Chandarpal lauds strides in environmental protection
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Chandarpal lauds strides in environmental protection
Solid waste management to be focused onBy Andrew Richards
Stabroek News
April 10, 2000
The natural resources and environment sector holds an important key to the development of Guyana, Presidential Adviser Navin Chandarpal has stated, and government has recognised this by increasing the allocation to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by 129% in the 2000 budget.
Chandarpal, who holds the Science, Technology and Environment portfolio in the government, noted that it has been three years since the EPA was established and there was a significant increase in its capacity.
The EPA has made inroads into the establishment of the Environmental Impact Assessment process and development of regulations and monitoring and enforcement, Chandarpal said, during his contribution to the budget debate last week in Parliament.
"We all know that we are a far way from reaching the levels desired, but the manner in which growth is taking place in the agency is a great cause for hope in its continued development," he stated.
Chandarpal said government has undertaken a Natural Resources Management Project which, as part of its programme, is seeking to increase the capacity of the Guyana Natural Resources Agency (GNRA), the EPA, the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Lands and Surveys Department, the Hydromet Division and the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST).
A decision was taken for GNRA to cease being part of the management structure overseeing the natural resources sector, he stated.
In order to improve natural management, it was felt that GNRA should concentrate on developing policy guidelines and the planning framework for the sector. The respective agencies in the sector will concentrate on the day-to-day management.
Chandarpal noted that while there was not a single ministry to overlook the sector, there was a Natural Resources and Environment Committee which met every week. Its members include the heads of the GNRA, IAST, EPA, GFC, GGMC and the Lands and Surveys Department. Through these meetings, policy guidelines and plans are developed to move the sector forward, he stated.
"This arrangement helps to bring coordination to prevent complications in managing the natural resources sector," he asserted. Through this committee, policies have been formed for forestry, land use planning, energy, science and technology. A mining policy is also being formulated.
Government is cognisant that forestry and mining activities have some negative impact on the environment and important initiatives have been taken to ensure sound management practices, Chandarpal said.
He noted that in these two sectors soil erosion occurs and there is pollution of the rivers which are the source for drinking water for the residents in the hinterland. He acknowledged it is difficult to monitor these activities and stated that until government is able to increase the monitoring and enforcement capacity transgressions will continue to be committed.
Describing bio-diversity as one of the country's most important natural resources, Chandarpal said a National Bio-diversity Action Plan (NBAP) was developed which places emphasis on protected areas and wildlife management. With assistance from the Carter Center and Conservation International, government is looking at proposals that could be linked to protected areas and, at the same time, bring as much financial resources from the use of non-timber products, he said.
He noted that previously protected areas and wildlife management had been outside the scope of the bio-diversity programme, but now the National Protected Areas System (NPAS) is being pursued as an integral part of the NBAP and not as a single project being funded by one agency. He disclosed that government was already in discussions with several donor agencies for the funding of the NPAS as part of NBAP.
Solid waste management in the country was also causing some worry, Chandarpal said, and described it as a serious problem. He said the EPA will be embarking on an education and awareness programme on solid waste management for which substantial funding has been garnered. The EPA will also be seeking to assist local government to develop capacity on solid waste management.
Chandarpal stated that the efforts could not achieve the goals in good time if there was not full cooperation at the community level. A conscious approach is required and those who are guilty of pollution should be exposed, he declared.
He disclosed that the EPA plans to consult with communities in the next few weeks to embark on a clean-up campaign throughout the country. This activity will be linked with the Independence celebrations on May 26 and lead on to World Environment Day on June 5.
Alluding to opposition charges that there was no provision in the budget for the accessing of technology, Chandarpal said this area was not an easy one to develop. There was difficulty in accessing loans to support this type of investment, he said.
However, consultations initiated by President Bharrat Jagdeo on the subject were nearing completion and he would soon convene the first meeting of the National Science and Technology Council.
