Child Care Protection Agency, Adoption Board to guide adoptions
Georgetown, GINA, February 4, 2009
In accordance with providing the best environment for children, the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security is proposing that the Child Care Protection Agency and the Adoption Board be the leading agencies in the adoption of children. This proposal is among others which are part of the law which will govern the adoption of children in Guyana.
The Adoption of the Children Bill 2009 proposes that the process of adopting a child be the responsibility of the Child Care Protection Agency and the Adoption Board (to be established by the Ministry). It states that an application for adoption should be sent to the Agency stating that the adopter is desirable to act as Guardian and this decision should be guided in the best interest of the child.
The Agency will investigate the matter and submit a report on the investigation to the Board and to Court stating the suitability of the applicant and other considerations as the Board may be required to take into account the Adoption of Children’s Rules under the repealed Adoption of Children Act.
This process is then compounded with the consent of the Board whereby if the Board is satisfied that the adopter may be entrusted with the care and possession of the child the Board will recommend to the Agency which then recommends to the Court that the child be placed in the custody and care of the adopter.
There are key factors that the Board will take into consideration and it will not recommend to the Agency that a child be placed in the custody and care of the adopter if it is not satisfied, this being mainly based on the fact that the adoption of the child by that person would not be in the child’s best interest.
In this instance, where the Board for any reason decides that the child should not be placed in the custody of the adopter the Board will indicate to the Agency and it will give notice in writing to the adopter of the Board’s recommendations.
Further, the proposed legislation states that where arrangements are made by the Agency for the adoption of a child, an Adoption Order in respect of the child must not be made by the Court until the expiration of a period of three months from the date upon which the child is delivered into the custody and care of the adopter pursuant to the arrangements.
In this regard, where notice in writing to the Agency of intention not to apply for an Adoption Order is given or where an application for an Adoption Order is refused by the Court, the adopter has, within seven days of the date on which the notice was given to return the child to the Agency.
The Ministry is proposing that stringent fines be placed if the child is not returned; stating that a person who fails to return a child to the Agency commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $250,000 and to imprisonment of one year.
This proposed bill which seeks to reform the laws on adoption of children and related matters was tabled at the last sitting of the National Assembly by Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Priya Manickchand. It was sent to the Special Select Committee and is expected to be presented in the National Assembly for its second reading at a later date.
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CARICOM launches new aircraft safety, security system
- acting President calls for system to transcend CARICOM states
Georgetown, GINA, February 4, 2009
Aviation safety and security in Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean has taken on a new approach, with the launching of the Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System (CASSOS) which is aimed at providing the highest level of oversight for the aviation sector.
The new system which replaces the Regional Aviation Safety Oversight System (RASOS) was launched today at the CARICOM Secretariat in the presence of Acting President Samuel Hinds, CARICOM Secretary General Dr. Edwin Carrington, Director of Civil Aviation of Barbados Anthony Archer and representatives from the regional, international aviation and tourism sectors.
Mr. Hinds highlighted the importance of air transport in the Caribbean, making specific reference to the tourism and agricultural sectors. He believes that CASSOS is a good system which replaces one that played a major role in enhancing aviation safety and security in the Region.
The membership of CASSOS is open to CARICOM member states and recently authorities in the United Kingdom (UK) signalled interest in participating. The Acting President expressed the hope that CASSOS establishes itself firmly in the international community.
“I call on CASSOS to be a good CARICOM institution. CASSOS and its directors must have its feet on the ground in our Caribbean countries and societies. CASPS and you, its directors as an organ of CARICOM countries must be good for CARICOM and CARICOM countries. You must start from and start with the situation today in each of our countries as you determine how best we can meet our International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) requirements today,” Mr Hinds said.
The acting President added the obligation of CARICOM States to CASSOS follows the undertaking under the revised Treaty of Chaguramas signed in 2001 and the earlier treaty that established CARICOM in 1973 for functional cooperation in the area of air transportation as an objective of the community.
