Foreign Ministry records fair year in 2009
Georgetown, GINA, January 6, 2009.
It was a year in which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was determined to manifest the fact that a small developing nation can stand tall, proud and strong among the giants of the international arena by helping to promote the cardinal principles of respect for international law, the peaceful settlement of disagreements among and between States, international cooperation to combat common threats and equal rights for all mankind.
With an experienced and committed staff at the foreign ministry, Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett’s focus on issues pertinent to those principles and the promotion of Guyana’s interests abroad, remained paramount throughout the year.
As the minister reflected on the work of her ministry for 2009, there was a clear indication of satisfaction with the progress made: from the all important safeguarding of Guyana’s territorial integrity to the consolidation of linkages with existing trading partners and the fostering of new ones, promoting regional cooperation and facilitating the development agenda of sector ministries through international cooperation initiatives and mechanisms a lot has been achieved.
For the ministry, a key highlight was the tabling in the National Assembly of the Maritime Zones Bill which has been sent to a Special Select Committee. The tabling of the Bill marks a key step in ensuring that Guyana can fully benefit from the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) – especially as it relates to the protection of Guyana’s rights to the exploitation of the living and non-living resources in the waters offshore Guyana – that is in the territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone and the potential extended continental shelf. The efforts at safeguarding Guyana’s rights under UNCLOS resulted in Guyana formally providing information to the United Nations Secretary General aimed at securing Guyana’s right to extend its maritime boundary up to 150 nautical miles beyond the 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett.
Heads of Missions Meeting
Heads of Guyana’s Diplomatic Missions abroad had much to discuss as they gathered on home-turf for the first time in nine years to reflect on challenges and strides and to prepare for forthcoming developments.
Convened at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, the initiative brought together all the heads of Guyana’s overseas embassies, high commissions and consulates and was themed “Repositioning the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to effectively promote the national interest”. The main objective was to ensure that all the missions are familiar with Guyana’s policies, are more prepared to advance the country’s foreign policy, support development programmes and to generally promote the image of Guyana as a stable, developing State ready for foreign investment and tourists.
At the conference, Rodrigues-Birkett, indicated, “We will certainly be looking at new alliances that we need to make and strengthening the traditional ones that we’ve had. Traditionally, we’ve been dealing with the ABC countries of (United States of) America, (Great) Britain and Canada but we’re also looking at our relations with other countries like Brazil, and also what we want to do in the Middle East, Asia and so on.”
Further, she had indicated that administrative issues would have also been reviewed to ensure that the missions’ work is enhanced through timely and effective administrative support mechanisms.
Head of State Bharrat Jagdeo delivered the feature address at the opening session, and Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and the other members of the Cabinet were on hand to interact with the leaders of Guyana’s Foreign Service.
President Bharrat Jagdeo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, with distinguished leaders and heads of Guyana's overseas missions and consular offices.
Relations with United States & Canada
It is noteworthy that US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, lauded Guyana’s Climate Change leadership and the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). Canada’s presence in Guyana was reinforced with the installation of a new High Commissioner, His Excellency François Montour, in the latter part of 2009, indicative of continued confidence to work with the government and the private sector in mutually beneficial ways.
South-South Cooperation
Guyana ratified the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR Treaty), part of a move to strengthen existing alliances and creating new ones on the South American continent. Guyana will chair UNASUR in 2010, which will entail hosting a Summit of Heads of State of UNASUR; as well as meetings leading up to the Summit.
UNASUR member states.
UNASUR is an intergovernmental union integrating two existing customs unions: Mercosur and the Andean Community of Nations, as part of a continuing process of South American integration. Modeled on the European Union, the UNASUR Constitutive Treaty was signed on May 23, 2008, at the Third Summit of Heads of State, held in Brasília, Brazil.
Presidents of UNASUR member states, third from right is President Bharrat Jagdeo.
Brazil
Guyana’s ongoing friendly and cooperative relations with Brazil were further enhanced with the Official Inauguration of the Takutu River Bridge on September 14, 2009 by Their Excellencies the Presidents of Brazil and Guyana. The two Presidents also took the opportunity to engage in discussions aimed at enhancing the Guyana/Brazil Cooperation Programme and signed eight Agreements, Memoranda of Understanding and Executive Programme, which addresses areas such as promotion of trade and investment, a special border regime for Lethem and Bon Fim and the abolition of visas for business purposes.
