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Policy and action at cross purposes in the Greening of Bartica

Aug 27, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
I am continuously mystified by the workings of the system that is in Guyana. It seems that we are doomed to say one thing but enact another. I will use the recent commissioning of an asphalt plant in the town of Bartica as a prime example of policy and actions, working at cross purposes.
The President, in what can be considered one of his first policy statements, declared that Bartica would serve as a model of the green economy in Guyana. The premise behind this concept is the fostering of an economy that is primarily based on sustainable and environmentally friendly practices, with the development and implementation of green technologies as one of the main strategies to be employed.
The commissioning of a hot mix asphalt plant could therefore be considered a contradiction of this policy. Research has shown that high temperature mix plants are less environmentally friendly than their cold mix counterparts, as cold mix plants save up to seven times the energy of hot mix plants. It is also noted that the plant was sourced from India, one of the places in the world that has refined the use of cold mix asphalt plants, through decades of use.
Some would also argue that the use of asphalt, a semi-solid form of petroleum in a green economy is inconsistent. But asphalt in itself is not necessarily seen as anti – green unless there are more sustainable road building materials to be had. A University of Guyana student at the Masters level in Urban Planning and Development, recently presented the following paper at the Caribbean Urban Forum 2016 held in Suriname – “Sustainable Road Building Materials: The case for Bartica, Guyana’s newly established township”. Perhaps the relevant authorities could explore the feasibility of implementing some of these measures as against asphalt, especially in light of the green thrust.
While I do laud the investment, especially in our hinterland region, it unfortunately highlights the incongruence between policy and action. I am sure this incongruence is not always a wilful act to implement a measure that is against policy, but it does indicate a lack of vigilance and cohesion across Ministries and other relevant bodies.
The economic imperative is also an important factor, as establishing a green economy requires substantial investment from the private and more so, the public sector. Greater onus often lies on the government to act as an investor (especially in the initial phase) or provide heavy concessions to allay fears about the viability of sustainable practices as a means of profit making.
Several other nations with larger economies than Guyana are hard pressed to accomplish their dreams of green economies and sustainable cities, see “Masdar City in Abu Dhabi” as an example. But at the least one can argue that the United Arab Emirates tried to match action and policy. There was heavy investment from the government along with other measures to ensure that buildings, roads and so on were completed according to stated sustainability parameter. Taking our financial situation into consideration, I am still not sure how much we can say that Guyana tried before the decision was taken that the only option for Bartica, our model green economy, was a hot mix asphalt plant.
In the rush to ensure development and job creation we must therefore be mindful and vigilant of how these measures fit into our stated policy directives. I would also ask what measures such as green certification schemes, will be used to ensure that organisations that call themselves green really are so?, but that is for another letter.
Concerned Bartician

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