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TA B L E O F

CONTENT 3

Terms of Reference of the Green Economy Committee

5 Messages 6 Message from the Honourable Mr Vickram Bharrat, Minister of Natural Resources 7 Message from the President, GCCI- Mr Timothy Tucker 8 Message from the Chairperson of the Green Economy Committee - Ms Shaleeza Shaw 9 10 13 14 15

Promoting Global Environmental Studies The University of Guyana - Leading the Way in Global Environmental Studies Ivana Thompson – Aspiring Marine Biologist Shannia Persaud – Environmental Scientist Ana Correia – Sustainable Developmentalist

17 18 19 21 22 23

Community Activities Contributing to Sustainability Seawall Coconut Tree Initiative -Shaam Outar Plant a Tree Initiative -GCCI Green Economy Committee Living Green - PYAGUY Youths Volunteers Driving Environmental Protection -Seawalls & Beyond Vertical Kitchen Garden Project - GCCI Green Economy Committee

25 26 27 29 31 34 36 38

Protecting our Environment The Environmental Protection Agency- Saeed Hamid (EPA) Marine Litter - Ivana Thompson Sanitation and Waste Management Programme for 2021 –Satrohan Nauth (MLGRD) Single Use Plastics - Shannia Persaud Reducing Pollution with Electric Vehicles - Vanessa Williams Transition to Mercury Free Mining - Jimmy Reece (GGMC) Mangrove Restoration- A Necessary Climate Mitigation Solution-Mark Ram & Shaleeza Shaw

41 42 43 46 47 48 50 52 53 55 56

Alternatives to Fossil Fuels Biomass Electricity Generation – Jessica Hatfield Electric Vehicles Technology GEA Experience –Dr Mahender Sharma (GEA) Bio Char the new Black Gold-Launch at COP26-Evolve Trading and Investment

Tips to Green your Business

59 60

Green Economy Committee Members Thank You

Chambers Green Economy Committee Members championing Environmental Stewardship Texila American University -Preparing and Improving Youths for the 21st Century Eco Green Guyana- Providing Solutions for Coastal and Inland Erosion Excel Logistics & Management Services – A Greener Today Tullow Oil Guyana- 2030 Net Zero Commitment Demerara Bank Limited –Green Initiative Global Compliance Service- The ISO 14001 Standard- A tool for Environmental Sustainability!

GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Terms of Reference of the GREEN Economy Committee

Our Profile, Mission and Terms of Reference of our Green Economy Committee Chamber Profile

Mission

The GCCI is the oldest private sector representative organization in Guyana (established in 1889) and is a member-driven and professionally staffed non-profit association of business people committed to improving the economic climate and quality of life in Guyana. We are legislatively mandated under the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry Act Chapter 89:03 of the laws of Guyana.

The GCCI represents the voice of the business community in Guyana and strives to advocate policies, stimulate trade and investment, connect businesses, sustain economic growth and expand member opportunities with the aim of contributing to a stable and sustainable economic and social environment in Guyana where businesses can prosper.

The Chamber’s strength lies in the size and diversity of its membership—both large and small businesses from virtually every sector are represented. GREEN ECONOMY COMMITTEE Terms of Reference • To assist in reducing environmental risks within the business community and to aim for sustainable development without disregarding the environment. • To assist in the development of environmental best practices and green business tools. • To empower Chamber members and the local business community to become environmentally aware by providing information and methods that are in accordance with sustainable ecological practices. • To suggest programs and recommend policy and legislation amendments that contribute to sustainability, and to interface with other sectorial bodies to foster environmental awareness and further common goals.

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MESSAGES • Message from the Honourable Mr Vickram Bharrat, Minister of Natural Resources • Message from the President, GCCI- Mr Timothy Tucker • Message from the Chairperson of the Green Economy Committee - Ms Shaleeza Shaw

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Message from the Honourable Mr. Vickram Bharrat, Minister of Natural Resources

Theme: Advancing Sustainable Developments The concept of sustainable development was described by the 1987 Bruntland Commission Report as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Society, environment, culture and economy are considered the four dimensions to sustainable development. For Guyana, natural resources represent an opportunity for transformational growth to support the development of our country. As we look towards transformational growth of the economy and the natural resources sector, we continue to form synergies among the sustainable uses of natural resources that will advance sustainable development. The successes of the sustainable use of natural resources that help to support and advance sustainable development are underpinned by the national and international development targets highlighted in key guiding documents and initiatives for development such as the expanded Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The policies and programmes of the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and the natural resources sector are aligned towards achievement of development targets of the LCDs and SDGs. The expanded Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) sets out the context for the development choices facing Guyana, as the country reaches a new stage in its national development. It seeks to provide insights on how to stimulate the creation of a low-deforestation, low-carbon, climateresilient economy by setting out a model through which economic development and climate change mitigation will be enabled through the generation of payments for forest services in a mechanism of sustainable utilization and development. The result will transform Guyana’s economy whilst combating climate change.

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The strategies of the Ministry are aligned towards achieving this objective by focusing on interrelationships and trends in the development of natural resources sectors, new emerging sectors (such as oil and gas), sustainable forestry and mining practices, changes in environmental and social conditions due to such development, and possible alternative development and conservation scenarios. The result will transform Guyana’s economy whilst combating climate change. Natural resources are central to human wellbeing, our way of life as Guyanese and national development. The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) recognises that the natural resources sector, through its extensive activities (forestry, mining and oil and gas), has strong linkages with issues across the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with 169 targets towards 2030. Sustainable management and use of natural resources is key to achieving this global initiative. Integration of the SDGs into the policies, frameworks and planning sees MNR focusing on SDG 13: Take Urgent Action To Combat Climate Change And Its Impacts, SDG 14: Conserve And Sustainably Use The Oceans, Seas, And Marine Resources For Sustainable Development and SDG 15: Protect, Restore And Promote Sustainable Use Of Terrestrial Ecosystems, Sustainably Manage Forests, Combat Desertification, And Halt And Reverse Land Degradation And Halt Biodiversity Loss. The Ministry committed to highlighting challenges, emerging issues and key steps to address on the way forward within the sector that advance and align with our sustainable development goals. Some key strategies for the coming years across the sector include; development and implementation of national legislation and policy initiatives, implementation of an inter-sectorial natural resource management strategy and implementation of an Upstream Oil & Gas Policy and Strategy. Advancing sustainable development within the natural resources sector will continue to be guided and supported by national strategies and international frameworks that ensure transformational growth of the economy that support Guyanese now and in the future. Hon. Vickram Bharrat, M.P   Minister of Natural Resources