The Government of Guyana is currently considering establishing a Consulate General in Boa Vista to be headed by a career diplomat and appropriate staff.
Venezuela
Relations between Guyana and its western neighbour have not been better in recent memory. Guyana and Venezuela reaffirmed their commitment to the United Nations Secretary General’s Good Offices Process which is aimed at assisting the two countries in their search for a practical solution to the controversy, which arose from the Venezuelan contention that the Arbitral Award that definitively settled the boundary between them, is null and void. In October 2009, the two countries jointly proposed a candidate to the UN Secretary General to be his Special Representative to the Process.
Meanwhile, there has been a plethora of tangible cooperation activities in the areas of social development (construction of a Centre for Rehabilitation and Reintegration of the Homeless in Guyana) trade (export of rice to the tune of some US$18M), initiatives aimed at coordinating efforts to combat the trade in illicit drugs (meeting of national officials from both States took place in November 2009 to work on this) and advancement in discussions to conclude and MOU for the treatment of vessels and crews from either State for alleged illegal fishing.
Guyana is also looking at the possibility of enhancing the assistance it provides to its nationals in Venezuela through the establishment of Consular representation in Puerto Ordaz since there are over 30,000 Guyanese living in that location.
Cuba
Guyana and Cuba have continued to build upon the spirit of cooperation that has characterized their diplomatic relations and which has contributed to the development of Guyana’s human resource base especially in the areas of education and health.
During a visit to Cuba, Minister Rodrigues-Birkett held official meetings with the Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodriguez, and the Vice President of the Council of Ministers of Cuba, where the discussions centred on issues pertinent to the Guyana/Cuba bilateral relationship; as well as matters of interest to both countries within the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
While in Cuba, Minister Rodrigues-Birkett visited and held talks with Guyanese scholarship students studying at the Latin American School of Medical Sciences.
Having provided financing for Guyana’s National Ophthalmology Hospital at Port Mourant, Berbice, the Government of Cuba also seconded specialized staff, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, administrators and bio-medical technicians, who will operate the facility until Guyanese medical students currently undergoing training in Cuba return to serve their country.
In recognition of the strong ties that exist between Guyana and Cuba and to express gratitude to Cuba for their consistent support to Guyana, Minister Rodrigues-Birkett moved a Motion in the National Assembly to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Cuban Revolution on August 6th, 2009.
Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
In July, Guyana hosted the 30th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting, a session that was highly successful in the strengthening of regionalism in the Caribbean Basin. On the issue of climate change, the Liliendaal Declaration on Climate Change was endorsed by the Heads of Government. With respect to the free movement of CARICOM Nationals, the Heads of Government agreed to a new category, that of household domestics, to which the CARICOM Free Movement of Skills Certificates would be issued to as of January 1, 2010.
Significantly, President Jagdeo, the chief architect of Guyana’s foreign policy, assumed the Chairmanship of the regional body at a time when the Caribbean was grappling with the implications of the global financial crisis on developing and vulnerable economies and the realities of the climate change on low-lying and island territories.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett seated behind CARICOM Secretary, Dr. Edwin Carrington who is in discussion with President Bharrat Jagdeo
Guyana’s presence and contributions within CARICOM cannot be under-stated, especially in the context of the stabilization of the Common External Tariff (CET) and cement, to follow procedures approved by COTED, and the call for a rationalization of the region’s Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM). In 2009, the CRNM was brought under the auspices of the Secretariat, renamed the Office of Trade Negotiation (OTN), now based in Barbados and headed by Ambassador Gail Mathurin, who holds the position of Director-General.
New Partnerships with Middle East
Presidential visits to the Middle East were influenced by the conviction that Guyana needs to broaden its economic diplomacy, which currently is mostly restricted to North America, Europe, Brazil and China. The Middle East is viewed as area from which investments flows can be secured.
