Britain’s Prince Charles has praised the leadership of President Bharrat Jagdeo in the climate change arena.
The Prince, at a meeting of his Rainforest Fund in London on Thursday, pointed to Jagdeo’s “incredible leadership” in combating climate change by dedicating Guyana’s entire forests to the cause. “I would particularly like to thank President Jagdeo of Guyana. He has shown incredible leadership in all this,” a press release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) quoted the Prince as saying. The Thursday meeting at the St James Palace was to discuss emergency funding to tackle tropical deforestation.
According to GINA, the meeting, a few weeks before the important 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Copenhagen, Denmark from December 7 to 18, arrived at a consensus which comes in the form of an inter-governmental report produced by the Informal Working Group (IWG) of 35 countries, that was set up after the meeting of the G-20 leaders, convened by the Prince in April.
The IWG report outlines a process that would reward rainforest countries for reducing deforestation rates. Payments would be made on a performance basis, and would ensure that the forests are worth more alive than dead. The financing is aimed at encouraging rainforest countries to pursue more sustainable forms of economic development, the release noted.
It stated that Prince Charles was also high in praise for the Government of Norway with which Guyana had signed a Memorandum of Understanding on November 9 that could see this country accessing up to US$250M by 2015 in return for preserving its forests.
“We also owe an enormous amount to the Government of Norway for their remarkable leadership and also, dare I say it, for their money! I really would also like to express even more gratitude to the Norwegian government for their labour of love in providing the Secretariat for the IWG,” he was quoted as saying.
According to GINA, the Prince urged the world’s governments to deliver new public finance commitments to provide the funding that the IWG has demonstrated is necessary to reduce deforestation by 25% by 2015. “When you think that 25% in global reduction could be achieved on the basis of additional financing of €15-25B, starting at about €1B in 2010 and increasing to €5.5B per year in 2015, that isn’t much money really when you think about it and if we could achieve it, it would provide the largest reduction in emissions possible over the period…equivalent to perhaps as much as seven gigatons of carbon dioxide and that’s more than the annual emissions of China or the US,” he explained.
The Prince said that it has been inspiring to hear the private sector describe how they can play their part in bringing about a future where productivity and sustainability go hand in hand, and to hear of national plans such as Guyana’s to combat deforestation. “To hear of the government-backed initiatives already underway in Brazil and Guyana that can make this (reducing deforestation) a reality in two very different kinds of rainforest nations are two messages of precious hope,” he was quoted as saying.
GINA noted that Guyana’s Low-Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), which was launched on June 8 and has gone through a four-month, exhaustive national consultative process, is the first national plan that seeks to combat climate change by preserving forests. It has received international recognition and many renowned personalities and organizations, including the Prince, have joined the efforts.
Conservation Internation-al, movie-star Harrison Ford, the Clinton Foundation, the Governments of Norway, and Australia, whose Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, had expressed his country’s interest in collaborating with Guyana in the global effort to address climate change after lauding Guyana’s leadership on climate change during a bilateral meeting with President Jagdeo in New York in September, are supporters, the release said.
It noted that Australia has committed to support Guyana’s Monitoring Reporting and Verification (MRV) system.
Meanwhile, it was noted that at Thursday’s meeting the United States pledged US$275M to rainforest protection, which would come from US$1.2B assistance for international programmes, part of a 2010 budget currently pending US Congressional approval.
The funds would aim “to protect biodiversity and support sustainable landscapes in fiscal year 2010 … with a focus on protection of tropical forests.”
For his “incredible leadership” role in the big climate change and deforestation battle, President Jagdeo should be given a hero’s welcome when he returns to Guyana. Thousands of people should assemble at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport to greet him. They should lift him high on their shoulders from the plane to the presidential vehicle. Stabroek News should send a photographer to capture the moment and then put a catching picture on its front page. And I would be waiting to read the deafening gnashing of teeth by the usual anti-Jagdeo bluggers on these pages. Meanwhile, I urge the President to carry on bravely with his Low Carbon Development Strategy. Whatever happens in Copenhagen, he should not be discouraged. Nothing great has ever been accomplished without trials and troubles. Needless to say, today is Saturday, my Jack Daniels Day, and I will propose a toast to His Excellency the President and His Royal Highness Prince Charles.
yasuman71, someone should have sent a photo of the torture kid, to the Prince. So that persons can really see, what going on in Guyana. Jagdeo should start by fixing the racial climate in Guyana. But how can he, since he is never there.