Message from the President, GCCI - Mr Timothy Tucker

I cannot overstate the importance of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) undertaking initiatives within the green and low carbon development space at this juncture in the globe’s history. As the Conference of Parties (COP) 26 scheduled for this year demonstrated, we as a global village are at the last stop to mitigate climate change. Internationally, the private sector will play a pivotal role in ensuring that we attain the 1.5 degree centigrade above preindustrial level target that has been set out by the globe. This adds another dimension to a growing list of social responsibilities which private sectors around the world ought to take into consideration in its development. Private sectors can no longer be ‘for profit’ with no other consideration. In spite of the fact that Guyana is a net carbon sink, the local private sector sees itself as having a responsibility to ensure that the level of climate and environmental consciousness ingrained in the Guyanese people, transforms into action for the globe. As we brace ourselves for the economic boom of this decade and the concomitant build-outs in infrastructure development, I am happy to learn of the Government of Guyana’s revised and expanded Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) which sets in place an economic development framework with a financial mechanism to support our growth.

This strategy, compounded by our key projects in the energy sector to transition our energy sources to transitional and renewable energy, will ensure that Guyana emerges as a global leader in low carbon growth. It is my hope that we become a model for others globally to follow. We, as a domestic private sector, must embrace technologies which support low carbon development and, I wish to take this opportunity to encourage private sector firms to be cognizant of this in their enterprise expansion. The cement industry, for example, which globally emits approximately 8 percent of the world’s carbon dioxide, will be an integral component for infrastructure development in Guyana. In building out of our country’s infrastructure, the private sector must ensure that this is undertaken in an environmentally responsible manner which embraces new technology, considers the planet, and protects our pristine position as a net carbon sink. I would like to extend my personal gratitude to the Green Economy Committee of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry which continues to be the leading private sector grouping in Guyana on green development and wish to congratulate them on the launch of this Magazine. This is undoubtedly a historic moment in the history of the GCCI and I anticipate that this will be the first of many editions to come. Do enjoy the compendium of articles which reflects the deep and thoughtful work undertaken by the Committee in ensuring that this remains the ‘Green Land of Guyana.’ Timothy Tucker President

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Message from the Chairperson of the Green Economy Committee - Ms Shaleeza Shaw

This magazine was birthed from the recognition that Climate Change and the preservation of Guyana’s natural capital assets are prominent issues facing us as a nation. The world is getting warmer, sea levels are rising, pollution is on the rise and biodiversity is threatened on a daily basis. Guyana is not excluded from these occurrences. At home, we see littering and clogged drainage systems growing, our coastlines are receding and increasingly we are faced with frequent flooding with the most recent being June 2021 which was declared a national disaster by the President, His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali due to its devastating impact across the country. The cumulative effect requires our urgent attention and the involvement of all the relevant stakeholders and must not be left to Government alone. As a resource rich nation with various sectors, the latest being the oil and gas sector; to prop our economic and social development, we need to be vigilant keepers of our environment-land, sea and air. New challenges are facing us and capacity building to meet and address these challenges is necessary, and I would add mandatory given the cross roads at which we presently stand. It is therefore important that recommendations already on the table as establishment of a mitigation bank to have monetary compensation for environmental degradation, and enforcement of a “No Net Loss” policy for Guyana that ensures that that which is damaged or taken out of the environment is replaced with strategies that balance out the damages through for example, replanting of trees, solid waste management and conversion to renewable forms of energy, marine biodiversity restoration

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and adoption of new sea defense engineering technology needs to be explored and embraced. With ongoing oil exploration becoming a Net-Zero emitter and developing Carbon Capture Storage and Utilization projects are equally important. Partnerships with other oil producing nations from whom we can learn and trade experiences should also be developed. As Chairperson of the Green Economy Committee, having hosted a number of webinars over the past eighteen (18) months on various subject matters touching and concerning the environment, I recognized that many persons, organizations, businesses and volunteer groups including our Chambers were engaged in activities of one kind or another that were in big and small ways cumulatively adding to the preservation of our environment while complimenting sustainable development. There are also budding environmentalists enthusiastic about making meaningful contributions. These contributions are all laudable against the backdrop that Guyana was pioneering with its Low Carbon Development Strategy model which later morphed into the Green State Development Strategy and is now being upgraded under the expanded Low Carbon Development Strategy. The articles in this magazine highlight the actions being taken by this spectrum of contributors with the hope that they can inspire others and bring greater awareness to environmental issues and how each of us in our own way can make a huge difference by our actions. Let us recommit ourselves to leave a Green Planet for generations to come. Do enjoy our first edition of Green Guyana. Shaleeza Shaw Chairperson of Green Economy Committee

PROMOTING GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES • The University of Guyana - Leading the Way in Global Environmental Studies • Ivana Thompson – Aspiring Marine Biologist • Shannia Persaud – Environmental Scientist • Ana Correia – Sustainable Developmentalist

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The University of Guyana - Leading the Way in Global Environmental Studies

