Stabroek News
June 5, 2001

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be hosting an exhibition on Thursday as the main event for world environmental week which commenced on Sunday.

The exhibition was scheduled for World Environmental Day today but because of the Youman Nabi holiday it was rescheduled.

Information and education director of the EPA, Dr Rovin Deodat, told reporters yesterday at a briefing that activities will focus on building environmental awareness.

The week kicked off with a march on Sunday through the city dubbed the Green Walk.

It is the third consecutive year the walk was staged for persons and groups to show commitment and support for a sustainable environment.

The EPA has extended the activities this year to the communities.

A similar walk will be held on Friday in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) through the Ministry of Education with support from the regional administration.

The walk is seeking to attract environmental clubs in the region.

The EPA has been encouraging the formation of the clubs in schools with the aim of spreading environmental awareness to the Parent Teachers Association and eventually to the wider communities.

Clubs have been formed in areas from Charity to Skeldon.

The Linden community has also organised a walk for Saturday

Giving a briefing on the exhibition was senior environmental officer, Sharifah Razack, who told reporters the purpose of the event was to provide the public with an opportunity to have a deeper look at environmental problems and solutions, and the role they could play.

The exhibition will keep in focus the theme for World Environment Day, "Connect with the World Wide Web of Life."

Among those expected to have booths at the exhibition are the Centre of Studies for Biodiversity, the World Wide Fund for Nature, Conservation International, Iwokrama, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), the Ministry of Education, and the National Agricultural Research Institute.

Dr Deodat said the EPA is trying to encourage the communities to become involved in activities for environmental week.

Diamond/Grove councillor Wendell George said the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) started a clean-up campaign yesterday of the main canal as part of the activities. This is expected to last the entire week.

Brochures on environmental issues will be distributed to the Grove and Diamond primary schools and the Craig/Caledonia Community High School. The NDC plans to plant decorative plants in the new Diamond housing scheme on Friday. Talks will also be held in the neighbourhoods on environmental issues.

Pauline Arjune, who is working along with the Eccles/Ramsburg NDC, said their activities include a clean-up campaign, an open day for questions and answers on environmental topics, a tree planting exercise in collaboration with GFC, a poster drawing competition, and a rally where there will be video shows, skits and health talks.

Dr Deodat expressed the hope that the NDCs and Regional Democratic Councils will show the same level of enthusiasm during the year to promote environmental awareness in their areas.