Libya
Libya has agreed to open the Libyan People's Bureau in Guyana, and has sent a team of investors to explore investment possibilities here. Libya has also assured that Guyana’s indebtedness to that country will not affect its future involvement in economic ventures in Guyana.
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President Bharrat Jagdeo and King Abdullah 11, of Jordan . In centre is Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett (Photo courtesy Jordan News Agency).
Jordan
In pursuance of extended economic diplomacy, talks were held with King Abdullah II on issues relating to trade and investment (with emphasis on exploiting opportunities in agriculture, exporting natural products and processed goods), culture and diplomatic relations between the two nations, with. Collaboration in the areas of technology, education, health, tourism and energy and climate change was also discussed during the meeting. President Jagdeo reiterated the need for small countries to coordinate their efforts to ensure that the developed world make decisions that would benefit all stakeholders.
Protecting Guyanese
Guyana’s foreign policy was also brought to the defence of Guyanese nationals living abroad, particularly those who are living in sister CARICOM States and who were perceived as being targeted by the immigration authorities/policies of those States. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs took action to defend the rights of those Guyanese nationals while, President Jagdeo, at an interactive media session held at the CARICOM Secretariat, on June 12, added his voice in support and emphasized that he would not permit Guyanese to be unfairly treated anywhere, particularly referring to the manner in which Guyanese were alleged to be treated in Barbados.
Lodging a protest and providing evidence to the Antiguan Government that their Immigration authorities were withholding the passports of Guyanese children contrary to international norms, resulted in the Government of Antigua immediately addressing the situation.
For decades, there have been reports of mistreatment of Guyanese by immigration authorities of some CARICOM Member States. The reports of mistreatment escalated in the middle of the year.
Re-migrant Program
Approvals for persons applying for re-migrant status continued, with 254 applications being approved in 2009; including 135 from the US and 32 from Barbados. In 2010, the Foreign Ministry will be collaborating with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Guyana Revenue Authority to ensure that all who have acquired duty free concessions under this Program are adhering to Government’s requirements in this regard and that there are no breaches of the stipulated agreements. Since 2005, 926 persons have applied to the Ministry and qualified under the program.
Guyana at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), convened in Trinidad and Tobago, was described as a success. The issue of Climate Change took center stage at the Meeting and Guyana played an important role in ensuring a strong Declaration that reflects the interests of Guyana and the region as a whole. Guyana’s high-level delegation was led by His Excellency President Jagdeo and included the Honourable Minister Rodrigues-Birkett. Guyana achieved prominence during the Meeting and related events through the participation of His Excellency President Jagdeo who is recognized as a leader in the area of Climate Change. In addition, the President held several bilateral meetings including with the Prime Ministers of Australia and the United Kingdom and the President of South Africa.
Leaders of Guyana's Foreign Ministry, from left to right, Director-General, Elisabeth Harper, Minister Rodrigues-Birkett, President Jagdeo and Prime Minister Samuel Hinds .
International Organizations in Guyana
The work of international organizations in Guyana continues to be an important ingredient in Guyana’s development. Added to the list of international organizations in 2009 were the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Office for Migration (IOM).
Foreign Presence
Mexico established an embassy in Guyana in February 2009, becoming the first Central American country to establish a diplomatic mission in Guyana. As part of its efforts to establish further linkages with the countries of CARICOM, Mexico has offered fifty (50) scholarships to CARICOM Member States to allow their nationals to pursue studies in Mexico in the areas of health, agriculture, communications and technology.
In addition to Mexico, new Ambassadors were accredited to Guyana from Canada, Cuba and Brazil in 2009.
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CDC strengthening disaster management capacity
In an effort to strengthen disaster management capacity, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) in a collaborative effort with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Inter- American Development Bank (IDB) is implementing a series of programmes under a project entitled “Strengthening National and Local Capacities for Disaster Response and Risk Reduction.”
The activities funded by UNDP are designed to address areas such as: establishment of a Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (DANA), Early Warning System (EWS) for floods and droughts, community disaster preparedness plans, response preparedness capacity at community level, enhancement of emergency communications system, search and rescue capacity, emergency shelters, management capacity of relief supplies, development of mass casualty plans, national risk management policies, disaster risk assessment in vulnerable communities, training of community leaders and mitigation of flood risk in pilot communities.