The University of Guyana, now in its 58th year offers some of the most respected taught programmes in Biodiversity and the Environmental Studies in the world. These programmes are mainly offered out of its Centre for the Study of Biological Diversity in the Faculty of Natural Sciences, run by the dynamic young lepidopterist, Dr Ghanpriyaa Maharaj, and the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences (FEES) currently under the Deanship of Dr Temitope Oyedotun. UG’s Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry and the School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation (SEBI) also offer sustainable agriculture and sustainable tourism studies, respectively. In 2018-2019, the University under the leadership of Vice Chancellor Xi, Prof. Paloma Mohamed Martin and her Senior Management Team (SMT), began its Blueprinting process which has created an initial document charting the path the University will take until 2040. That Blueprint 2040 places environmental responsibility, research and practice, and sustainability as core planks of its new problem-centric, student-focused, and futuristic design. Four items in the list of eleven focus areas are specific to environment and sustainability. These are sustainable tourism, sustainable aqua and agriculture, biodiversity and the environment and sustainable energy. There are also human resiliency systems, Informatics, Data Sciences and AI. It should be noted that the University churns out about 600 graduates from Guyana and across the world from the various environmental disciplines every year. Centre for the Study of Biological Diversity (CSBD) The University of Guyana’s Centre for the Study of Biological Diversity (CSBD) serves both the University and the Nation by fulfilling its three-fold mandate of; 1) engaging in and supporting the documentation of the biodiversity of Guyana,

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2) promotion of conservation efforts and sustainable management of Guyana’s biodiversity and, 3) biodiversity education. To achieve its mandate, the CSBD curates and maintains the nation’s largest research collection of flora and fauna. Its collection currently holds approximately 10,000 fishes, 700 amphibians, 300 reptiles, 350 mammals, 820 birds, over 20,000 insects, and 50,000 plant specimens. Furthermore, the CSBD also collaborates with the Guyana Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission to monitor and manage the international exchange of genetic materials and specimens. To support its conservation and education mandate, the CSBD functions as a vehicle within Guyana for the development of a full range of educational, research and training programmes consistent with Guyana’s effort to conserve and sustainably manage its rich biodiversity. As such, the CSBD supports multiple biodiversity-based research projects within the country, offers educational tours and accommodates research within its collections, provides research grants to facilitate primary data collection by students, facilitates student volunteer and internship programmes, and offers several types of professional level short training courses. These courses are carried out in collaboration with local and international institutions and specifically focus on biodiversity assessment and monitoring, biodiversity and environmental data collection, analysis and interpretation and, scientific communication. These courses are open to faculty and students of the University and professionals. As such, they support the formal courses within various departments of the University and provides opportunities for Natural Resource Management professionals from various local organizations to gain additional requisite knowledge and develop contemporary skills within their various fields.

The University of Guyana - Leading the Way in Global Environmental Studies

UG-FEES Preparation for Environmental Programmes The overall goal of the University of Guyana’s Faculty for Earth and Environmental Sciences is to provide quality tertiary education in the Earth and Environmental Sciences and to conduct interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary research and extension services (to those who are not enrolled in the regular programmes) in areas such as environmental management, sustainable land use planning, natural resources management, housing and settlement development, and earth surface dynamics. As the nation is forging ahead with its Low-Carbon Development Plan, and to ensure the relevance of UG’s postgraduate programmes to the nation’s needs, the Faculty, through its Department of Environmental Studies, engaged in a comprehensive review of its MSc. Environmental Management Programme. The review process was based on the tenets of ‘the ideal graduate’ method, whereby an analysis was done to identify and demonstrate the skills and competencies that the ideal graduate should possess after graduating from the program. In assessing what these skills and competencies are, the reviewers synthesized national environmental developmental documents for Guyana, analyzed the offerings of international programs in environmental management and interviewed staff involved in the program and professional stakeholders in the environmental field nationally, all in an effort to compile a comprehensive list of skills and competencies. The feedback provided through these channels were then used to construct a needs assessment survey for which students and alumni participated in order to show what areas needed strengthening in the programme. Information gathered from the review process was used to restructure the programme into a proposed offering that meets national objectives, the University’s objectives, stakeholders’ expectations and students’ expectations. The review readily identified national priority needs in enhancing natural resource management, especially in the field of oil, gas and energy and the importance of more technical expertise in dealing with climate change especially within the context of the country transitioning to a green economy. In terms of the individualistic skills developed, the stakeholders’ identified the ideal graduate should be able to engage in independent research and data analysis especially in the context of environmental impact assessment, environmental policy development and environmental project

implementation. Against this backdrop, and with consultation with the staff members of the Department of Environmental Studies and the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences, this proposed environmental programme was developed for consideration in enhancing the overall quality and offering of the Post -Graduate Programme within the Department of Environmental Studies (DoES). In the new academic year, the Faculty will offer a Master of Science Degree (Thesis-based) and a Master’s Degree (Projects-based) in four specialized programmes: i. Environmental Management ii. Natural Resources Management iii. Oil and Gas and Renewable Energy iv. Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management These programmes are both multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary and aim to build capacity amongst national and regional academics and professionals by equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and technical expertise. The programmes are designed to provide students with a working knowledge of; i. ecosystem services and valuation, ii. national, regional, and international environmental law and policy, iii. environmental management and monitoring tools and techniques, iv. environmental economics and policy, v. pollution control and waste management approaches, vi. environmental policy formulation and appraisal. Apart from the Faculties which deliver the main offerings, UG’s Green Institute, under the current Directorship Dr Thomas Singh focuses on research and policy pertaining to environmental and sustainability issues. Additionally, the University works closely with such agencies as NASA, Servir Amazonia, WWF, Iwokrama, EPA, Sophia’s Point, Office of Climate Change and Environment GoG, CI and Archipelago of Island States Forum, as well as CITI Lab which works on sustainable cities design. UG’s acting Dean of the Graduate School Dr Paulette Bynoe, former Dean of the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences, is considered one of the Caribbean’s leading Climate Negotiators. For more information on the courses being offered, please contact: Email: hodes.fees@uog.edu.gy, gspes.fees@uog.edu.gy Phone Nos: +592 641 0399, +592 624 0152.

