Georgetown : President Donald Ramotar launched an update to Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy, (LCDS) which provides a summary of Guyana’s progress towards delivering on the ambitions set out in the strategy. This year, 2013 has been described as a pivotal one by the President as he launched the update at State House, last evening.
Speaking of the progress made on the LCDS, President Ramotar described it as ‘immense’ since it was launched four years ago by his predecessor Bharrat Jagdeo. He noted that with the hard work of local and international persons and agencies, the main objectives of the LCDS are beginning to pay off. “As this update on the LCDS will indicate, we have stayed the course towards our long- term goal of achieving what few countries in the world have managed to do this far. We are now well on the way towards transitioning our economy to one that is built on clean energy sustainable land use and maintaining our forests,” the President told the gathering.
In 2009, he said, the LCDS set out a vision where government aimed to make local forests worth more alive than dead, and at present, the country has the second largest REDD+ partnership with the Government of Norway. Only Brazil has a bigger project although per capita Guyana is by far the world’s largest. “Today we have earned US$115M through that partnership where Norway pays for climate services provided by our forests.”
The president said that the benefits of the LCDS are already making their way down to the ordinary people and this is expected to continue through 2013.
With over 11,000 indigenous homes across nearly 200 communities, obtaining electricity for the first time through solar power, real results are being seen, the President said.
With nearly 27,000 internet ready laptops distributed, more persons will be prepared for participation in low carbon employment in the future. Call centers continue to expand and provide employment to Guyanese who can be as good as their overseas counterparts, he added.
Eco tourism is also expanding, he noted and this is only the start. Amaila Falls, when completed in 2017 will be the largest infrastructure development project, locally, the president said and in addition to saving millions of much needed foreign currency, it will also eliminate 92% of energy related green house gases emissions locally.
The Inception phase of the Amerindian Development Fund, under the Guyana Redd+ investment Fund (GRIF) that was launched earlier, will be capitalised with Norwegian funds and benefit indigenous communities which have produced Community Development Plans (CDPs).
All of these measures show that the initial vision set out by the LCDS is no longer just an idea or strategy, the Head of State noted, and called on all sectors of society to consider how they can play their part in an economic transition that is world class and which will, “make a real difference for today’s Guyanese and future generations”.
This responsibility also lies with political parties, said President Ramotar, and noted that when the previous president launched the strategy, he spoke of how it would outlast him and how it transcended partisanship and differences.
“The Multi Stakeholder Committee is a shining example of how Guyanese from many organisations and backgrounds have come together in the national interest. They leave their interests at the door and work together to progress the LCDS”.
The upcoming national budget should result in a similar dedication to the national interest, said the president.
“The measures contained in the LCDS are good for all our people and that is the only test that should matter”.
The Head of State said in closing, that “four years ago, we started off on a journey that many said we would not be able to manage. Today we are showing just what we are capable of. We have stayed the course through choppy waters so far, and I know that we can continue to do so”.
In 2009, former President Jagdeo, set out a vision to forge a new low carbon economy in Guyana over the coming decade. The vision was translated into a national strategy in the LCDS – after over a year of review and consultation within Guyana, coupled with input from climate change negotiations at the United Nations.
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