“It should be noted too that a regional approach is part of the global strategy prompted by ICAO to address safety oversight problems, especially so for clusters of relatively small, less developed states,” Mr. Hinds said.
The revised treaty Mr. Hinds noted provides an environment which seeks to enable the integration transportation sub sectors for the Community and for the sector to perform its facilitating role in the development process.
“It provides for the coordination of national transport policies and the adoption of uniform standards and recommended practices which increase efficiency and competitiveness in the transportation sector and directly support the development of the Single Market by enabling the easy movement of skilled personnel and seamless transport operations. Moreover, it identifies the elements of a transport policy for the Community and provides that the goal of that policy shall be the provision of adequate, safe and internationally competitive services for the development and consolidation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. CASOS is a good early step – we still have much more to do,” the Acting President said.
He used the occasion to highlight plans for the development of the aviation sector in Guyana with a US$16M investment programme to upgrade air navigation equipment over the next three years.
He also spoke of the Ogle Aeronautical Engineering School, the only one of its kind in the Caribbean which has been qualifying engineers to contribute to the development of the aviation sector.
The establishment of CASSOS was seen by Dr. Carrington as a symbol of the ongoing process of development of civil aviation in CARICOM.
“The importance of transportation and in particular air traffic transportation in the Caribbean Community cannot be overstated. Let us not forget that the true meaning of community is a commingling of people, and as separated as we are, the building and maintenance of our community is largely dependent on our ability to efficiently move our people and our goods among the member states and the associate member states,” the Secretary General said.
He expressed confidence in CASSOS and noted that it will promote the harmonisation of civil aviation standards, practices and procedures consistent with the aims of the Chicago Convention.
The Chicago Convention of 1944, also known as the convention on international civil aviation was agreed to by CARICOM states to promote aviation safety and security.
The Secretary General also noted that CASSOS is also mandated to mobilise financial and other resources and will directly impact cost savings, human resource development and compliance.
Aviation security and safety has been on the cards of CARICOM since the mid 1970s after aviation directors from Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica Trinidad and Tobago, and the Windward and Leeward islands met to study the means by which safety oversight services are provided and what was required for providing these services.
Out of the meeting derived the need for each CARICOM state to establish a system for aviation safety and security that were independent from that of the UK.
Archer who is also outgoing acting chairman of the RASOS said safety oversight services at that time were provided by the Civil Aviation Authority of the UK.
He recalled the period when the International Safety Assessment Audit (ISAA) of the United States of America and Universal Safety Audit Oversight Programme (USAP) were formed, all requiring aircraft to meet certain requirements before entering certain territories.
These requirements influenced many states with aviation sectors to invest in safety and oversight systems and according to Archer, Caricom states since 1997 have been working on a unified aviation safety body.
This was achieved in 2001 after a group of eight CARICOM states merged to form RASOS with the aim of strengthening cooperation to improve safety oversight with specific reference to personnel licensing, aircraft operations and aircraft worthiness.
Archer reported that since its establishment four RASOS member states have met the requirements of the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) and the International Civil Aviation (ICA) with respect to aviation safety oversight.
“The cooperative, the regional approach to meeting the responsibility of safety oversight has been very successful,” Archer said.
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Regional financial officers urged to adhere to rules and regulations
Georgetown, GINA, February 04, 2009
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Kellawan Lall today urged Regional financial and accounting officers to adhere to all rules and regulations guiding financial operations and transactions and advised that they be acquainted with new systems in place, including the Information Management and Accounting System (IFMAS), accounting procedures and the Financial Act.
Minister Lall reiterated this call at a training programme at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre aimed at enhancing the level of transparency and accountability in the 10 administrative regions. The session was attended by principal assistant secretaries, chief accountants, accountants and assistant accountants.
Second from right: Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Kellawan Lall, Permanent Secretary Sewchan and other Ministry officials at the training programme.
The Minister reminded them, that they have an important responsibility to manage regional finances, and payments should only be based on legal contractual obligations.