Incredible pan handling skills.
Yasuman71 you seem to carry the PPP/C play book. Jagdeo should also be complimented for his role as Commander in Chief while the discipline forces continue to torture the citizens of Guyana, for the government’s inaction on holding Roger Khan accountable for the crimes against committed against the people of Guyana.
Brandon:
You have made my day. Panhandler Jagdeo. lol.
Yasuman71:
Like good subjects we still need approbation from the colonial masters. It’s time we start paddling our own canoe and not depend on handouts from “massa”.
Borapork, did you say “colonial masters?” Don’t forget you’re flying the Canadian flag, and Prince Charles’ mother is the Head of State of Canada. As I understand it, all immigrants have to swear loyalty to the British Queen upon taking the Oath of Citizenship in Canada. Borapork, Queen Elizabeth II is legally your Master.
Yasuman, I would be at Timehri if I was not overseas to greet President Jagdeo. Let me tell you that President Jagdeo has done well, when taken into consideration all that he has had to deal with, not an easy task ruling Guyana. Congrats to His Excellency and God Bless him. I don’t drink hard drinks, but you can have one on my behalf Ysauman
Have one on me, Bossman.
Mine’s a DDL 12year old:-)
wait this have to b on to Royal Highnes prince. yasuman71 seem u is d fist person u dis respect the prince
excellent leadership role in climate change and deforestation battle. Let the environment thrive, who cares about the people right? The giant lungless worm will take over and live happily ever after in GuyEDEN
This should have been the lead story today -rather than the garbage item about a bogus doctor to tillitate National Inquirer type readers
Which Barbados papers is this news item in Reddy?
Which other newspaper other than Guyana is this in today……
Check d Chronic and d Hard Times Norman.
the lickin’ goes on over there.
I’m surprised that you did not chide Stabroek News for relying on second hand information…
If the prince only know who the president is, he would sing a different tune.
His Royal Highness is apparently bored.
If a picture tells a thousand words, then the body image captured in the Guyana Chronicle with Prince Charles and Jagdeo says alot. The distance that the Prince placed between them in the photograph was well noted.
His Royal Highness should know the man he lauds presides over a state that tortures its people, discriminates against its people and is the most corrupt in the Caribbean. The Joint Opposition needs to send a copy of its Dossier to His Royal Highness to let him see what the former colony has become. Justice For All.
Camela must have put too much sucrose in Prince Charles’s tea. Bharrat Jagdeo’s history will affirm that he was leader of one of the poorest South American Countries who turned a blind eye to drug king pin Roger Khan, presided over a government that ignored the blatant torture of it’s citizens, a government that turned a blind eye to corruption and squandered the natural resources of a country inherited with sound growth policies from the Desmond Hoyte PNCR.
what prince charles know about guyana his words doesnt carry any weight he should visite guyana but I dont blame him he told the president what he wants to hear
Bharrat is clean and lean, he does not need to be policed. Cdes. should have some respect for the president.
“Righteousness exalted a nation: but sin is a reproach any people.”
We can do better, those who know better must do better.
clean and lean? i bet raja might beg to differ on that.
Flatty,
Let’s pray
“Corruption and torture kill a nation. We can do better, those who know better must do better”
Amen!
The Prince knows about all the corruption that evolves in Guyana and he knows about the President, but in diplomacy people shake hands although they scorn each other. On the other hand one must credit Jagdeo immensely with his work which would provide a heathly existence for future generation. At the end of day’s bickering, it is the people who must be very realistic in confronting government about their intentions-and not promises.