Youths to design critical climate change proposal

May 23, 2014 News

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By Kiana Wilburg
As Guyana hosts the 44th Annual Board of Governors’ Meeting of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), youths will be given an opportunity to not only express their views on climate change, but design a plan that will assist Guyana in the fight against it. The proposal will be presented to officials of the CDB at the end of the three-day workshop which is being held at the Conference hall of the Grand Coastal Hotel, Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara. The workshop started on Wednesday last. The CDB will finance the plan designed by the youths.
The Caribbean Development Bank is a financial institution which assists Caribbean nations in financing social and economic programmes in its member countries.

The workshop falls under the VYBZING Programme and the forum is held under the theme, “Youth Voices for Climate Change.” VYBZING is a CDB youth outreach programme which recognizes that the region’s youth must not only be seen as takers of opportunities created by others, but as critical contributors to the development process of a country. It provides an opportunity for youths to express themselves while serving as a platform to encourage them to take action which will positively affect their future.
Yvette Lemonias–Seale, Vice President and Bank Secretary of the CDB at the opening ceremony of the workshop said that in addition to recognizing the important role the Bank plays in financing certain initiatives, she hopes that the forum encourages the participants to be strong advocates in creating awareness on climate change.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony gave the opening remarks for the forum. He quoted from various reports and said, “From the 1800’s to now, carbon dioxide emissions have increased due to industrialization and other activities and as such there is need for a lot more to be done by individual countries to address the problem effectively.”
However, with the CDB hosting its annual governor’s board meeting in Guyana, he said that they have recognized the importance of addressing the issue with the implementation of a workshop which is more than just providing invaluable expertise on the topic. The Minister said that he is pleased to note that the workshop has a practical aspect, where the CDB would be instrumental in funding a project that the participants would have designed.
In terms of the role Guyana is playing in the battle against climate change, Dr. Anthony told the gathering that the Government of Norway in partnership with Guyana signed a contract to ensure the preservation of its pristine forest. Guyana, he said, is paid for its eco-services provided for the world.
Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh in his brief remarks to the attentive audience said that he is pleased that the Bank chose climate change as the topic for this year’s youth forum.
The Finance Minister urged the audience to ponder on the devastating effects that the Caribbean Islands as well as Guyana will suffer if or when the sea level rises.
“The scary thing is that when the water rises some islands will disappear. We are even in an office on the coastal plain which is below sea level. It is given some level of protection by the seawall which is maintained by the government.  Again one or two levels of sea rise, and the entire coastal plain could be wiped out and with the rainfall being so incessant and unpredictable, the coast is always under constant threat,” the Minister said.
He reminded of the effects of the 2005 floods which resulted in several areas of the country being swamped for days, thousands of livestock dead and crops destroyed. The damage, Dr. Singh said, amounted to 60 percent of the Gross Domestic Product.
“We are one of the largest contributors in the fight against climate change. We serve as an important part of the lungs of the world. This goes to the core of our arguments in support of the Low Carbon Development Project … I urge you to be more responsible custodians of the environment,” Dr. Singh added.
The keynote address was delivered by Mrs. Neila Bobb-Prescott, Senior Technical Officer and Manager of the Forest and Livelihoods Programme at the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute of Trinidad and Tobago.
Bobb-Prescott gave her views on the impact of climate change on Trinidad and Tobago. She told the participants that as they begin to craft in their minds a plan for climate change, it should be one that is informed on the needs of the country and reflects research.
She emphasized the need for the youths to understand that their voices are powerful and that they bring a much needed experience and innovativeness to such projects as opposed to the old and now dull approaches that have been used for some time.
“Your approach is often full of momentum and drive and creativity. You will meet opposition, but take it in good stride. Always analyze criticisms and use it to strengthen your work. Also equally important is ensuring that you get feedback on the relevance of your work,” the climate change advocate said in concluding.

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