Dear Editor,
We write to communicate concerns about your article, ‘Ministerial team in Region 9 Low Carbon Consultation’ published on June 24, 2009. As Amerindian leaders and elders who were present in the said “consultations,” we strongly feel that your article, which was based on a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release, does not properly reflect what took place during the recent meetings in Region 9. While it is true that positive statements were expressed about the need to protect the forest and fight climate change, numerous participants voiced concerns over specific proposals in the President’s draft Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), which are not mentioned in your report.
In particular, participants raised our outstanding land issues and asked how the strategy would respect our rights as protected under international norms that are still not adequately safeguarded under the 2006 Amerindian Act and other national laws. Many people called for full respect for our traditional farming and activities on our traditional lands (both titled and untitled), while others highlighted the need to address land claims upfront before implementation of forest conservation schemes. Several individuals also conveyed serious concerns about LCDS proposals to support large-scale rice and soya bean farming in fragile savannah ecosystems.
We call on the Stabroek News to ensure that further reporting provide a balanced perspective of issues raised and views expressed by rights’ holders and citizens in future low carbon news stories.
May we also respectfully recommend that in the future the Stabroek News as a high quality newspaper not rely solely on the GINA reports for information on public views on government’s LCDS.
Yours faithfully,
Tony James, Aishalton Village
Ron James, Aishalton Village
Dave Lewis, South Central
Rupununi
Sydney Allicock, North Rupununi
Gavin Winter, Aishalton Village
I agree with the observations made in this letter. In the interest of balance I too believe it will argue well for SN to send reporters who would give first hand info, and wait on GINA for their doctored account.
SN disseminating government propaganda?!!!
ALL OF THE ABOVE ARE TOOLS THAT THE GOVT USES FOR THEIR PROPAGANDA PURPOSES. IT IS UNPRECEDENTED IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD. THIS GOVT HAS DIRECT OR INDIRECT INFLUENCE OF SO MANY MEDIA HOUSES/OUTLETS.
The PPP needs to leave office
They will have to leave through the ballot box
PPP is on the way out, whenever you have a bunch as useless as they are and so confident that they will get away with it, their hideous dreams will come crashing down and it will be such a shock to their system they won’t even realize its happening.
Everything must come to an end and the PPP is no different, the people of Guyana are fed up with this bunch in power and they will remove them come next elections. It is inevitable.
Your best bet is to vote AFC in 2011 and get rid of the ppp they are selling you carbonated credits, pure hocus pocus.
A vote for the KFC is a vote for the PNC.
What I see here are things being move around and the structure remains the same.In the Guyana DNA is the typical Guyanese politician’s behaviour.Vote AFC and nothing will change except promises.You will be singing the same song. Get them out.
So what is your suggestion brutus we continue giving the same bunch power to continue abusing our people and ruining the country rather than giving a new set of young leaders a chance to prove themselves?
Enlighten me o learned one…….
Nothing but junk, this entire much ballyhooed carbon shennanigan.Another excuse to allocate money on another bogus study/ project.
We have a winner!!!
This is one of the things which complicates this LCDS and the REDD. The issue of clearly defined property rights is one matter; we also have the issue of how the funds, if any, that go to the government would be spent in a fractured society as Guyana.
….by/from the comments posted ,, i see all is somehow duped to believe that the names attached to the letter is de authors of same ! collectively !
good for u ,, but i think ,, the comments tho ,, different in context ,, is of idle minds ,, WHy not give the cards a chance to get played ,, thus giving us a chance to see the hand dealt !
de sunlight is on de canopy and will hardly reach de ground ,, so my bet is not to judge what will unfold on de ground “prematurely” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Our govt is giving the impression that the Low Carbon strategy is our devlopment plan for the future.
It’s principle and proposed economic benefits seem plausible and feasible.What is very worrying, however, is why such an important issue is being hurried through to completion.
For example, the consultation in the Rupununi was a very technical presentation with issues that most likely was beyond the understanding of the average man. Yet the govt team deemed that one day was enough to cover all of the issues and for the people to comprehend what they were proposing.
The feedback from persons who attended these consultations sadly indicated that many returned home without fully grasping the gist of the consultation.
A consultation as important as the Low Carbon Development strategy needs to be given more time for the average man to understand its principle and benefits.