PPP will scrap Green State Development Strategy

PPP will scrap Green State Development Strategy – Jagdeo

Jul 13, 2018 News

President David Granger participated in a National Tree Planting Day exercise, in Bartica, Region

The Green State Development Strategy (GSDS), one of the signature proposals of the coalition Government, will be axed should the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) return to Government.
Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, said that the strategy has not received the approval of the National Assembly. He said also that at this stage the GSDS Right is at its conceptual stage.
“That is a political initiative of Granger until it has Parliamentary approval as far as we are concerned. In all likelihood we will scrap it as soon as we get into office because it makes no sense,” Jagdeo stated.
As part of the green development agenda, Government last month signed a $13M contract with JR Ranch Construction Incorporated for Guyana’s first Hinterland Green Enterprise Development Centre to be located in the North Rupununi, Region Nine.
Jagdeo stated that he disagrees with the fundamental premise of the President’s initiative because it brings costs to the country versus earning money for the country.
He stated that the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) which was initiated under his watch was an economic strategy that earned revenue.
“It earned money for Guyana. The Green State Strategy so far is about expenses from our treasury. That is why conceptually, we disagree with it,’ Jagdeo stated.
Just over a year ago, the Government with the help of the United Nations published the framework of the Guyana Green State Development Strategy and Financing Mechanisms.
The plans include a ‘Vision 2030’ for an inclusive, green and prosperous State as the fundamental guide for the strategy.
Jagdeo stated that the Government is talking about planting trees which indicates that they have missed the whole point that the plan should be an economic strategy to adjust for the future.
“This here [Government’s plan] is a ton of consultants coming in,” Jagdeo stated.