Leaders and residents of Region 10 have pledged to host several mini-consultations on Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and a forum at Muritaro saw questions about the diversification of the economy of communities that opt in.

“The LCDS seeks to accelerate development in Guyana by diversifying its economy while maintaining sustainable environmental health through the protection and sustainable use of [its] tropical forests,” a press release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) said. The consultation was held at Muritaro in the Demerara River and drew participation from satellite villages including Malali, Rockstone, Coomacka, Three Friends and Great Falls. This is the third sub-national consultation on the LCDS, the release said.

In the discussion segment of the proceedings resident Conrad Fleming said though he has no objections to the Strategy he hopes that his community’s economy will become diversified as a result of it. Butuba farmer Andy Fleming posited that the LCDS is a “very good plan which in the long-term will pay off for Guyana.” He believes that the international community should “definitely remunerate us for giving clean air to breathe.” He also said that since logging is one of the main economic activities in the area, residents are hesitant to opt in without further consultations among themselves.

In response, Advisor and Monitor of the consultation process sponsored by the International Institute for Environment and Develop-ment Vanda Radzik assured participants that there is no pressure on Amerindian communities to “opt in” as they have to make the best decision on how to use the forest since they are “rights holder” and the only group of Guyanese with titled lands (forest). This decision, she noted, is part of the “free, prior, informed, consent” aspect of the strategy which is clearly outlined under the section “Indigenous people’s participation.”

Residents were further given assurances that they do not have to “opt in now and that option remains open as long as they choose.” However, the feedback period on the strategy is three months when the final draft will be done; and which will include their suggestions and recommendations. It was also noted that after opting in, communities which choose to withdraw their support from the LCDS are free to do so.

Meanwhile, Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh, in response to queries about diversification of the economy and logging, explained that the core of the Strategy depends on protecting the forest, while sustainably utilizing its resources. He said this will be done in accordance with national and international regulations. Singh also gave assurances that the Strategy recognises the need for economic diversification and this will “trickle down into the community level.” He also cautioned that at this stage it is premature to say what those diversification aspects will be.

In response to the question of rules of engagement with the international community, Singh said that the global rules are in the relatively early stages of determining payments for avoided deforestation as the Kyoto Protocol recognises for the purposes of Carbon Credits, reforestation and afforestation but “they do not recognise in an adequate fashion countries which have protected their forest as such … the global community recognises a country that has cut down its forest but not one that has protected it thus far.” To this end, Singh noted that President Bharrat Jagdeo has called this a “perverse incentive” because it recognises and remunerates countries that have destroyed their forests but not a country that has protected its forest.

Jagdeo has been championing this cause on the basis that “something must be wrong, in which a global rule of engagement which rewards for doing a bad thing and then correcting it, but don’t reward for having consistently doing good practices over generations,” Singh said. Guyana is seeking change to allow the value of standing rainforests to be recognised post the Kyoto Protocol and under the United Nations Convention hopes that it will be included in the new set of protocols which are currently being negotiated. The minister also advised residents not to divide the country in terms of how many benefits different communities will obtain, rather he said, focus should be placed on Guyana moving forward as a nation.

Additionally, Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr Bheri Ramsaran in response to a resident’s query about whether a water treatment plant would be built in his community with funding from the LCDS, noted that diversification of economies will depend on projects that have a comparative advantage based on feasibility studies. He said too in order for a hospital to be built in the area the required personnel will have to be sourced. To this end, Ramsaran said since Guyana is not “starting from a sterile background” but moving forward with developing its human resources the development of this sector continues to thrive.

According to GINA, other concerns raised at the meeting included the rules for opting in; the sum of money that will be allocated to communities that opt in; whether Norway will continue to support Guyana if the other countries do not and whether non-forested communities can support the LCDS. Residents also suggested that special attention should be given to new sectors in agriculture and that a bank be set up to disburse money to Amerindian communities that opt in.

Consultations have already held been in regions one, two and nine.