Amerindians will comply with forest rules – TAAMOG

– as Norway funds begin to flow

The Amerindian Action Movement of Guyana (TAAMOG) has hailed Guyana’s receipt of the US$45 million for climate services provided by Norway, while noting that Amerindian communities are following guidelines for sustainable forest management.  In a release on Sunday, TAAMOG extended congratulations to the government of Guyana on the receipt of the funds, noting that it is well earned and the climate services were consistently and independently verified.

 “This clearly shows that Guyana has a dynamic team committed to ensuring that Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) fulfils its objective of combating climate change while at the same time pursuing low-carbon development,” the group headed by The United Force (TUF) leader, Peter Persaud said.
The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) came in also for congratulations by the group, which said the forestry body  played a crucial role at the ground level for ensuring that the integrity of “our forest is maintained, thus keeping Guyana’s deforestation rate well below the average and for producing very good scientific and interim measures reports, which significantly contributed to Guyana’s qualification for this third payment under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Guyana and Norway”.
“Many Amerindian communities are following the GFC’s guidelines for sustainable forest management, which will go down well when the ‘opting-in’ mechanism for Amerindian communities is in place.” TAAMOG said.
Norway’s third payment to Guyana for climate services is worthy of special congratulations as that country has ignored the hideous detractors who want to see the failure of Guyana’s LCDS based on their partisan political agenda.
“These detractors are the APNU, AFC, APA (Amerindian Peoples Association) and Janette Bulkan and company and sections of the media who are now left standing with their mouths open in shame. But, that is their place!”
The US$45 million now brings all three contributions from the Norway-Guyana climate and forest partnership to a total of US$115 million since the programme was announced in 2009.  Money from the allotted US$115 million, which is facilitated through the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF), is now beginning to flow to investments identified in the LCDS, including the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project.
This project will deliver a steady source of renewable energy that is affordable, reliable and is envisioned to meet Guyana’s domestic energy needs while removing dependency on fossil fuels. The government of Guyana projects that the Amaila Falls Project will save consumers and businesses approximately US$3.5 billion over the next 20 years, while at the same time reduce carbon emissions and create jobs.
The project is being developed in partnership with Sithe Global, an internationally regarded power developer; the Inter-American Development Bank; and the China Development Bank. The Amaila project is expected to begin generating power in 2017.
Other important initiatives being funded by the government of Guyana through the GRIF include the Amerindian Land Titling Project, which will allow Amerindians to further secure their lands and natural resources, enabling long-term social and economic sustainable development.  The Amerindian Development Fund will enable almost 200 Amerindian villages to advance their community development plans.
In 2013, 27 community development plans will start implementation. In addition, funds for micro and small enterprise development are coming on board in order to provide vulnerable groups with access to capital and business support.