanese will be treated fairly and equitably. We are not here to serve a party but to serve a purpose. We must all do the best for our country,” Minister Trotman said.

He added that the ultimate goal is to ensure that the different agencies would operate in a way that reduced some of the tensions of the past. “When I became Minister, the synergies we expected to see were just not present and there were tensions between miners and agencies. There were so many conflicts and matters to be addressed… As Board members, you are to be guided by government policies and… the legislation,” Minister Trotman said.  

With regard to their semi-autonomous function, the Ministers will not intervene in the way the Boards conduct their work, he said. However, he added, if they fail to adhere to and promote Government policies, changes may well be made. 

“These Boards are semi-autonomous, but at the end of the day, you are extensions of the Government… It is not our place to interfere, but if we find that the policies of the Government are not being respected [or] promoted, then we are going to let you know

Meanwhile, Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ms. Simona Broomes remarked that the agencies are all linked to the growth of the country’s economy and the Boards must remain cognisant of this when setting their mandates. 

“The Boards are appointed to provide direction to the organisation; that is the vision, mission… goal and the rules that the Boards establish should be policy-based. Those are two critical concerns that…the Board should bear in…mind,” she said.

Chairperson of the GFC, Ms. Dow, who spoke on behalf of the Boards, expressed gratitude to the Government for the confidence reposed in them and pledged to ensure that the rights of all Guyanese are upheld. “We are thankful and we must all remember that we are protectors of the country’s patrimony. We must ensure that the resources are equitable and justly distributed,” she said.

Complete Board appointments

The Wildlife Scientific Authority (WSA): Mr. Calvin Bernard – Chairperson, Dr. David Singh, Dr. Karen Pilgrim, Dr. Lennox Applewhite, Ms. Cindy Maloney Burch-Smith, Mr. Elford Alwin Liverpool and Ms. Alona Sankar, Head of the Wildlife Management Authority.

The Protected Areas Commission (PAC): Dr. David Singh – Chair, Mr. Clayton Hall, Mr. Gerard Ramsaroop, Dr. Raquel Thomas-Caesar, Ms. Varshnie Singh, Representative of the Opposition, Mr. Damian Fernandes, Commissioner of the PAC, a representative from the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, representative from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission.

The Guyana Forestry Commission’s (GFC): Ms. Jocelyn Dow – Chair, Mr. Troy Cadogan, Mr. Clayton Hall, Mr. Aaron Fraser, Ms. Vanessa Kissoon, Mr. Khalawan- Forest Producers’ Association, representative from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Ms. Janette Bulkan, Mr. Mohindra Chand – Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), Mr. James Singh -Commissioner, Workers’ Representative (GFC), Legal officer (GFC),  and two representatives from the Ministries of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and Agriculture.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA): Dr. Allyson Stoll – Chair, Mr. Trevor Williams, Mr. Tracey Johnson, Mr. Imole McDonald, Ms. Latchmin Punalalll, Mr. Derek Knowlessar- Ministry of Communities, Executive Director, Dr. Indarjit Ramdass, representatives from the Ministries of Agriculture and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, a representative from the Opposition and the Legal Officer (EPA).

The Wildlife Management Authority (WMA): Mr. Phillip DaSilva, Dr. Simpson DaSilva, Mr. Calvin Bernard, representative from the Guyana Livestock Development Authority, representative from the Guyana Forestry Commission, representative from the Guyana Revenue Authority, representative from the Guyana Police Force, Ms. Alona Sankar, Legal Officer (WMA) and a representative from the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry.

The Environmental Assessment Board (EAB): Mr. Marcel Gaskin – Chair, Representative of the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Guyana, Mr. Alfred Mentore, Ms. Sherlinda Daniels, Ms. Denise Simmons and a representative of the Ministry of Business.