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The University of Guyana - Leading the Way in Global Environmental Studies

Scientific Officer Identifying Jellyfish

Butterfly feeding

Training programme on wildlife collection methods 12

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Hummingbird feeding

Students Identifying Birds

Students in the lab

ms. Ivana Thompson – Aspiring Marine Biologist

Ivana Thompson hails from Region #4 Georgetown and is a former student of Queens College and former part-time intern at World Wildlife Fund for Guianas. This 24 years old youth enjoys traveling to different regions of Guyana and spends her free time going to the gym, bingewatching Grey’s Anatomy, and spending time with her four pets one (2) dogs (Marley and Mei) and three (3) freshwater turtles (Sylvanus, Bonnie, and Clyde). Ms. Thompson holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from the University of Guyana and is presently pursuing her Masters in Natural Resources Management (Marine and Terrestrial Ecosystems). She has no regrets undertaking studies in this area. When asked what drove her to this area of study, she stated “Having a love for marine life more specifically sea turtles sparked my interest. Additionally, I have benefitted from the active support of mentors from Guyana Marine Conservation Society, University of Guyana, and World Wildlife Fund for Guianas, who inspired and exposed me to professional development opportunities which have contributed to my studies and will eventually contribute to my future career in this area of study”. With the current oil boom in Guyana, Ivana believes her studies will play a vital role in the proper assessment and representation of the marine ecosystems which will facilitate further protection and conservation of sensitive ecosystems and related organisms, through education. Ms. Thompson stated “Doing my Masters in Jamaica helped me to develop a much greater appreciation for Guyana’s biodiversity. Guyana represents a biodiversity-rich country that contains numerous significant protected species that all contribute to the high value of Guyana’s resources. The level of Guyana’s biodiversity-rich species is one of its most admirable features.” Her advice to policymakers is not to disregard the importance and value of our environment in every decision to be made, in every project to be undertaken, in every policy to be developed. More needs to be done to preserve our marine life and this cannot be done without thorough baseline studies of the marine environment. Therefore, in developing policies catered to environmental sustainability, policymakers should ensure thorough up-to-date research informs their decision-making.

Ms. Thompson admires World Wildlife Fund (WWF) for Guianas and Guyana Marine Conservation Society (GMCS) because it has allowed for a wholesome scope of studies, not only from an environmental perspective but overall social and economic development. WWF facilitated training in environmental preservation while ensuring social inclusion through activities such as gender-based workshops and perception studies. GMCS has also placed her in a position to be exposed to several levels of learning which has been pivotal in increasing her knowledge and dedication towards marine conservation. Ivana sees these as admirable traits as they promote truly sustainable development by ensuring environmental protection is in unison with social inclusion and economic growth When asked what guidance she would give to litterers and polluters this is what she had to say, “The environment forms the foundation of my studies. Some people fail to understand that taking care of the environment is directly linked to taking care of ourselves and preserving our own lives. Therefore, littering or polluting especially at a high level is detrimental to our own survival on this Earth. We are already experiencing some of these adverse effects with degrading living conditions, extreme weather conditions, and decline or complete removal of some livelihoods”.

The brilliant 23 years old Ms. Ivana Thompson’s advice to youths is to “Get involved in promoting conservation and protection of the environment. It does not always mean making this your area of study or getting into a related career, but there are daily activities that can further sustain our environment and reduce our carbon footprint such as, minimizing the use of single-use plastics and not littering. Therefore, keep yourself informed, and when you do inform others because protecting the environment means protecting our own lives”.

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MS. Shannia Persaud – Environmental Scientist

The 20-year-old firstyear student majors in Environmental Science and minors in Political Science. One of her many aspirations includes to find a balance between humanity and nature where neither are harmed. She chose this area of study because she believes she can truly make a difference on this path. Admittedly, it took her a while to figure out her calling. If anyone is currently in this position, she advises you to take your time but do not waste your time. It’s okay to start over, but be wise in your decisions. To anyone who is undecided or lost, she has a question for you. If you could do one thing for free for the rest of your life, what would you do? Your answer to this question will provide a good base in stepping forward.

Shannia wishes to remind the leaders and policy makers of Guyana that leadership is an action, not a position and that their duty is first to the citizens of Guyana. She urges the leaders to lead by example and to remember why they wanted their position from the inception. “The power of one person doing the right thing for the right reason at the right time is the greatest influence in our society”. During her CSEC and CAPE tenure, she was an active member of the environmental science club where she planned and conducted several workshops. She also volunteers in clean up campaigns and tree planting activities which shows her zealousness for the environment. She firmly believes in the potential of Guyana to transition into a green economy. Shannia also serves as a youth ambassador at the Rights of the Child Commission and at Empower Guyana Consultancy, through which she volunteers at the Hauraruni Girls Homea root of inspiration. Being a part of these organizations exposed her to the many disturbing issues Guyana faces. These experiences taught her valuable lessons in leadership, which later sparked her interest in political science. She is also one of the hostesses of the talk show, ‘The Empower Hour’, which is a platform that allows youth to raise awareness to the various issues affecting society and to also generate pragmatic solutions for these issues.

As an advocate for environmental sustainability and equality for every human being, Shannia Persaud believes that true change commences with you, the individual. It all starts with one. For her, Michael Jackson’s ‘Man in the Mirror’ could not have portrayed it better.

Notably, Shannia has won several essay competitions including the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition and most recently, the Guyana Competition and Consumers Affairs Commission Essay Competition on Single Use Plastics.

Shannia considers Guyana to be one of the most beautiful countries there is. Both the people and landscapes leave indelible marks on her heart. She wishes to see her country thrive in every aspect and break free from the shackles of corruption and prejudice.

For Businesses, Shannia understands that transitioning away from single use plastics may be difficult depending on the business’s budget, wants and needs. She nevertheless recommends finding safe alternatives as paper and cloth bags; and bamboo straws and plates. Her encouragement to all is to practice the 5“Rs” – Reuse, Reduce, Recycle, Refuse, and Remind.

She is fascinated by Guyana’s biodiversity. Its forest alone houses over 1200 animal species and over 6400 plant species. Like many others, she believes that some species are waiting to be discovered in Guyana’s virgin forests. When asked for guidance to litterers and polluters, her response was “Would you let a stranger walk into your home and make a mess? Earth is our home. It is the only planet capable of harbouring life, yet we treat it as though it is disposable. We created garbage, not the Earth. It is time humans started taking responsibility for their actions.” She also endorses for stricter laws to be put in place concerning littering and pollution, however it is the government’s duty to also ensure that there is proper waste management in every town, city or village. 14

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Apart from her academic life, Shannia likes to bake, paint (she is no professional, she just finds it quite therapeutic), travel and meeting new people. She also has a passion for graphic designing and designing in general, which opens a window for her innovative side. She hopes to one day use her knowledge and skills to help create a greener world. To this end, she advocates, consider the environment in every aspect of your life. Do not compromise the environment and USE YOUR VOICE! Every great revolution started with someone refusing to stay silent and may you never go silent!