Officers were also advised to visit areas to verify works being done and accounting officers were asked to ensure that the necessary requirements are met before making payments as there is the impression that sometimes officers are in receipt of benefits that they are not entitled to, Minister Lall said.
While the Regional Executive Officers (REOs) are also the chief accounting officers, Minister Lall said they cannot authorize persons who are not of their Region to undertake financial transactions.
He advocated that participants report problems of corruption in the system and noted that whenever there is an attempt at such, those who are involved will be sanctioned.
The Minister said that while the Regions have challenges, Officers need to adopt attitudes that will effectively help them to deliver their mandate as they are part of a community-based organ and their interactions with residents is important.
On issues of payments to contractors, Minister Lall said that they should be dealt with in a professional manner as they too are partners in development.
He pointed out that $15B was budgeted to the Ministry last year and that the Regions managed the finances allocated credibly.
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary within the Ministry, Sewchan, outlined some key accounting procedures that the officers should follow and raised several areas of concerns including payments procedures and record keeping.
Participants at the capacity building workshop for Regional financial and accounting officers at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre, Kingston.
Sewchan encouraged that they maintain proper records and ensure that issues pertaining to the clearing of accounts, salaries and reconciliation of appropriation accounts be done. He also advised that the officers ensure that all their employees are registered with the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).
The Ministry has been conducting several capacity building workshops with Regional officers to improve regional administration and to ensure that citizens are served efficiently.
Minister Lall said that similar sessions will be done and the Ministry will be considering certification of officers who attend.
The workshop featured detailed presentations from officials of the Ministries of Local Government and Finance, the Accountant General, and the Auditor General.
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Similar situation with sugar industry experienced by other nations – Minister Persaud
Georgetown, GINA, February 4, 2009
Reduced demand, price cuts and climate change have taken their toll on sugar industries around the world so much so that approximately four million tonnes of sugar will be undersupplied by the world market and many countries that are large producers of sugar will be importing sugar for their own use.
Among the countries affected are the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad, Australia, Pakistan, India and Guyana.
Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud speaking at the launching of a project to aid rural communities recently said some of the problems faced by Guyana were shared by other nations and that the move to import was only temporary.
This statement came in light of a recent decision by the Government of Guyana to import sugar even though it was produced in the country since the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) was committed to supplying its existing markets.
Minister Persaud highlighted that the entire sugar industry was devastated in Fiji since it experienced a similar rainy season.
Recently Australia, the world’s second largest sugar exporter, suffered tremendous losses as a result of flooding. Ron Mullins, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Industry Group Cane growers said that the impact on the 2009 sugar cane crop is unknown until a survey is carried out on the post-flooded cane fields.
The Queensland government has declared a natural disaster in 35 counties and estimates losses at A$109M. Queensland produces 95 percent of Australia’s sugar. The government is also considering putting preparatory measures in place for the May / June rains.
Last week, Nick Jackson, GuySuCo’s Chief Executive Officer, had noted that the 2005 floods had a severe impact on the sugar industry since many fields were flooded. This in effect, has caused the corporation to register a deficit since it is still recovering from the effects of the devastating floods.
In Islamabad, the Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet directed the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) on Tuesday to import 200,000 tonnes of refined sugar to stabilize prices in the market.
In Jamaica, on February 2, Prime Minister Bruce Golding noted that the government’s plan to sell five state-owned sugar estates to a Brazilian sugar and ethanol producer had fizzled due to a lack of financing. The Jamaican sugar industry has suffered a $4B deficit and new options by the government were being looked at.
In New Delhi, India, two state-run firms have moved to import around 22,000 tonnes of raw sugar by next month.
According to a Reuters report of January 28, 2009, the world supply/demand deficit for sugar is expected to widen to five million tonnes in 2009/10 (mostly Oct-Sept) from 3.75 million tonnes in 2008/09.
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GCAA issues separation letters to employees on illegal strike
- sticks to ultimatum
Georgetown, GINA, February 4, 2009
The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority today issued letters acknowledging the voluntary termination of the services of the Air Traffic Controllers who remained off the job following the ultimatum issued for them to return to work by the end of yesterday.
