| – AFCThe Alliance for Change (AFC) has chided President Bharrat Jagdeo for what they see as total disregard for burning issues that are festering and stymieing Guyana’s development even as he (President Jagdeo) goes global in his quest to champion his much touted Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).According to leader of the AFC, Raphael Trotman, the President should stay at home and address the suffering that many Guyanese face rather than utilising taxpayers’ monies to go from one trip to another in what he branded the President’s presentation of what is nothing more than a glossy document.Trotman said that while he supports a better environment, this has to be balanced with addressing the issues that are affecting the normal man in the street.According to him, this is where the current administration has been seriously lacking. He said that it is disheartening to see the President circling the globe and speaking so glowingly about his new found ‘pet peeve’ (LCDS) and giving the impression that all is well in Guyana.He said that nothing can be further from the truth than what President Jagdeo is purporting.The AFC says it will prefer the President stay at home and address issues such as the failing energy sector, the many embarrassing revelations that keep arising thereby tarnishing the already tattered image of Guyana, and the many social issues that abound.The AFC called the LCDS the sale of a glossy piece of paper that it believes will achieve little in the end. The party said that the forest that is being proposed for sale is being touted as pristine in the strategy, when one third of Guyana’s labour force can be found amongst that same forest. The party said that it is unsure what will happen to the miners, who can be found there, if the forest is sold.They opined that their operations will be severely curtailed although the strategy is proposing that they will not. He said that the government does not have a plan to deal with issues such as these that will arise from such a proposal, it is with these in mind that the party believes that the country is not prepared for such a move.Referring to the current revision of the LCDS for Copenhagen in December, Trotman said that the document will look and sound good with little substance. He said while the government may strike a deal with a particular country, the forest may well fall into the hands of an individual with a less than favourable character that will deviate from the whole purpose for which it was acquired, thereby affecting the persons, who in this case are the Amerindians that dwell within the area.Trotman made reference to similar situations in other South American countries, where the indigenous community take people hostage, kill and create mayhem because they felt they were unfairly treated.The AFC said that the stipulations in the LCDS are proposals from the National Development Strategy of ten years ago, that spoke about balancing these with the country’s development. The party related that to date nothing from that was implemented.The AFC questions why ten years later, after total disregard for the stipulations of that document, Norway thinks that the Guyana government if given monies, will implement what they are proposing, Trotman said the government’s track record does not say that they will implement as they have proposed.As a matter of fact, the party believes there are inconsistencies in what the government stands for, disregarding one document and ready to adhere to another that has lucrative financial spin-offs. The AFC is calling on the Norwegian Government to consider the proposal carefully and its ramifications and if indeed they proceed with it there should be fool proof measures to root out corruptions.Further, the party said that for agreements like the President’s LCDS to work, all the systems in the country must be operating effectively. The party alluded to the unfavourable state of the local legal system and questioned if a speedy resolution can be achieved should the deal, if it happens, between Guyana and Norway goes awry and needed the court’s intervention.Trotman said that is why there should be a holistic rather than a selective approach to development in Guyana, because he is sure that legal process will be embarrassingly lengthy. Further, the party said research has shown that in the future the coastal plain where most of the country’s population live will be submerged and there will be a need for relocation in the future. The AFC is unsure if this can be done with private persons having ownership of our forest, where these residents may have to take up residence.The AFC is calling for a re-think of the LCDS by the concern parties taking its long term ramifications into consideration.– AFCThe Alliance for Change (AFC) has chided President Bharrat Jagdeo for what they see as total disregard for burning issues that are festering and stymieing Guyana’s development even as he (President Jagdeo) goes global in his quest to champion his much touted Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).According to leader of the AFC, Raphael Trotman, the President should stay at home and address the suffering that many Guyanese face rather than utilising taxpayers’ monies to go from one trip to another in what he branded the President’s presentation of what is nothing more than a glossy document.Trotman said that while he supports a better environment,Wholesale Jerseys China, this has to be balanced with addressing the issues that are affecting the normal man in the street.According to him, this is where the current administration has been seriously lacking. He said that it is disheartening to see the President circling the globe and speaking so glowingly about his new found ‘pet peeve’ (LCDS) and giving the impression that all is well in Guyana.He said that nothing can be further from the truth than what President Jagdeo is purporting.The AFC says it will prefer the President stay at home and address issues such as the failing energy sector, the many embarrassing revelations that keep arising thereby tarnishing the already tattered image of Guyana, and the many social issues that abound.The AFC called the LCDS the sale of a glossy piece of paper that it believes will achieve little in the end. The party said that the forest that is being proposed for sale is being touted as pristine in the strategy, when one third of Guyana’s labour force can be found amongst that same forest. The party said that it is unsure what will happen to the miners, who can be found there, if the forest is sold.They opined that their operations will be severely curtailed although the strategy is proposing that they will not. He said that the government does not have a plan to deal with issues such as these that will arise from such a proposal, it is with these in mind that the party believes that the country is not prepared for such a move.Referring to the current revision of the LCDS for Copenhagen in December, Trotman said that the document will look and sound good with little substance. He said while the government may strike a deal with a particular country, the forest may well fall into the hands of an individual with a less than favourable character that will deviate from the whole purpose for which it was acquired, thereby affecting the persons, who in this case are the Amerindians that dwell within the area.Trotman made reference to similar situations in other South American countries, where the indigenous community take people hostage, kill and create mayhem because they felt they were unfairly treated.The AFC said that the stipulations in the LCDS are proposals from the National Development Strategy of ten years ago, that spoke about balancing these with the country’s development. The party related that to date nothing from that was implemented.The AFC questions why ten years later, after total disregard for the stipulations of that document, Norway thinks that the Guyana government if given monies, will implement what they are proposing, Trotman said the government’s track record does not say that they will implement as they have proposed.As a matter of fact, the party believes there are inconsistencies in what the government stands for, disregarding one document and ready to adhere to another that has lucrative financial spin-offs. The AFC is calling on the Norwegian Government to consider the proposal carefully and its ramifications and if indeed they proceed with it there should be fool proof measures to root out corruptions.Further, the party said that for agreements like the President’s LCDS to work, all the systems in the country must be operating effectively. The party alluded to the unfavourable state of the local legal system and questioned if a speedy resolution can be achieved should the deal, if it happens, between Guyana and Norway goes awry and needed the court’s intervention.Trotman said that is why there should be a holistic rather than a selective approach to development in Guyana, because he is sure that legal process will be embarrassingly lengthy. Further, the party said research has shown that in the future the coastal plain where most of the country’s population live will be submerged and there will be a need for relocation in the future. The AFC is unsure if this can be done with private persons having ownership of our forest, where these residents may have to take up residence.The AFC is calling for a re-think of the LCDS by the concern parties taking its long term ramifications into consideration. |
