LCDS – a vehicle to lead climate change mitigation and adaptation-Minister Ramsammy -at LCDS consultation in Region Two
Georgetown, GINA, February 17, 2014
Following consultations in more than 220 communities, after the launch of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) in 2009, Members of the Multi-Stakeholder Steering Committee (MSSC) have continuously conducted awareness sessions on the strategy across the country.
Additionally, continued stakeholder awareness sessions are being conducted by the Office of Climate Change (OCC), with the most recent being held on Sunday last in Region Two. On February 13 residents of Region Three benefited from similar consultations which are aimed at educating Guyanese citizens about the LCDS, the issue of climate change and global warming, and the role they can play in helping to mitigate these issues
Minister of Agriculture, Dr Leslie Ramsammy during an interactive session with the residents of Region Two on the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) at the Anna Regina Secondary school
Agriculture Minister, and a member of the MSSC, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy speaking at the Anna Regina Secondary School, reminded residents of Region Two that Guyana has reserved 85% of its forest, and the country has about 3.4 million hectares of potential agriculture land, which gives Guyana the opportunity to feed the Caribbean and create livelihoods for its people, while at the same dealing with the issue of climate change and global warming.
During a very informative and interactive session, Minister Ramsammy highlighted that the LCDS takes into consideration many projects that can be developed from income generating options. “We want to move away from the subsistence livelihood, just producing enough for you to eat….we are long past those days, we want to generate wealth for our people, the LCDS is a vehicle to generate wealth in a responsible way and to have Guyana leading in mitigation and adaptation,” he said.
This, he said can be achieved by persons growing their own food, while at the same time dealing with climate change and keeping the economy green and earning financial resources for doing so.
One of the major contributors to global warming is tropical deforestation, and Guyana believes that addressing this issue has now become one of the global priorities for combating climate change.
Guyana’s LCDS has been recognised internationally as a model in terms of addressing climate change, an issue that many other developing countries have failed to recognise.
A staff of the Office of Climate Change making a power point presentation on the Low Carbon Development Strategy
“Each one of us, young and old, needs to take a lot of pride and celebrate the fact that Guyana has been in the leadership role in terms of addressing climate change…the truth is that the world has been slow in reacting and that’s why we have a crisis and we need to do something…..climate change is here now and we must do something about it,” Minister Ramsammy stressed.
He also explained the issue of greenhouse gases, and how they are generated and mitigated, noting that with the vast amount of development that has been occurring all over the world, this issue is becoming more prevalent, “And that is why it is so important for us to reserve our forest and green our economy and Guyana is on that pathway,” Minister Ramsammy further explained.
Yvonne Pearson, also a member of MSSC gave an overview of the LCDS and what it entails. She explained what are climate change and its effects, stating that Guyana has been playing a great role in combating it.
Member of the LCDS Multi-Stakeholder Steering Committee, Yvonne Pearson addressing the gathering
“The LCDS is a vision translated into a national strategy…our roadmap to development,” Pearson told the gathering. She said that Guyana can play an important role in the mitigation of climate change, hence the LCDS. The strategy aims to transform Guyana’s economy to deliver greater economic and social development for the people by following a low carbon development pathway, and provide a model to the world as to how climate change can be addressed through low carbon development, in developing countries.
A presentation was also done by a representative from the OCC, who expounded on the LCDS, what it entails and how people can benefit.
Residents also had the opportunity to share their views at the awareness session.
For Ravinauth Boodram, a teacher at the Anna Regina Secondary school, “The consultation was a good one. I believe more people need to come out to the awareness sessions, to be aware of the strategy. Consultations like these are very fruitful, in letting people know what their part in militating against climate change is.”
A section of Region Two residents at the LCDS consultation
Khemraj Khandai, a staff of Agriculture Ministry in the Region Two said farmers are facing the brunt of climate change at this point in time and while some are adapting, others are hesitant.
On June 8, 2009 former President Bharrat Jagdeo launched the LCDS that outlines Guyana’s vision to promote economic development, while at the same time combating climate change. A revised version was published on May 24, 2010 and subsequently the LCDS update was launched in March 2013 by President Donald Ramotar.
A key part of the LCDS is the involvement of the stakeholders towards the implementation of policies and programmes contained within.
During 2013 sessions were held in Mabaruma, Moruca and Port Kaituma, Region One.