At a press conference yesterday Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn reiterated his position that the industrial action taken by the workers was illegal and called on the employees to return to work.
At the press conference the Minister had indicated that employees who failed to return to work by the end of the work day would have been considered to have voluntary separated themselves from the employ of the agency.
Contrary to a statement by Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) President Patrick Yarde that the employees were not contracted to the agency but were traditional public servants, copies of the contracts signed by employees revealed that they accepted the terms and conditions contained in the contract between themselves and the GCAA.
The contract signed by the Human Resources Manager of the GCAA on behalf of the Agency, stated in clause six that they were required to “obey lawful directions and instructions of the officers and or other employees of the Authority acting in the course of the authorities business.”
Clause four of the said contract, sub titled, ‘termination of service,’ states in addition to voluntary separation with the required one-month notice on both sides and payment in lieu of notice, that “the Authority reserves the right to terminate your service without notice or without payment in lieu of notice, for good and sufficient cause.”
Insisting that the GPSU was not a recognised union for the workers, Minister Benn said that its presence at talks last year was in an advisory role and not as a union representing workers.
In addition to serving the voluntary separation letters on the employees, the Authority has moved to advertise for persons to fill the positions vacated by the employees.
Minister Benn in an invited comment said that with an average of nine international flights arriving daily, if suitable replacements are not found quickly, the GCAA may have to look at strictly day light landings.
Air traffic controllers walked of the job following a refusal by the GCAA to pay a five percent increase paid to employees in the traditional public service effective January 1, this year.
The GCAA has said that it lacks the ability to meet and maintain the demands of the workers. The semi-autonomous agency is required to contribute $120M to a $780M recapitalization plan to upgrade its facilities, as was requested by technical staff in the past. The Government of Guyana is providing the additional $660M funding.
Minister Benn had pointed out that the current salary earned by the air traffic controllers was about three times what they would have been earning were they still traditional public servants, even with the five percent increase paid to the public servants recently.
He argued that it was irrational for them to be paid a higher salary and allowances in a semi- autonomous agency and expect to receive the same increases and benefits of the traditional public servants.
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National Ophthalmology Hospital starts screening on Monday
Georgetown, GINA, February 04, 2009
The National Ophthalmology hospital at Port Mourant, Berbice will begin screening eye patients from Monday as the institution initiates the database of patients for surgeries when the facility becomes operational shortly.
Minister within the Ministry of Health Dr. Bheri Ramsaran and Cuba’s Charge d’ Affaires Pedro Arteaga Cardenas along with officials from the Ministries of Health and Finance and the Regional Democratic Council today visited the institution to have a first hand look at the equipment that are currently being installed.
Cuban Medical team that would be manning the Ophthalmology Centre.
The Cuban personnel at the hospital will also be engaging in outreach programmes, to screen patients in Region Six, Minister Ramsaran explained.
Arteaga said that the National Ophthalmology Hospital will preclude the need for Guyanese to travel overseas for eye surgeries as it will conduct surgeries for cataract, glaucoma, retinopathy and retina detachment among others. He further specified that the Mission Miracle flights will cease after the surgeries commence at the hospital.
Mission Miracle has over the past two years been responsible for restoring sight to thousands of Guyanese who have had acute eye conditions.
Equipment that is being installed at the Ophthalmology Hospital.
Phase One of the programme which commenced in 2006 and concluded in December 2007 screened over 40,000 Guyanese from various communities across the country. Of the 40,000 screened, 5000 Guyanese were sent to Cuba to undergo surgery
This is the first modern Ophthalmology Hospital in the Caribbean that would cater for approximately 10,000 eye surgeries yearly. It is set to commence operation by the first quarter of this year, Minister Ramsaran said.
National Ophthalmology Hospital, Port Mourant.
The construction and renovation of existing civil works and approach roads, the Minister further noted has cost government approximately $500M.
