Latest update February 8th, 2025 6:23 PM
Latest News
- Soaring gold price entices Canadian company to renew permits in Guyana
- Terrence Campbell accuses Govt. of weaponizing Police Force after calls for accountability with oil revenues
- China slams US as Panama quits Belt and Road Initiative
- Guyana extradites fugitive to Canada
- AFC Leader Nigel Hughes welcomes any investigation into lands he acquired
GFC, Agri Minister appear before Parliamentary committee:
Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, and GFC official meeting with the special Parliamentary Committee yesterday.
Six-month mining proposal not an imposition – Persaud
Amidst concerns about the implications of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), officials of the forestry sector yesterday appeared before a Parliamentary committee stressing that there will be no stopping economic activities in the sector.
Rather, officials of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) said that stakeholders will have to comply with guidelines, fully, as work continues to review and update key policy documents.
An historic Memorandum of Understanding with Norway signed last year spelled out the need to maintain and possibly even reduce the deforestation rate.
GFC, which has been tasked with implementing the new guidelines, told the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee in Natural Resources that there is an ongoing exercise that will, by October, reveal the extent of the country’s deforestation rate and this is all tied to the level of financing that will come from the Norway deal, among other facilities.
Responding to questions specifically on the implications of the LCDS, both Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, and GFC’s Commissioner, James Singh, stressed that guidelines will have to be met. The Commissioner, earlier, had made a presentation of GFC’s work in the LCDS and its expanded role in forestry.
Explaining the mining industry’s concern over a proposal that miners will be required to submit their application and wait for a six-month period before commencing operations, the Minister explained that the proposal has come from a multi-agency group that deliberated on it for over a year.
These agencies included the GFC, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The proposal, which was taken to Cabinet jointly by Minister Persaud and Prime Minister Sam Hinds, whose portfolios includes mining, sought to harmonize the relationship between mining and forestry.
The President had met with the mining community and from this, a special committee was established with Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, chairing it. This body, which comprises stakeholders including from the mining community, is expected to hand its recommendation shortly.
According to the Minister, it is against this background that it is clear that the six-month proposal is not an imposition.
The proposal, he stressed, will not prevent mining. It is designed to be practical and functional.
Yesterday’s session which was geared to also have presentation by the Hydromet Office, was shortened after the Minister said that he was scheduled for another pressing engagement.
A later meeting that will also include the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority will be scheduled, according to the Committee’s Chairman, Lance Carberry.
Meanwhile, PNCR Parliamentarian, Mervyn Williams, who also sits on the Committee, also raised concerns that a 100 per cent post harvest inventory in forestry concessions is affecting the smooth operations in concessions.
However, the Commissioner and his team noted that while there may be some hitches, the 100 per cent verification is mandatory and has been designed so that operations continue. Concession holders do not have to stop felling since forestry officials have been working along to ensure it happens.
According to Singh, there are 25 GFC stations across the country and moves are underway to recruit 40 more workers this year, some of them from the actual communities in the interior.
In the larger concessions, there are two or more officers who have clear instruction on how to assist in the 100 per cent verification of felled trees.
The officials invited concessions holders who may experience problems to address their complaints to either the ministry or the GFC and investigations will be carried out.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Due diligence on investments must become a priority
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- In 1985, the Forbes Burnham government looking for economic salvation, entered into a memorandum... more
OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus
Antiguan Barbudan Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The upcoming election... more
Weekend Cartoon