The activities funded by the IDB are being implemented under a project entitled: Design and Implementation of a National Integrated Disaster Risk Management Plan. These include: a flood risk evaluation, preparation of a National Integrated Disaster Risk Management Plan, drafting of a Disaster Risk Management Act, design of a National Public Education Campaign on flood risk management, a pilot programme in community-based disaster risk management, development of guidelines and training of technical staff of relevant ministries in incorporating disaster risk reduction in agricultural planning and environmental management, design of an investment programme in flood prevention and mitigation.
In executing these programmes, the CDC will be holding a workshop on Post-Disaster Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis at the Regency Suites, Hadfield Street on January 12-13. The workshop is targeting technical personnel within key agencies involved in responding to and assessing damages caused by disasters as well as the resulting needs.
This workshop will be followed by Information Technology (IT) training at the University of Guyana’s IT Centre. This training will introduce the CDC’s new web-based disaster coordination system to be hosted on the new CDC website, which is scheduled to launch shortly.
The launching of the website will allow for the public to access updates on disaster management activities, as well as other useful information. Further, technical personnel from relevant agencies will also be able to enter assessment information into the new web-based coordination system, thus enhancing disaster response in Guyana.
A policy workshop on DANA will also be held on January 15, at the CDC Conference Room to raise awareness and to consult with policy makers on developing a DANA policy and framework.
The CDC was established in the year 1982 to make plans and conduct operations to deal with all types of disasters in Guyana. By 1985 a comprehensive National Disaster Preparedness Plan (NDPP) was documented and put into use.
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With poise, President Jagdeo led climate change advocacy in 2009
One of the most beneficial assets that a country could have is land, of which Guyana is abundantly blessed, most of which is forested and mineral-rich, and the future potential for Guyana’s development, based on these riches, is enormous.
However, to pursue this pathway to development comes at a significant cost. Many countries around the world, including developed ones such as the United States and Great Britain, have pursued this path already and in so doing, felled their forests, reducing the capacity of the planet to remove the heat-trapping greenhouse gases that are generated by economic activity, especially carbon dioxide.
The President and his Administration, cognizant of the risk that felling the forests poses, realized that another pathway had to be found to propel the country towards economic development and a standard of living deserving of all Guyanese.
This new avenue was found in the emerging carbon markets whereby a country can receive funding for preserving its forests.
This led to the development of the President’s Position on Avoided Deforestation which was spelt out at a symposium at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC) on December 5, 2008 and more importantly for Guyana, the launch of the Low-Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) on June 8, 2009.
However, the emerging carbon markets and the role that forests play in them is still a new concept. In fact, avoided deforestation was not part of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, the global climate change accord.
It was therefore necessary, if Guyana was to benefit from this new revenue stream and promote the cause of combating climate change, that a champion stood up and lead strident lobbying that was required to sway the international community towards Guyana’s position.
In 2009, that person, beyond a doubt, was President Bharrat Jagdeo, who led the climate change advocacy effort with great poise and assurance.
The World Economic Forum (WEF)
The President travelled to Davos, Switzerland in January 2009 for the annual meeting of the WEF which brings together top business leaders, international political leaders, selected intellectuals and journalists to discuss the most pressing issues facing the world including health and the environment.
At the Summit, the Head of State highlighted that sustainable development models can help the world’s 13 million forest workers keep their livelihoods, and the same applies to another 1.6 billion people who benefit from forests.
In this Reuters photo President Bharrat Jagdeo and other officials including Sweden's Finance Minister Anders Borg at a working session at the World Economic Forum, January 30.
Afterwards, he travelled to London, England to meet with Prince Charles, whose Rainforest Project has been advocating preservation.
The Prince has repeatedly pointed to Guyana’s leadership on the issue of tropical deforestation. At a Mansion House dinner in September 2008, he had stated that “one of the most optimistic developments is the leadership on this issue shown by President Jagdeo of Guyana.”
He also travelled to Oslo, Norway where he met with Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and other officials of the Government to discuss how the two countries could collaborate on the issue of climate change.