The Ophthalmology hospital is equipped with modern equipment which were donated by Cuba. The Cuban medical personnel will man the Centre for a period of five years after which Guyanese personnel will take over.
The National Ophthalmology Hospital.
The National Ophthalmology Hospital was constructed through expanded cooperation in the area of health between the Governments of Cuba and Guyana. The agreement was formalised during an official visit by President Bharat Jagdeo to Cuba in February 2006.
The visionary nature behind the construction and repairing of health facilities around Guyana, Dr. Ramsaran said, is to maximize and improve the health sector in Guyana. This allows accessible, faster and convenient services to the people of Guyana which are a part of Government’s mandate to diversify health-care delivery to all.
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Housing Ministry exploring introduction of low-income greenheart houses
Georgetown, GINA, February 4, 2009
The Housing Ministry in its continued efforts to promote housing development by ensuring that all Guyanese can have access to affordable housing facilities is exploring the possibility of implementing a pilot programme to establish 40 new low-income houses in the Tuschen housing scheme, East Bank Essequibo.
The Ministry and the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest) are looking at constructing homes using locally produced greenheart and will target working professionals including nurses, teachers and doctors.
Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali who was invited by executives of Dura Villa Homes Guyana Incorporated, a privately owned United States constructing company to inspect a constructed model said with the use of the country’s local products it will not only generate employment but create potential in the wider market and the Caribbean for Guyanese products.
Head of GO-Invest, Geoffrey Da Silva said his organisation met with the company during last year to discuss ideas and plans for the implementation of such a project in Guyana.
He said since most homes are built mainly of concrete this greenheart structure is a great idea.
“Greenheart as we know is long lasting, it’s a very strong, sturdy wood that can last over 100 years and it is pest resistant…But we are very happy mainly that we are now going to be seriously developing in Guyana, using the country’s woods beautiful houses for our people and for the Caribbean,” Da Silva said.
It was noted that the houses can be dismantled and reconstructed within seven days and will be sold at a cost of $3.5M.
Chief Executive Officer, Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Myrna Pitt said that for the past 16 years the institution has been challenged in making homes affordable and it is open to ideas receptive to innovative designs and use of materials to help make the cost of housing affordable primarily to low income groups.
“Essentially when we talk about low-income housing we have to look at innovative ways in meeting those challenges and today’s example is one which shows the use of indigenous materials,” she said.
The CEO noted further that a critical component of the housing drive is financing and alluded that recently the New Building Society (NBS) reduced its interest rates for low income mortgages to 4.95 percent.
“It is our challenge now to look at designs and material use that would fit within that general criteria of affordability and making the shelter solution for low-income earners easily accessible and affordable… we would need to challenge developers as well as to continue to come up with solutions that will be affordable and accessible to our allottees,” the CEO said.
Meanwhile, Managing Director of Dura Villa Homes, Wayne Spears said that the organisation over the last year has addressed tremendous demands for housing not only in Guyana but throughout the Caribbean.
He said his organisation’s mandate is to design systems that would not only cater for strong and durable homes but those that can be built, in a matter of weeks rather than months to meet the needs of developing countries.
“What we came up with is a system that we could originate out of Guyana using local building products without having to import a lot of products from China, the United States, or other countries. We can have access to them here and assemble the components and locally package and ship them… The structures we design are engineered as such that the components inter match and they would be easy to assemble,” Spears said.
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President Jagdeo meets with Prince Charles - need for climate change action discussed
Georgetown, GINA, February 4, 2009
President Bharrat Jagdeo today met with Britain’s Prince Charles in St James’ Palace in London, concluding his trip to Europe which focussed on, among other priorities, Guyana’s initiatives to combat climate change and tropical deforestation.
This engagement follows several meetings with the Prime Minister of Norway Jens Stoltenberg, other Norwegian Government officials and non-Governmental Organisations.
Prince Charles’ Rainforest Project has recently published recommendations on financial structures to raise funding to provide incentives to avoid tropical deforestation – the cause of about one - fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Prince Charles has repeatedly pointed to Guyana’s leadership on the issue of tropical deforestation. At a Mansion House dinner in September 2008, Prince Charles stated that “one of the most optimistic developments is the leadership on this issue shown by President Jagdeo of Guyana.”
