Guyana has never said it will stop gold mining and exploration

Dear Editor,

Christopher Ram, the accountant/lawyer who fancies himself a TV talk show host and columnist, and who recently declined to be considered as a presidential candidate for the People’s National Congress Reform, is at it again, and is getting it wrong – again.  

This political advisor to an opposition party is so eager to deride the Guyana government and President Bharrat Jagdeo that he fails to do even basic homework. 

I read his latest attack on the president and the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) in the Sunday Stabroek of December 19, and noted at least two major basic misconceptions he peddled that even someone with just casual knowledge of the issue would not have made. 

He claims that Guyana’s Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD) initiative is an anomaly. 

“REDD is about reductions in carbon emissions. But Guyana is increasing emissions – from increasing gold mining and gold exploration, road-building and associated land-clearing, (and) increasing log exports,” Ram argues.

From what I know, Guyana has never said that it will stop gold mining, gold exploration, road building, etc. REDD does not mean that Guyana’s development is on hold, but is about reducing emissions through sustainable forestry practices and other methods.

It is also well-known that Guyana’s deforestation rate is well below the internationally accepted standard, and I find it bewildering that Ram would say that we are increasing carbon emissions.

Referring to the agreement with Norway, he also tries to give the impression that we have been conned into agreeing to accept US$250 million for five years when McKinsey valued the retention of our forests at US$580 million annually. 

As I understand it, the agreement with Norway is the first of its kind in the world, and Guyana is looking for other similar agreements. We have not sold our entire forest coverage to Norway for five years. 

If simple things like these elude Mr Ram, how can he be expected to honestly and truthfully enlighten people about national issues? 

But what can you expect from persons with open political agendas?

I agree with the president that the likes of Ram and Freddie Kissoon, who still do not understand the LCDS and what it really means for Guyana, should go and spend some time with the toshaos of Amerindian communities, who have fully embraced the initiative and who can help them appreciate its worth to the country. 

The toshaos should, however, be asked to exercise a lot of patience with them, because they find it hard to comprehend some things that the vast majority of us already understand. 

Respectfully,  

Sylvan Blackman