Protection of the environment an obligation – Pres. Granger
─ Guyana observes World Environment Day
By Anara Khan
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, June 6, 2019
President David Granger, on Thursday, reminded Guyanese that “the protection of the environment is an obligation, not an option.”
The Head of State was speaking at an event hosted at the Baridi Benab, State House, in observance of World Environment Day.
The Constitution of Guyana provides that the state shall protect the environment for the benefit of present and future generations through reasonable and other legislative measures designed to prevent pollution and ecological degradation to promote conservation and secure sustainable development and the use of natural resources while promoting justifiable and economic development.
“The government, in compliance with the constitution, has taken steps to protect human life by safeguarding the environment… It is committed to preventing pollution and ecological degradation by preventing the contamination of our waterways, the phasing out of the importation of single-use plastics and improving solid waste management,” the Head of State said.
He informed that the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) would become a model of environmental stewardship.
“It will demonstrate the signal role which a small state like Guyana can play in protecting the world’s air, water and land from the threat of pollution,” he remarked.
Sharing her view at the event, United Nations Resident Representative, Mikiko Tanaka stated that “the Green State Development Strategy is an ambitious and transformative national development vision and strategy that is well aligned with the 2030 sustainable development agenda.”
Tanaka further pledged the UN’s support towards the implementation of the strategy. “We would like in particular to work with the government and interested partners to address interconnected SDG issues.”
The event was attended by officials of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), members of government, special invitees and students from several city schools. It also saw performances from the students, which were geared at raising awareness of pollution.
Images: Keno George