Granger reaffirms commitment to environmentally-sustainable exploitation of natural resources

May 15, 2016 News

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By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell

When he addressed the National Assembly, President David Granger said that his government—one year in—continues to work on the building of a green economy.

The Head-of-State said that Guyana’s future economy depends on a speedier adoption of renewable sources of energy and on the “environmentally sustainable exploitation of our natural resources.”
Granger’s acknowledgement of the need for “environmentally sustainable” exploitation of Guyana’s natural resources comes at a time when there is much controversy concerning the operations of Chinese-owned logging company—BaiShanLin—in the country.
BaiShanLin is the largest logging company operating in Guyana. However, the track record of the company’s operations does not mesh with what Granger said is needed—”environmentally sustainable exploitation.”
There have been reports that BaiShanLin’s operations are not environmentally friendly. Back in 2014 Kaieteur News reported on the extent of BaiShanLin’s operations. The residents from Kwakwani who said that about 25 container trucks leave for shipment from that Region Ten location alone—BaiShanlin had several other logging locations.
One resident said, “One thing you can’t stop dem Chinese with; dem does wuk hard. Is nah easy fuh prepare all them logs fuh shipment. You got to cut it, mark it and all that. Me husband use to wuk with dem. Don’t think is no li’l operation. Dem does cut down everything dem lay eye pon.” Reports were that the company does not engage in the necessary replanting exercise.
With Granger’s recommitment to “sustainable exploitation” it is to be expected that companies will no longer be able to get off with such callous operations.
The President told the House that his plan for economic resilience requires a commitment to sustainable development as mandated by the Constitution.
He quoted Article 36 of the Constitution which states, “In the interests of the present and future generations, the State will protect and make rational use of its lands, mineral and water resources, as well as its fauna and flora, and will take all appropriate measures to ensure and improve the environment.”
“This is the Constitution, not an option. Economic change, therefore, is compatible with stewardship of the environment and measures for sustainable development,” said Granger.
He reminded parliamentarians of the Paris Agreement, approved by the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris on December 12, 2015. This committed Guyana to a global action plan to put the world on track to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.
The President also said that the high cost of energy for manufacturing and other industrial and domestic purposes has hindered Guyana’s efforts to produce more value-added products competitively.
He noted that Guyana’s attendance at the US-Caribbean-Central American Energy Summit in Washington, DC, on May 3 and May 4, 2016 emphasised the need for a national energy security plan, which will provide for the substitution of renewables for petroleum products for energy development.
Granger said that the transition towards renewable sources of energy as part of Guyana’s ‘green’ development thrust must be accelerated. In this regard, he said that investment in solar, wind, hydro and biomass sources of energy must be augmented.
The President said that his government’s approach to a ‘green’ economy will wean this country from its addiction to fossil fuels, fuels which exact a heavy burden on the economy.
“GOOD LIFE”
Granger also spoke on “good life” that his government promised. In this regard, he told Members of Parliament that Independence “imposed an obligation to use freedom to unite our people and to assure them of a good life.”
The President said, “We now have a second chance to fulfil this promise.”
He added that the 50th Anniversary of Independence must not only be a time of reflection on the past, but it must also be an opportunity to plan for the future. “It is a moment when we can commit to ensuring that our children and generations to come could inherit a country that will allow them to enjoy a good life.”
Granger said that Guyana, fifty years ago, was a broken nation under a state of emergency. Social strife, political disunity and economic stagnation prevented Guyana from achieving its full potential.
“We must do better. The first fifty years of our Independence had to be devoted to mending the social fabric, promoting peace and repairing the economy.”

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