Private sector deliberates role in the development, implementation of GSDS

DPI, Guyana, Thursday, May 10, 2018

Representatives from the private sector met to deliberate their role in the development, implementation, and monitoring of Guyana’s Green State Development Strategy (GSDS).

The delegates were participating in a workshop hosted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in collaboration with the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and the Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry (CAGI).

The event, which was held at the Roraima Duke Lodge, Georgetown, is part of the ILO’s task of incorporating the organisation’s guidelines in ‘transitioning into environmental sustainable economies’ into the discussions of Guyana’s GSDS.

During the deliberations, a case study by the Demerara Bank Limited will be presented to update the participants on some of the initiatives the bank has applied in keeping with the GSDS. The bank is the only institution in Guyana that has gone fully green.

In her presentation on government’s perspective on the GSDS, Director of the Department of Environment, Ndibi Schwiers, provided an extensive overview of the strategy and how it will benefit the Guyanese populace.

Schwiers explained that GSDS is transformative in its construction and inclusive in its design. It is the vision and expression of the people of Guyana for a prosperous future in a sustainable environment. It allows for an inclusive green economy and social growth.

According to the Director at the individual level for the average Guyanese, this initiative will provide a better quality of life, based on a sound education and social protection, ‘green’ and decent jobs, individual equity, justice and political empowerment and economic opportunities.

“In order to build a green state like the government is seeking to do, it is important that not only policies are coordinated at all levels, but intuitional arrangements and programmes are in place so as to manage the environment and the economy as a whole,” Schwiers stated.

Edward Boyer, Chairman of the Private Sector Commission noted that with the emphasis on environmental preservation and protection across the globe, Guyana is playing its part with the development of a GSDS that will ultimately mitigate the harsh effects of climate change.

 

By: Synieka Thorne.

 

Editor’s Note: The GSDS will guide Guyana’s economic and socio-cultural development over the next twenty years, by laying the foundations for inclusive green economic and social growth, provide a roadmap for achieving the GSDS and outline a long-term vision for a wealthy and equitable future.

Further, the framework, which was completed in 2017 is providing guidance for the elaborations of key sectoral and thematic priorities through ongoing regional consultations.