Ms. Ana Correia – Sustainable Developmentalist

Ms. Ana Correia, 28 years old from Ogle, East Coast Demerara, is the new Occupational Health, Safety & Environment Manager at Trans Guyana Airways. She loves gardening, dogs, and spending time outdoors. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering and a Master’s in Sustainable Development. After graduating from Florida International University she worked with an engineering consulting firm in Miami for a year before switching paths to study Sustainable Development at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. When asked why she decided to switch career paths, she responded that she wanted to do something with more purpose that she could use to serve and better Guyana. Being on the cusp of rapid and transformational development with the budding oil and gas sector in play, she feels that Sustainable Development is precisely what Guyana should be pursuing right now, cautioning that “While it is natural for a country that has struggled economically for so long to want to capitalize on oil, we have to realize that it is possible (and essential) for us to do so in a way that prioritizes the environment”. She went on to say “The environment sustains us, so we need to sustain it. It is literally in our best (and financial) interest to preserve the environment because if we push the planet past its limit to sustain us and natural disasters start happening all around the world at a rate that we can’t recover from, we’re not going to be focusing on money, we’ll be focusing on survival”. She asserted that we are already feeling the effects of climate change here in Guyana with the absence of a dry season and the record flooding currently being experienced across the country. “Surviving the physical disaster is one thing, but as we are seeing, crucial pillars in our economy are trembling as a result; our food security is shaky right now because all the farms are flooded and the price of fresh produce has gone way up. Sure, we’re buying canned food in the interim but what would happen if other food producing nations started to go through similar climate change related disasters at the same time?” In response to the question of ‘So then what can we do?’ Ms. Correia responded that we should be trying to make all of our processes as sustainable and regenerative as possible and that if there are harmful aspects that can’t be avoided (such as deforestation for mining), that they need to be offset with green initiatives afterwards or elsewhere. “We should be reforesting our mining pits and planting mangroves in coastal areas inundated by sea level rise. If an area is prime land for development and the decision is made that trees must be cut down (like the Versailles area on the West Coast), then the developer should be responsible for replanting an equivalent area somewhere else so that our carbon capture

capability and biodiversity aren’t adversely affected by our development.” However, Ana acknowledges that it is difficult to get for-profit companies to voluntarily take measures to offset their impacts or green their operations because these measures inevitably come at a significant cost. She believes that the government needs to start making hard policies that mandate offset projects for high-impact commercial and industrial development as well as softer policies that aim to educate, increase awareness and breed compassion towards nature. “The government has to set the stage for a more environmentally conscious population by setting an example. Mandating offset projects is one thing but companies need to be incentivized and rewarded for positive action or else they will just start to resent you [the government]. Like I’d be upset too if I was the only one spending money one something that’s supposed to be a collective goal. There needs to be effort from both sides”. When asked for examples of “softer policies”, Ms. Correia said the first one would be including climate change education in the school curriculum from the earliest stage. “Once we start teaching kids about science we need to start teaching them about climate change, about all the things we do that hurt our planet, and all the things we can do to help”. Another potential soft policy she mentioned was giving people and businesses tax breaks for having green spaces. “There would be so many benefits to that! For one it would capture carbon, but it would also help beautify the city and clean the air. Having people care for plants in office spaces would reduce their stress and anxiety, that’s been studied and proven already”. To close the interview we asked her if there was anything else she wanted to add to which she suggested that policymakers in Guyana hire more sustainable development consultants when drafting their policies and embarking on big projects, citing that there is a real need for holistic proactive thinking. “We are all part of this huge interconnected system and we in Guyana have a real opportunity right now to get this development thing right the first time around. There is a smarter way to develop than how those other big countries did. They’re now all trying to retrofit environmental solutions onto systems that weren’t built for that and it’s really difficult because there’s so much infrastructure already in place they’re locked in. If we want to we could do it differently… but we have to really want it”. Ms. Ana Correia admires the work of the GCCI green committee for trying to focus more attention on supporting green initiatives in Guyana. She believes it’s an uphill battle but it’s a worthy cause. Her advice to this generation of environmentalists is “Don’t be discouraged. I know that sometimes it gets really hard to stay positive and keep fighting because it feels like the change will never come – I feel that way a lot too. But it will. And we have to keep pushing for it. The old machine will rust and fail. Our time is coming.” Ana is the author of a thesis coined Imagining Guyana 2050 which is available online.

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COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES CONTRIBUTING TO SUSTAINABILITY • Seawall Coconut Tree Initiative -Shaam Outar • Plant a Tree Initiative -GCCI Green Economy Committee • Living Green - PYAGUY Youths • Volunteers Driving Environmental Protection -Seawalls & Beyond • Vertical Kitchen Garden Project - GCCI Green Economy Committee

GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Seawall Coconut Tree Initiative - Mr. Shaam Outar

The coastline between UG Road and Ogle Gas Station was chosen as the most appropriate location to replicate the project and the more I thought about it, the happier it made me feel. I knew I had to do it. I started to gather young coconut plants and hired a few work men. Over the course of a few weeks in February 2013, we planted the young coconuts trees along the Ogle - Turkeyen Coastline. The entire experience was enlightening for everyone involved and is something I am sure they will treasure in their memory for the rest of their lives.