At the end of the discussions, a joint statement on climate and forest issues, was issued, which stated that “Norway is prepared 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”.
Norway’s Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, Kevin Hogan, President Bharrat Jagdeo and Chairman, Office of Climate Change, Shyam Nokta.
Washington, D. C.
The President’s lobbying efforts and the support that he was receiving from several important environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including the Prince’s Rainforest Project, caught the attention of law-makers in the capital of the United States, and the President was invited in March to participate in several events on Capitol Hill to highlight the importance of combating climate change and the role that forests play in that fight.
The Head of State spoke at a forum entitled ‘Forest, Finance, People and Climate Change: International Perspectives for U.S Legislators’ under the sponsorship of Congressman Jay Inslee of the U.S House of Representatives.
Congressman Jay Inslee and President Jagdeo.
On the following day, the President delivered the feature address at the Forest Carbon Finance Summit 2009: Making Forest Carbon Markets Work, also on Capitol Hill.
G-20 meeting – London, England
Further impetus was added to Guyana’s efforts to combat climate change while securing funds to promote the country’s development when Guyana was one of only three non-G20 countries invited by the Prince to meet with the leaders of the most powerful countries in the world to examine possible solutions to deforestation during the G-20 summit in London at the beginning of April.
As the President said at the launching of the LCDS on June 8, “It is hard to over-state the political significance of this meeting – for the first time in history, the issue received the first-order political attention it badly needs, where the Presidents and Prime Ministers of the world’s most powerful economies focused on generating a solution. It is vital that this first-order attention is sustained, and translated into policy direction for the G20 climate change negotiators.”
LCDS launch
At the presentation of the LCDS in June, the President stated clearly why Guyana needs to lobby strongly for solutions to combat climate change.
“Why should we take on something as ambitious as trying to help solve a problem (climate change) of such global scale, particularly when we played no part in creating the problem?” he questioned.
“Beside where we are meeting today, hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens live below sea level with the sea just a few metres to our north. To the south, billions of gallons of water which irrigate much of our country’s productive land are held back by a 130-year old earthen dam. Changing weather patterns mean that the physical infrastructure which protects us is being put under ever increasing strain,” the President pointed out.
President Bharrat Jagdeo answers a question raised by a participant at the consultations on Guyana’s LCDS.
He reminded the large cross-section of Guyanese, including from government agencies, opposition parties, indigenous groups, the mining and forestry sectors, religious and non-governmental organizations and academic institutions, as well as members of the diplomatic corps, gathered for the launch of the flooding in 2005 which caused damage equivalent to 60% of Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and noted that every year, in some parts of Guyana, flood-related damage is experienced.
The Head of State also indicated that Guyana was willing to partner with parties who share a similar interest in combating climate change.
He went on to highlight partners who had already shown their support for Guyana’s progressive position including Prince Charles, the Clinton Foundation and McKinsey and Company.
After the launch, sub-national consultations ensued with Government Ministers travelling to every Administrative region to explain and get feedback on the Strategy. The President was one of the most enthused advocates for the Strategy and held consultations with several parties including students the joint forces, scouts, youths, miners, forestry operators, the private sector and the elected officials of the Amerindian villages.
Engaging academics
The President also engaged academics overseas on the climate change issue, visiting Trent University in Canada, the prestigious Columbia University in New York and the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago to garner support for the Strategy and to spread the word on the need for urgent action.
At all locations, he was well received and his lectures garnered significant interest and debate.
President Bharrat Jagdeo addresses World Leaders' Forum, Columbia University.
UN 64th General Assembly
In New York for the 64th United Nations (UN) General Assembly in September, the President was involved in a whirlwind of activities starting with a media event in Greeley Square on September 21, where he teamed up with Harrison Ford, movie star and avid environmental activist, and Conservation International (CI), to showcase the urgency of protecting tropical forests and to urge support on forest protection.
President Bharrat Jagdeo and movie star, Harrison Ford, at the Greeley Square event organized by Conservation International on September 21
Ford, who has been a CI board member for 15 years, said: “By having the foresight to recognize that serving the needs of the planet could also help the people of Guyana, President Jagdeo is helping to change the way that we think about economic development and climate change. We are calling on leaders attending the UN General Assembly to follow Guyana’s lead and help to ensure that they support a finance package that keeps the world’s forest standing.”
