Guyana gambles with Climate Change leadership

President David Granger

Guyana is at high risk of losing its distinguished global leadership role in the worldwide efforts to decarbonise all economies and push for a greener planet through the crafting of a historic climate change agreement.

This is according to former President and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who pointed out that the current Administration’s “nonchalant” attitude towards climate change policies will eventually result in the country losing its world renowned status in pushing for a greener economy.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

These sentiments were expressed Saturday as Government was preparing to attend the international climate change conference in Paris, starting today, during which world leaders will assemble to discuss and accelerate preparations towards reaching the climate change agreement.

“This is a government with no climate change strategy, no plans for advocacy at the global level,” Jagdeo told media operatives during a recent press conference at the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) headquarters on Robb Street.

Representing Guyana at the climate change conference is Governance Minister Raphael Trotman.

“My worry is that we are not at the table” – former President Bharrat Jagdeo

Jagdeo contends that the Minister has a vague understanding of climate change concepts and, therefore, will not significantly contribute to the negotiations during the conference.

“We run the risk of missing out on great opportunities … All we heard is that he will meet the Norwegians … it’s not a joyride to Paris: you have to go there with serious positions … and we have sent Minister Trotman to Paris and he has not made or given us any indication as to what this Government’s climate policy is … I believe he might be wandering around the halls in Paris with very little to say,” Jagdeo passionately stated, as he expressed his fears of Guyana losing the role it played at the global level regarding climate change issues.

‘Go to Paris, President Granger’

Against that backdrop, the former President is urging President David Granger to go to Paris to represent Guyana.

“My worry is that we are not at the table,” Jagdeo expressed. According to him, the Head of State has a special role to play if Guyana is truly determined to pursue a green economy.

“We need to lead from the front … and his absence in Paris will not send that signal that he is leading from the front,” Jagdeo stated.

He further explained if President Granger did not attend the conference, Guyana would not get a voice during the Heads of Government meet at the conference. He noted that Minister Trotman would get the opportunity to speak later in the negotiations, but the President’s remarks were critical as it set the entire tone of the negotiations.

Jagdeo lambasted the current Government for ‘loose’ talk about pushing for a “green economy” when the fact of the matter was that the Administration has no clear climate change strategy.

“When they say green economy, what do they mean? A green economy is a serious concept. It is about using the opportunities presented … to create wealth for the country at a scale that can move the country forward from a middle-income country to an upper-income country,” Jagdeo posited.

He highlighted that there was not a single mention of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) by the Government, even as it headed into the climate change forum.

“It is only mentioned in passing … We’ve not heard of the Government position,” he said.

Further, Jagdeo stated that Government continued to implement the LCDS and some of its projects, but there were no status update reports on the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF) website. The website was created for Guyana to report the status of implementation of all the GRIF projects funded through Norway. According to Jagdeo, the only posting on the website is related to the Cunha Canal Rehabilitation project.

He questioned the status of and Government’s position on the other 16 LCDS projects. The LCDS projects identified and prepared for implementation are the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project; low carbon transportation; micro and small enterprises; eco-tourism development; Amerindian Development Fund; land titling activity; Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hinterland access programme; hinterland distance learning through ICT; biodiversity research centre at the University of Guyana; institutional strengthening, curriculum development, the Cunha canal rehabilitation, hinterland adaptation measures, coastal infrastructure, comprehensive adaptation under the climate resilience programme and strengthening hydrometeorological services. (devinas@guyanatimesgy.com)