President Jagdeo’s meeting with Prince Charles was the final engagement in a visit to promote Guyana in Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom, during which the President joined other world leaders in urging the international community to sustain a focus on climate change, despite the global financial crisis.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, President Jagdeo said “the international community has acted to protect the world’s major financial institutions because their failure would pose systemic risk to the global economy. Well if these institutions are “too big to fail”, then our climate which poses risks not just to livelihoods but to life itself is even bigger still, and we must make even greater commitments to avert climate catastrophe.”
(Left) Prince Charles (Right ) President Bharrat Jagdeo
In Oslo on Tuesday, President Jagdeo and the Norwegian Prime Minister issued a joint statement calling on the international community to act with urgency to avert catastrophic climate change effects and to ensure that avoided deforestation is included in a post-Kyoto climate agreement.
Prime Minister Stoltenberg said, “President Jagdeo’s personal engagement and vision for ways to preserve Guyana’s tropical forests is impressive. He is a frontrunner among the developing countries and plays an important role in the ongoing UNFCCC negotiations.”
In a joint statement, the two leaders said; “We agreed that if the world is to prevent irreversible climate change, it is essential that greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation are drastically reduced, given that deforestation and forest degradation currently cause about one - fifth of the global emissions.”
To achieve this vital objective, they agreed that determined and concerted action is needed. They emphasized that efforts under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) towards Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) efforts must be properly designed to ensure that “deforestation is significantly reduced in countries where it is already occurring, and avoided in countries where deforestation rates are still low”.
Norway has committed to provide performance-based, substantial and sustained compensation for the progress Guyana makes in limiting emissions from deforestation at low levels and further decreasing forest degradation.
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Minister Fox and team visit St. Cuthbert’s Mission Secondary School.
Georgetown, GINA, February 4, 2009
Minister within the Ministry of Education Dr. Desrey Fox accompanied by Chief Schools Welfare Officer Banmattie Ram and Region Four, District Education Officer, Lemmel Thomas today visited the St. Cuthbert’s Mission Secondary school to assess the school’s development and performance of students.
The Minister met with the teachers to determine what improvements are needed for better education delivery.
The St. Cuthbert’s Mission Secondary School
Acting Headmaster David Fraser said the school’s curriculum needs to be expanded and for this to be done more teachers are needed. At present the school has four teachers three of whom are volunteer teachers from Scotland, attached to Project Trust of England.
Minister Fox told the teachers that they should establish a strong Parent Teachers’ Association (PTA) in the community since parental involvement is essential for a successful education system.
Teachers requested computers in order that students can be assisted in preparation of the School Based Assessments (SBAs).
Minister within the Ministry of Education Dr. Desrey Fox and Chief Schools Welfare Officer greeted by Toshao Pierre Andrews and a teacher.
For the first time students of the school will be sitting the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination and teachers are concerned because students have to travel to Georgetown or visit Dora Secondary to do their SBAs. Chief Welfare Officer Banmattie Ram promised to assist students in this area.
Minister Fox in discussion with teachers of the St. Cuthbert’s Mission Secondary School.
Minister Fox told the students that it is a great privilege to have them attend secondary school in the Amerindian community. “In some countries Indigenous people find it very hard to access education because they are very poor or because it was not a part of the society’s culture,” the Minister said.
She noted that the school did not have all the necessary resources, but encouraged the students to utilize the human resources available to them.
Students of the St. Cuthbert’s Mission Secondary School.
The Minister advised the students of Government scholarships available and urged them to pursue these.
The $45M St. Cuthbert’s Mission Secondary School currently houses 121 students
Over the years Government has placed significant emphasis on the development of Amerindians. The St. Cuthbert’s Mission community has grown and developed over the years and residents are now benefiting from electricity, schools, health centres and most importantly potable water made possible through a collaborative effort between Guyana and India at a cost of $5.7M.