I was born in the village of Better Hope on the East Coast of Demerara and later moved to Ogle Front where I lived for most of my younger years. As a child, I assisted, both my grandparents and my parents with planting their kitchen garden. As I grew older, I started to plant my own flower plants, and sold them at Plaisance and Bourda markets to make my “pocket piece” as we called it. By this time, I was appreciative of the environment as mother nature allowed me to make a few dollars. As a young adult, after leaving High School, I attended the Government Technical Institute where I pursued studies in Land Surveying and subsequently became a qualified Sworn Land Surveyor. After working with the Lands & Surveys Department for ten years, in different sub regions in Guyana, I quit surveying and started my own business under the name A&S Enterprise. I started to import and distribute goods throughout Guyana. As a businessman back in the early 2000’s, I travelled to Manus in Brazil looking for new opportunities. I stayed at a hotel in the middle of the city and looking outside from the 15th floor windows, I saw the most astonishing thing. There were Mango trees planted on the median strip between the carriage way and under those trees, were benches, where the less fortunate would take refuge. What really grabbed my attention, was the impact of a falling mango. Within seconds of a mango hitting the ground, these less fortunate persons would rush to get the mango to eat. Instantly, this had a huge impact on me, to see how much, one mango means to some people. Upon returning to Guyana, I thought about what a wonderful thing it would be, if I could replicate my version of that street in Brazil. For me, to do so would be to add to a greener environment, to strengthen protection of our coastline, to provide homes or a place of rest for birds, to provide shade during times of heat, especially Easter Monday, when this area is used for kite flying; and importantly, I thought about how much happiness it will bring to the less fortunate who can get something to eat and drink. 18

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After planting the trees, I continued to maintain them and would replace those which died from time to time. I provided constant care and nutrition so that they would survive the harsh conditions of the weather. Overtime, I was elated to see the community workers who weeded the area, gathering the grass around the trees which acted as a fertilizer source to the plants. As the plants grew and withstood the weather, I felt a great sense of accomplishment. My vision and motivation behind planting these coconut trees stemmed from wanting to preserve our environment and reducing our carbon footprint, and to see the less fortunate benefit from picking the coconuts and having something to eat. These trees will also serve as shelter to persons who wish to relax on the seawall and for those persons performing their religious ceremonies. I strategically planted the trees at a close enough distance to each other, so persons wishing to tie a hammock and can enjoy the scenic view of the majestic Atlantic Ocean in this natural habitat. My dream of seeing Guyana have its own version of that street in Brazil remains. We are already halfway there. It is up to all of us, as citizens, to protect not just the trees I planted but our environment by keeping our surroundings clean and free from litter. This is something each Guyanese can commit to do. Guyana is beautiful. We are blessed Let us all contribute to its preservation in whatever way we can, be it small or otherwise with an abundantly rich biodiversity. Shaam Outar P.S. Shaam Outar is a longstanding member of the Georgetown Chambers of Commerce. He is currently a Council Member and a member of the Green Economy Committee of the Chambers.

Plant a Tree Initiative GCCI Green Economy Committee

The Georgetown Chambers of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Commemorates Agriculture Month with it’s “Plant a Tree,” Initiative In celebration of Agriculture Month, on Saturday October 3 and 10, 2020, the GCCI launched its “Plant a Tree,” initiative. Members of the Chambers in collaboration with the Ministry of Education went on a drive to plant fruit trees in several schools in Georgetown –Bishops High School, Queens College, David Rose Special Needs, St Joseph High, Tutorial High School, Unit for the Blind, North Georgetown Secondary and Cumming Lodge Secondary School. Fruit trees planted included mango, cherry, pear, gooseberry and cashew.

The Chambers by this initiative aims to bring greater awareness to the importance of plant life in balancing our eco system. Plants not only aid in reducing our carbon footprint through their carbon sequestration ability, but importantly also provide a home to many of nature’s animal species including birds, butterflies, etc. It is important for our school children to understand that trees contribute to their environment by providing oxygen, improving air quality, moderate local climate by providing shade, regulate temperature extremes, conserve on water, preserve our soil, and support animal life. In the case of fruit trees, they provide fruits that can be consumed by their beneficiaries with many health benefits. The pictures below depict the various schools trees were planted at over the past weekend.

BISHOP’S HIGH SCHOOL AND UNIT FOR THE BLIND

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Plant a Tree Initiative GCCI Green Economy Committee

DAVID ROSE SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOOL

CUMMINGSLOGDE SECONDARY SCHOOL AND ST JOSEPH HIGH SCHOOL

NORTH GEORGETOWN SECONDARY, CUMMINGSLOGDE SECONDARY SCHOOL AND TUTORIAL HIGH SCHOOL

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Living Green PYAGUY Youths

The Professional Youth Alliance Guyana (PYAGuy) is a non-profit organization that aims to empower young people by providing them with life skills and resources to help them shape their future. PYAGuy engages young professionals and helps them improve their natural abilities and talents so that they can actively contribute to their communities as a way of giving back. PYAGUY’s mission is to teach its members new skills so they can manage and support community projects including back-to-school drives to encourage youth to attend school, reading programs to improve literacy, and afterschool programs to help at-risk adolescents achieve their academic goals. The organization, which is based in Georgetown, has identified the outlying low-income areas of Sophia and Lodge where its resources can have the biggest impact. They usually work on programs that help young people aged 10 to 16, their parents, young women, young professionals, and the elderly. LIVING GREEN BY GROWING GREENS Over the course of eighteen months, PYAGuy managed an afterschool program which comprised home work assistance, literacy and numeracy, arts and crafts, and gardening as key activities remotely. Since the project’s inception in two low-income areas (Lodge and Sophia), the activities have centered on aiding households in sustaining themselves through gardening while reducing trash. Students were trained to repurpose household waste items from the beginning. These skills came in handy later when students were evaluating the materials in their houses and deciding how to apply creativity to plan, develop, and maintain their own kitchen gardens. These young people were resilient and didn’t mind getting their hands dirty. These kids have grit, just like the soil under their fingernails. They separated biodegradable trash from non-biodegradable waste and began working on their own compost. They learned about garden helpers and pests while preparing and were given instructions on how to deal with each.