The President co-chaired one of eight closed round-tables with Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Great Britain during a Summit on Climate Change instigated by the UN General Secretary, Ban Ki-moon, to find solutions to the deadlock in global climate change talks, and when he delivered his address to the UN General Assembly, he called on world leaders to turn climate change building blocks into agreement.
“We need to move beyond simply understanding the challenge. We need to work as a global community to shape a solution that is in all our interests. In doing so, we should be guided by science and by the need for solutions that treat all countries fairly. But we also need to recognize that the challenge now is as much about political will as it is about scientific, economic or institutional considerations.”
World Bank’s FCPF
Guyana was the first country to complete the due diligence study under the World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) and as a result, will benefit from a US$3.5M grant in preparation for the REDD+ mechanism.
Historic Guyana-Norway agreement
The President’s significant lobbying efforts and the hard-work of several parties in formulating and refining Guyana’s progressive climate change position started to reap dividends with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Guyana and Norway to protect Guyana’s tropical forests, symbolically at Fairview village, Region Nine in November, through which Guyana could receive as much as US$250M by 2015 to support the implementation of the LCDS.
Under the partnership, Guyana will accelerate its efforts to limit forest-based greenhouse gas emissions, and protect its rich rainforest as an asset for the world. Norway will provide financial support to Guyana at a level based on Guyana’s success in limiting emissions. This will enable Guyana to start implementing its LCDS at scale. Financial support from Norway will be channelled through a new fund, the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF). Guyana’s Ministry of Finance will be responsible for the GRIF’s operations, and a reputable international financial institution to be selected by Norway and Guyana will act as manager of the fund. The mechanism will ensure full national and international oversight of financial flows.
“Saving the world’s remaining tropical forests is a crucial element in the battle against climate change, and we are proud to support Guyana’s contributions in that effort,” said the Norwegian Minister of the Environment and International Cooperation, Erik Solheim.
“Norway has promised up to US$30M for the year 2010 and up to 2015, if this is successful, we stand ready to provide US$250M for this scheme.”
Further support for financing the fight to combat climate change was achieved at the 20th Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, where agreement was reached on a US$30B Copenhagen Launch Fund for the period of 2010 to 2012.
However, the President was keen to tell reporters that the US$10B fund should be seen as interim financing for climate change. “…we must not lose sight of the main financing proposal”, he said, adding that studies have shown that it would take about one percent of global GDP (about US$300B) to deal with adaptation, mitigation and technology transfer related to the impact of climate change.
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP) 15 in Copenhagen, Denmark
The President’s final and probably most important advocacy on behalf of Guyana’s LCDS took place at the Copenhagen meeting in December, where he met with Lord Nicholas Stern, author of the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change and participated in a side event hosted by the Norwegian non-governmental organization (NGO), Bellona.
At the event, Guyana’s LCDS and Brazil’s Amazon Fund were outlined as the world’s pre-eminent models for making REDD+ work. REDD+ is the UNFCCC’s mechanism to create a framework for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.
Guyana’s pioneering work in climate planning and strategy was recognized at a forum on the sidelines of the Summit. Guyana was cited for the development of its low carbon growth strategy and the progress made with the Norway–Guyana Agreement and the World Bank Forest Carbon Partnership Facility. The President and members of the Guyana delegation attended the side event titled `The Best-Laid Plans: Turning Ideas into Action on Mitigation, Adaptation and Finance’ organized by the World Resources Institute (WRI), where the Head of State was one of the feature speakers.
President Jagdeo addressing the High Level Session of CoP 15
On December 17, addressing the COP, the President urged his fellow leaders to move beyond bickering over procedural failings and logistical mistakes and focus on identifying and solving the strategic issues that will give hope to the world. He also called on the US and China to lead the climate change fight.
More financial support for combating climate change, and specifically deforestation, was achieved when on December 16 at the UNFCCC Conference, six rich nations – Australia, Japan, Norway, France, the United Kingdom and the United States – agreed to set aside US$3.5B of the estimated US$25B that was identified by the Informal Working Group (IWG) as being needed to reduce deforestation by 25% by 2015.
