The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry was recently invited by the chairman and members of the Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Natural Resources to examine the management and functioning of the natural resources and environmental sectors.
The meeting, which was convened at Parliament Building, was chaired by Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, and witnessed a presentation by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud, who was accompanied by senior managers of the various agencies under his ministry’s portfolio.
During his presentation, Minister Persaud reemphasised that the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry was established out of a direct desire to harmonise and better coordinate the natural resources and environmental sectors.
He pointed out that the mission statement of the ministry is to facilitate the effective management and development of Guyana’s resources through improved policy-making, inter-agency coordination, and administration, based on the principles of environment, economic and social sustainability for the ultimate benefit of all Guyanese.
In an effort to improve governance and management of the natural resources and environmental sectors, several pieces of legislation and regulations are already before the National Assembly, while others are being reviewed, he added.
Further, the natural resources and environmental minister updated members of the parliamentary sub-committee on the developments that are taking place in environmental and wildlife management, mining and forestry, and protected areas and land administration.
Notwithstanding, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) parliamentarian Joseph Harmon sought to clarify whether it was a conflict of interest to have the environmental and natural resources sectors managed by one ministry. However, Minister Persaud assured the meeting that the current management of the various sectors allows for greater collaboration and coordination. The current dispensation, he said, has improved the level of interaction between several agencies on sharing technical expertise and resources.
The meeting concluded after several clarifications regarding the mandate and management of the ministry were sought by the chairman and members of the Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Natural Resources.
