Our Environment

Nov 15, 2015 APNU Column, Features / Columnists

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A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) applauds the efforts that are currently being made to reverse the environmental degradation that persisted over the last two decades in towns and villages across our nation. APNU remains committed to the development of a comprehensive national environmental strategy.
The environmental health of our neighbourhoods on the coast and the hinterland must be given priority if we are to build healthy and happy communities. The clean-up campaigns, which began after the May 11 general and regional elections and have accelerated in preparation for our Golden Jubilee on May 26, 2016, create a wonderful platform for the promotion of the benefits of a healthy environment.
In order for the current efforts to be sustained, formal and informal education campaigns must be employed to increase national understanding of the interconnectedness between our environment and our actions, and how this relates to our survival.
Citizens must be encouraged to foster problem-solving approaches to basic environmental challenges. We must be able to build the capacity of our national institutions and community-based organisations to solve issues related to environmental health.
Every community, whether it is in the hinterland or on the coast, must develop and/or improve systems for the disposal of domestic and industrial waste, including harmful air pollutants.
Every community must embrace a green agenda. We must ensure that there is clean, affordable and accessible water for all that matches water quality with water usage. Our water sources must be protected, and consideration given to integrated water management as a cornerstone to our health.
Attention must be paid to our food supply, our bio-diversity and our resilience to climate change, especially considering our low-lying coastal geography. Our agriculture sector must be strengthened so that it can withstand the challenges of climate change. We must put in place measures for the strict control of agro-chemicals and associated products that are harmful to the public.
Public spaces like our school yards, training centres, university campuses, community playing fields, and church yards must be converted into areas that model sustainability, foster cohesion, knowledge generation and sharing. Guyanese must once again take pride in their communities and be encouraged to keep their yards clean and be responsible for the proper disposal of their solid waste.
The business community must be responsible for the proper disposal of their garbage and be made to provide adequate bins and dumpsters for use by their customers, and for the proper disposal of waste associated with their various businesses. The development of green spaces as a requirement for the construction of new communities must be strictly enforced.
It is essential that we integrate our land use practices, water management and human settlement into our central planning and development. Our sea defences must be strengthened and more attention must be paid at all levels to flood prevention, soil erosion, solid waste contamination and other forms of degradation. We must at all costs protect our unique flora and fauna.
THE LOW CARBON STRATEGY
APNU supports all efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and recognises the urgency of taking action to mitigate the negative effects of climate change, while adapting to new weather patterns.  The Partnership is encouraged that the government is currently in the process of reviewing the framework of the Low Carbon Development Strategy.
The government has already articulated its policies and programmes to address drought, and flood consequences for farmers, communities and businesses. In the 2015 Budget, monies have been set aside for drainage and irrigation, sea defence and the maintenance of national weather records.
APNU continues to vigorously advocate for the conservation of our biodiversity resources (plants and animals) many of which are unique to Guyana. We intend to work with the government to;
–    Require specific conservation measures for vital eco-systems, for example, the North Rupununi wetlands, a potential Ramsar Site.
–    Ensure that everyone is knowledgeable, proud and respectful of the biodiversity throughout Guyana. This can be achieved through integrated educational projects and material from primary to tertiary levels and in all aspects of informal education.
–    Strengthen and empower the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to carry out its regulatory functions.
–    Review agreements where industrial and agricultural activities threaten sensitive eco-systems.
Why is our environment important? It is important because this is the only home we have. Many experts believe that we can reverse some of the harm the planet has suffered. Here in Guyana we have made a start; the challenge is getting enough people to take drastic enough action so that we can make a difference in our lifetime.

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