President Jagdeo addressing the High Level Session of CoP 15.
Guyana’s success in getting REDD+ including in the accord arising out of Copenhagen was also another monumental achievement, and one that will serve the country well in the future.
However, the effort that was put into promoting Guyana’s position on combating climate change by President Jagdeo during 2009 cannot be underestimated, as he participated in several consultations with various stakeholders and spent countless weeks away from Guyana courting supporters and potential contributors to the REDD+ mechanism.
This effort was priceless in getting the REDD+ mechanism included within the Copenhagen accord, securing funds from Norway for Guyana’s future development, and in general, moving Guyana towards a low-carbon development path that will benefit all Guyanese.
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Striking development in Agriculture sector-2009
During 2009, the Agriculture Ministry placed major emphasis on reducing Guyana’s reliance on a dual-crop economy by promoting the importance of diversification and registering support for aquaculture and the cultivation of alternative crops.
To this end, the ministry redoubled its efforts to improve drainage and irrigation works across the country to adequately address the changing weather patterns of drought and heavy rainfall.
The ministry also made significant steps with regards to international cooperation in areas of rice, sugar and forests.
Rice Sector
It was an important year for the rice sector characterised by challenges as well as progress. Government lowered the export commission as part of a number of measures aimed at supporting rice farmers towards enhancing their competitive capabilities.
Other than investments, interventions were made, including reducing the export commission from US$10 to US$4 beyond the minimum margin at US$6. This measure
costs $240M and allowed millers to offer farmers a more competitive price.
In March, government also announced an $800M commitment to the viability of the rice industry. Part of the money was dedicated to the provision of fertilizer at a lower cost and an arrangement for the provision of seed paddy.
Rice farmers were further assisted when with the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and the Rice Producers Association (RPA) disclosed that a state-of-the-art $40M facility at Burma will be built and farmers will also be aided in the transport of paddy.
Two months later, a Brazilian company, Rice Tec, signed four agreements with the Agriculture Ministry to reform the rice sector in Region Nine. The company conducted a feasibility study which indicated that conditions were suitable for the hybrid rice cultivation.
Guyana also signed a historic trade agreement for rice farmers with Venezuela aimed at creating a market for 10,000 tons of paddy and 40,000 tons of white rice. The project worth $3.7B made it possible for an initial exportation in November which is to be followed by 10 shipments by the end of February 2010.
In addition, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) in October commissioned a laser land leveller and tractor worth approximately $20M to assist rice farmers in improving rice production.
While, no effort was spared in ensuring rice farmers harvested a bountiful crop, the ministry wasted no time in implementing measures to deal with the El Nino weather phenomenon.
The Agriculture and Amerindian Affairs Ministries dispatched supplies including water tanks, acoushi ant bait, pumps, swing fog machine and chemicals worth $8M to Region Nine farmers who were grappling with the harsh September weather.
Simultaneously, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), accelerated drainage mechanisms in the coastal regions while upping critical support to hinterland agriculture.
The prolonged dry season had threatened approximately 20 percent of 8,000 acres of rice and the ministry pledged its support to the rice farmers in ensuring that all steps are taken to minimise the possibility of loss.
Farmers expressed an interest in assistance including fertilizers and extension of available and new drying facilities across the growing rice belt.
They were granted $208M for the provision of fertilizers, where each farmer who cultivates an average of 30 acres to receive 30 bags at half price while $180M was earmarked for 12 drying facilities .
Drainage and Irrigation
Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud and H.E. President Bharrat Jagdeo inspecting the rehabilitated pumps at the Liliendaal Station.
During the year, millions were spent to improve the existing drainage structures and ensure that Guyana remains flood resilient. In May seven contracts valued at over $141M were awarded by the Ministry of Agriculture to six contractors to boost the capacity of the NDIA, the Burma Rice Research Station and the Parika Packaging Facility.
Rehabilitation of structures was undertaken at the EDWC, at a cost of nearly $50M and another contract to fabricate a punt and a pontoon at a cost of over $34M was granted.