Particularly during the pandemic, the youths were confronted with new challenges that necessitated a change in approach because they were no longer physically present at sessions. It’s undeniably impressive that, given the circumstances, these young people were more engaged than ever before; much like the seed, their potential grew as well. In order to adapt to changing needs, funds were set aside to assist at least twenty families in starting and maintaining their own kitchen gardens. This goal included providing participating families with a gardening kit that included gardening tools, seeds, and seedlings. After students from various families received their kits, they were frequently instructed via zoom and WhatsApp call, as well as a home-made YouTube video that explained the composting process. They began planting cash crops such as pak choi, calaloo, okra, bora, and others, with weekly monitoring over two six-week batches. They were encouraged to arrange and even decorate their garden using their arts and crafts skills to upcycle and recycle waste as they did so. Several young people expressed surprise that items that would normally end up in their trash could be used to nourish their plants or as plant pots, decoration, or even tools in their gardens. The experience brought joy in a variety of ways and exemplifies an excellent method of supporting families during the pandemic. PYAGUY had exceeded their goal by the end of the program, with thirty-five participating families and a total of forty-one youths working to create their own kitchen garden! Many parents joined in congratulating the youths on their hard work and success in living green by growing greens. BY DARYLL GOODCHILD -PYAGUY SECRETARY AND EON STEPHENS-USAID/CSWC AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM MANAGER

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Volunteers Driving Environmental Protection - Seawalls & Beyond

volumes of plastic and other inorganic materials – much of it washing back onto beaches and spoiling their beauty. The impact on marine life itself is often severe. It is with this care

VOLUNTEERS DRIVING ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Seawalls and Beyond is a group of people who describe themselves as nature-loving volunteers who see the oceans, the largest part of nature, as deserving of care for the enjoyment of all. Originally with the intent of showcasing the beauty of the Georgetown beach front at Kingston though social media, the group has grown in its influence and impact after an emergency intervention of a weeks-long beach clean-up in mid-2020. The group uses the power of social media - Facebook - to spread its message and to invite the public to join in regular activities in addition to beach-clean ups. Using art as a form of communication to spread a message of environmental consciousness is one of its methods. Tree planting exercises are also conducted. Advocacy as well as public education & awareness through social media are key activities of the group. The coastlines of Guyana are, in many parts, affected by ocean trash or marine debris which is becoming a growing problem. Poor waste disposal practices in many communities lead to the ocean being affected by large 22

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for nature, that the volunteers of Seawalls and Beyond press on despite numerous challenges. Its activities have inspired other communities to engage in clean-up campaigns as well and the group believes that it can be a catalyst for positive actions in caring for nature. The group continues to receive wide support from individuals, the private sector, clubs and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) who either join in monthly activities at Kingston or provide much needed gear, equipment and supplies. Seawalls and Beyond has an active Facebook page through which it interacts with the Guyanese public (@SeawallsandBeyond). The group openly welcomes new volunteers as it believes in the power of ordinary people to be agents of positive change.

Vertical Kitchen Garden Project GCCI Green Economy Committee

THE GEORGETOWN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (GCCI) CONTINUES TO PROMOTE SMART AGRICULTURE WITH ITS VERTICAL KITCHEN GARDEN

In its continued thrust to promote agriculture and inspire children to love agriculture, the GCCI Green Economy Committee, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education took its Vertical Kitchen Garden Project on Saturday November 28, 2020 to the David Rose School for the Differently Able. The Project aims to demonstrate use of recyclables to establish a kitchen garden. The Green E c o n o m y Committee used plastic bottles and arrange them against a supporting backdrop to allow for water and soil nutrients conservation when tending to the plants. The Chambers is emphatic in its belief that concrete homes do not preclude anyone from having a kitchen garden.

Vegetables planted were time, cellery, lettuce and calaloo; the bulk of which were donated by National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI). These plants are all known for their health benefits. Children were also included in the exercise to develop their interest in agriculture.

It is the intention of the Chambers to take its Vertical Kitchen Garden Project to other schools in the new year at the fourth form level so as to achieve one of our long term goals of sustainable agriculture and ensure we continue to nurture young agricultural entrepreneurs. This will run concurrently with our Plant a Tree Initiative which was launched in Agriculture month of this year. March 6, 2021-Three months later

Special thanks are extended to the Ministry of Education, NAREI and Mr. Hubert Sinclair of The David Rose School for the Differently Able in helping us to make this project a success. GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

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PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT

• The Environmental Protection Agency- Saeed Hamid (EPA) • Marine Litter - Ivana Thompson • Sanitation and Waste Management Programme for 2021 –Satrohan Nauth (MLGRD) • Single Use Plastics - Shannia Persaud • Reducing Pollution with Electric Vehicles - Vanessa Williams • Transition to Mercury Free Mining - Jimmy Reece (GGMC) • Mangrove Restoration- A Necessary Climate Mitigation Solution-Mark Ram & Shaleeza Shaw

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The Environmental Protection Agency - Saeed Hamid (EPA)

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the statutory functions to prevent and control pollution, to ensure the effective management, conservation, protection and sustainable use of Guyana’s natural resources, and to ensure that the adverse effects of any developmental activity be assessed before such activity commences. These functions require the EPA to regulate and monitor activities which may pose risks to the environment through the issuance of Environmental Authorisations. Under the EPA’s legislation, an Environmental Authorisation is defined to include: 1. Environmental Permits; 2. Operation Permits; 3. Construction Permits; and 4. Prescribed Process Licenses. An Application for Environmental Authorisation must be accompanied by: • The processing fee; • Supporting documents including proof of land ownership; • A detailed project summary; • Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) approval; • No-objection from the local government authority (Neighbourhood Democratic Council or Town Council); • Business Registration or Certificate of Incorporation; and • Any other permits or approvals from other relevant government entities. The EPA also reserves the right to request any other information or document it deems necessary or relevant to the project. Upon screening of the application and supporting documents, the EPA will determine whether an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) or any other documents or studies may be required for the EPA to make a decision to issue an Environmental Authorisation. Where an EIA is required, there are several additional statutory procedures, including scoping and stakeholder engagements, to be followed before the EPA can render a decision. However, in order for the EPA to issue an Environmental Authorisation, the Agency must be satisfied that the application and supporting documents or studies contain no false or misleading information, and that the developer or operator can comply with the terms and conditions of the Environmental Authorisation. The EPA

