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Questions about the LCDS
Dear Editor,
While recently vacationing in Guyana, I was provided with a correspondence issued by the office of the President to the Guyanese populace. This served as my first introduction to the LCDS.
My ignorance of the issue forced me to do some research on it albeit not significantly affecting my vacation time. In the process of my research, I was faced with many unanswered questions which I will humbly put forward for the relevant Ministry to clarify.
1. Who drew up the LCDS and was prior consultation done with the Guyanese people to obtain informed consent?
2. Who are the representatives in the Reduce Emission from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) Secretariat and what assurance the Guyanese populace has, that their decisions would be objective and would be in the best interest of Guyana?
3. How will LCDS affect the indigenous people, after all, they have ownership of 14% of Guyana’s land.
4. The McKinsey consultancy estimated the worth of Guyana’s forest. What tools were used to come to this conclusion and how reliable are these calculations?
5. Among the projects listed in the LCDS is the Amaila Falls and hydropower dam on Kuribrony River. President Jagdeo’s administration is committed to completing this before his term expires. Can the Guyanese populace be assured that an independent Procurement Board will oversee and scrutinize the Government so as to ensure that the monies are not pocketed?
6. What percentage of Guyana’s existing logging concessions are held by foreign Asian companies? My research indicates 90%. What effects are their actions having on our environment? My research suggests that they are polluting our environment with carbon dioxide, as they degrade our forest. Will these loggers stay as part of the LCDS?
Trying to balance the environment with employment is never easy.
In closing I must stress that this letter serves not to negate the concept of the LCDS, but more to broaden my and my fellow Guyanese understanding of this strategy.
Dr. Mark Devonish
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