President Bharrat Jagdeo is calling for the development of infrastructure that could achieve regional energy integration and security.
Addressing the recent XX Summit of the Rio Group in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, last Friday, the Guyanese Head of State told the other Heads of State and Government attending that in the face of spiralling oil prices, there was no option but to find ways and means to lessen the present financial and societal burden.
President Jagdeo suggested that, “We should join forces to develop and invest in an energy infrastructure that would advance the objective of regional energy integration and regional energy security.”
He also suggested that, “In the process we need also to promote the use of cleaner and innovative technologies that would reduce the harm now done to our fragile environment.”
According to his conference statement, made available by GINA, he observed that climate change had made their countries more vulnerable to natural disasters, adding that the small islands of the Caribbean and some countries in Central America were regularly devastated by hurricanes.
And referring to Guyana, he noted that as a low-lying coastal state, it was particularly prone to frequent flooding which took a disastrous toll on the economy.
In 2005, Guyana suffered one of its worst flood experiences which resulted, according to a study done by ECLAC, in a loss of the equivalent of 60% of Gross Domestic Product, Jagdeo said.
Summit host, the Dominican Republic focused attention on the question of energy, natural disasters and the disastrous impact which these can have on development.
Meanwhile, Jagdeo also identified the need for greater policy coordination and practical cooperation among the Rio Group in order to cope with these challenges which cause the countries to divert their limited budgets to concentrate on emergency spending.
He further told the Summit that “Guyana will be pleased to participate in the Working Groups set up to address these challenges as it can bring to the table the experience of the countries of CARICOM.”
Just a year ago Guyana hosted the XIX Summit of the Rio Group.