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Commitment required from world leaders in climate change fight – President Jagdeo
Georgetown, GINA, February 4, 2009
President Bharrat Jagdeo at an open forum during the recently concluded World Economic Forum (WEF) held in Davos, Switzerland emphasized that the less than one percent of global Gross Domestic Product resources that is required to address climate change can be found if there is commitment and will on the part of leaders of the industrialized world.
At the forum titled ‘Climate Justice, basis of a new global solidarity?’ President Jagdeo pressed for an agreement that targets the needs of the developing world which can be taken to Copenhagen in December.
President Jagdeo was among several panelists which included former Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan, Chairman of the United States (US) Democratic Party and former US Presidential candidate Howard Dean and Chief Risk Officer for Swiss Reinsurance Company, one of the world's largest insurance companies, Raj Singh.
The Head of State is convinced that the money to address climate change can be found. “We spent close to 7% of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on oil supply each year; if the price of oil is $150 per barrel. At $60 per barrel, you will spend 2.7 percent of global GDP. All that is needed to address climate change from a capital expenditure and financing flows is less than one percent of global GDP, less than what we spend for buying oil in a single year…eight billion was spent to save institutions because of the systemic impact and we lose sight of the bigger challenge,” he remarked.
According to the President, developing countries, though they have contributed minimally to climate change face the brunt of its impact and are unable to provide the magnitude of resources that is required to adapt to climate change.
Referring to the global financial crisis, the Head of State pointed out that the world will spend some eight trillion dollars to deal with this crisis while only a fraction of that is needed to avert climate change.
He argued that billions of dollars had to be injected in some of the affected institutions because they are too large to fail and if they fail it will be catastrophic. However, it will be worse if the world were to fail, and this is inevitable if carbon emissions are not limited to the equivalent of 450 parts per million by 2050. If this is not achieved temperature will rise above two degrees Celsius and this would be catastrophic for the entire world.
President Jagdeo highlighted that there are low cost abatement solutions as he informed that European businesses already pay $25 to $30 per tonne of carbon dioxide in the European Union Trading System and according to the McKinsey study which was done in Guyana; it would cost only $4 a tonne to preserve the forests.
He urged countries to press their leaders to emulate Europe’s commitment to cut green house gases by 25 to 30 percent by 2020 while he implied that the nine gigaton carbon reduction which the United States committed to by 2020 is not enough.
“There has to be some justice about it they can’t expect a country like mine where the per capita emission level is 1/30 of that of the United States of America, to contribute equally to the problem. Europe has said that it will cut greenhouse gases by 25 to 30 percent by 2020 but what is needed is 17 gigatons by this time so Europe and the rest of the world are not making the commitments that are needed now to avoid catastrophe,” he added.
The destruction of forests contributes 20 percent of global emissions and this could be reduced if there is commitment on the part of the industrialized world. He concluded that “somehow in the development of debate in Europe and in the developed world they seem to have the idea that we must all contribute equally to the problem.”
Reflecting on Guyana’s experience as a result of climate change, the Guyanese Leader said that Guyana once experienced an average of seven inches of rainfall per month but this has increased to 10 inches of rainfall in one night resulting in a large number of people being affected by water accumulation. He further stated that because the majority of the population inhabits the coastal belt which is below sea level, Guyana has experienced catastrophic flooding as a result of climate change.
“ This is a common experience in developing countries across the world where very little resource is available and many of these countries still run budget deficits and are incapable of meeting education and health needs, creating jobs for their people and they don’t have resources to divert and address the issue of adaptation to climate change,” he said.
Alluding to the Kyoto protocol which includes US$400M for adaptation to climate change effects, the Guyanese Leader stated that in reality it would cost Guyana US$450M to strengthen its sea defence and the conservancy dam in just two of its 10 regions.
The main cause of climate change is greenhouse emission most of which comes from China, Russia, Japan, Europe and the United States. The least developed countries account for one percent of global emissions.
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