And in its diversification efforts, the Agriculture Ministry procured an excavator at a cost of $37M to promote and improve the aquaculture industry. The investment was made to support aquaculture farmers who are interested in digging aquaculture ponds.
The ministry reported that fingerlings increased from 20,000 in 2008 to 90,000 in 2009.
A new pump station at Stanleytown, Region Three was also commissioned by Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud to increase the drainage capacity of Canal Number Two Polder, an area that has been affected in the past by the accumulation of water but with the installation of the pump this will bring considerable relief.
The EDWC also received a boost with the re-commissioning of two Lama Sluices, the procurement of a punt, pontoon and hydraulic excavator in November. The two sluices were rehabilitated at a cost in excess of $49M and will serve to discharge water from the Conservancy into the Lama Creek.
NDIA acquired a second pontoon, which costs over $50M, to better manage areas that are affected by siltation and will complement the operation of the first pontoon acquired in 2008.
The pontoon is equipped with two long reach excavators which operate within the channel and drainage sluices along the East and West Coast and West Bank Demerara.
Four contracts amounting to over $1.1B were inked to pave the way for the rehabilitation of drainage structures in Regions Three, Four and Six under the Agricultural Support Services Programme (ASSP). This programme seeks to raise rural incomes on the coastal plain through increasing efficiency of agricultural production.
Sugar Industry
Severe weather coupled with the halting of the Booker Tate agreement, together proved the turning point for the sugar industry in 2009. Much revenue was lost due to the European Union’s price cut and, the industry managed to cut cost by $3B without affecting jobs after implementing an efficient management system. The corporation also got a new Managerial Board and increased production from the previous year.
In April, private cane farmers received the red light to supply sugarcane to the new Skeldon factory. The farmers were told to provide the estate with the 30 percent quota during the presentation of the blueprint for the sugar industry’s future.
The move was necessary to ensure that the factory provides up to 400,000 tons and that the unit cost falls to US$10 cents a pound.
Market Prices
The Ministry of Agriculture launched the Agriculture Market Information Service (AMIS) through the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) in June to allow farmers, agro-processors, exporters, agri-business investors and Guyanese in general to access the market prices of commodities through the use of the Short Messaging Service (SMS) offered by Digicel.
A database of commodity prices in Stabroek and Bourda markets, and also market prices of the same commodities in Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados has been created.
Weather tracking
The acquisition of the Doppler Weather Radar is geared at developing a first-class weather monitoring system and enhancing the entire hydro-meteorological department.
The 20-meter high tower, at Hyde Park, Timehri, will allow forecasters to increase precision, time and propensity in their definition of severe weather and will also improve the network of data collection to guide the committee that monitors the levels of rainfall.
The radar with its prediction capabilities will provide early warnings and allow mitigation interventions to be more efficient.
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Lands & Surveys Commission launches competitions for schools
-focus on land degradation, climate change
The Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Guyana Lands & Surveys Commission (GLSC), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) today launched its Essay, Art and Photography Competitions of the Capacity Development and Mainstreaming for the Sustainable Land Management (SLM) Project.
These competitions, launched under the theme “Let’s Take Care of the Land- It’s Our Security Against Climate Change”, are expected to increase the knowledge that students have about land degradation and recognize that climate change is a very serious problem facing everyone.
They will also increase the exposure of youths to various land use activities within their environment.
Commissioner, Guyana Lands & Surveys Commission (GLSC), Doorga Persaud at the launching of the Essay, Art and Photography Competitions, GLSC, Hadfield Street
Officer-In-Charge, Deputy Representative, UNICEF, Geoffrey Ijumba stated that young people are aware of the need to protect the environment and that sustaining the effective management of land resources is one of the most important issues that need the involvement of young minds.
Commissioner, GLSC, Doorga Persaud added that in order for youths to make a difference, the entrants to the competitions will have to research in-depth about proper and improper land management practices and the Head-Teachers of Primary and Secondary Schools should check for their school’s package consisting of a copy of the competitions, rules and prizes at the Regional Education Office in their Administrative Region.
The competitions will close on January 29, 2010 and all entrants are required to submit their entries to the Regional Education Office from which the GLSC will organize collection.
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