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must also assure itself that the developer or operator can compensate for any loss or damage which may arise from the project, and that the issuance of the Environmental Authorisation would not be contrary to the interest of protecting human health and the environment. There are several benefits to being issued an Environmental Authorisation by the EPA. The Environmental Protection Act affords the EPA “first development consent”; meaning that all other entities shall defer to the authority of the EPA before deciding on matters relating to the environment. As such, developers and operators who are proactive in seeking an Environmental Authorisation are able to prevent unnecessary delays, the suspension of works and possible penalties. Moreover, officers of the EPA are trained and competent to ensure that each Environmental Authorisation contains adequate safeguards for the prevention of environmental incidents, appropriate mitigation measures for any potential adverse effects associated with the project, sufficient monitoring and reporting protocols, and such terms and conditions necessary to regulate the type of activity. In addition to the environmental benefits, it is typically much more economically feasible for developers and operators to be guided by all relevant regulatory requirements designed to prevent adverse impacts on the environment, than to be held liable for penalties including fines, imprisonment and the payment of costs to rehabilitate and restore the environment or to compensate any person for loss or damage suffered as a result of environmental incidents. Additionally, an Environmental Authorisation issued by the EPA signals to the public and the world at large that your company or business has an interest in preserving and maintaining the environment. As environmental issues, including climate change, continue to garner global attention and mobilization for action, businesses, industries and commercial entities have a key role to play in ensuring their operations are conducted in an environmentally sound and safe manner. It is an offence under the Environmental Protection Act, Cap. 20:05, and its Regulations, to operate without an Environmental Authorisation, punishable by penalties including fines and imprisonment. As such, developers and operators are strongly advised to make an application to the EPA soonest. Saeed Hamid Legal Officer Environmental Protection Agency-Guyana

Marine Litter Ivana Thompson

“It is the worst of times but it is the best of times because we still have a chance.” By Ivana Thompson

marine ecosystems and life. Because of the small size of plastic straws, birds, fish and other marine animals can ingest it and can get stuck in their nasal passages causing difficulty breathing.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, Marine Litter is any persistent, manufactured or processed solid material that has been discarded, disposed of or abandoned in the marine and coastal environment. There can be several causes of marine litter which include poor solid waste practices (such as reckless dumping or burying of wastes), lack of proper infrastructure (to promote proper disposal habits), insufficient knowledge on disposal practices, lack of financial resources and limited enforcement on regulations in place. It is important to note that plastic pollution is the most widespread problem that is known to affect the marine environment. Based on the statistics, there is estimated 300 million tons of plastics created annually (of which 50% are single use plastics), while there is approximately 8 million tons of plastic discarded yearly. Dead zones refer to areas where there is little to no sign of life and where oxygen levels are lower than 2 milligrams per liter. To date, there are 500 marine locations that have been classified as dead zones with an estimated 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic wastes in our oceans contributing to this classification. Some common plastic litter that must be noted include:

d) Fishing Gear: takes approximately 600 years to breakdown and makes up 10% of all marine litter with more than 640,000 tons of nets, lines and traps being discarded into the sea annually. Because of this, it has been regarded as the majority of large plastic pollution in the oceans. This example of plastic pollution is severe to marine environments as a phenomenon known as “Ghost Fishing” can occur. With this, there is an entanglement of marine animals by once discarded fishing gear leading to death through suffocation or exhaustion. On a global level, there has been over 32,000 marine animals recovered from 870 nets (between 2002 and 2010).

a) Plastic Bags: which take about 20 years to photodegrade (where the ultraviolet rays turn plastic brittle, further breaking them into smaller pieces known as microplastics) as there is no complete breakdown. There are approximately 500 billion plastic bags used annually, of which only 1% is returned for recycling. They have adverse effects in the environment as they have been recorded to kill about 100,000 marine animals annually. A significant one to note is its effects on marine turtles that can starve to death by mistaking them for jellyfish and ingesting them.

MARINE LITTER IMPACT ON HUMANS

b) Plastic Bottles: take about 450 years to start disintegrating. While there are millions of bottles produced annually, only 25% is recycled. Plastic bottles can cause whales, seals and other marine organisms to starve when they ingest their fragments. Bottles are also known to increase the pathogen growth in the water and thus the potential for more diseases to spread among marine biodiversity. c) Plastic Straws: take approximately 200 years to start disintegrating. There are about 8.3 billion plastic straws recorded to date, however, straws only comprise 0.025% of the annual plastic pollution. While this may seem minimal, straws can accumulate with other plastic debris and form large masses on the ocean surface blocking out light to

e) Plastic Toothbrushes: takes approximately 500 years to start disintegrating. There are on average 3.5 billion toothbrushes sold each year, most of which are usually used 3-4 months before being discarded. f) Balloons: They can begin disintegrating in about 4 years and it is the Latex balloons that have been considered as more biodegradable. Helium balloons are composed of a metallic coating which is not biodegradable. When released into the air, they eventually can land in the marine environment where the ribbons attached to the balloons can entangle birds or the flippers and fins of other marine organisms.

1. Contamination of coastal waters has been linked to 250 million clinical cases of human diseases Diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) contained in some plastics, is a toxic carcinogen. 2. Related health costs are approximately 16 Billion USD globally. 3. Shellfish that has been contaminated has in turn cause 50,000-100,000 deaths due to impacts on immune systems and cancer diagnosis. 4. Over three billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods making up 5% of the global GDP. 5. Research shows that by the end of this century, marine waters will be 150% more acidic making it more difficult to be utilized by humans.

Goal 14 of Sustainable Development Goals encourages consciousness of Marine Life, “Life Below Water– Conserve and Sustainably Use the Oceans, Seas and Marine GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Marine Litter Ivana Thompson

Resources for Sustainable Development.” The United Nations (UN) reports indicate that Oceans are the lungs of our planet as they produce at least 50% of the planet’s oxygen. They are also home to most of earth’s biodiversity, and are the main source of protein for more than a billion people around the world. It is therefore recommended that ongoing efforts of Public Education of Marine Biodiversity and stricter Regulations and Penalties for Marine Degradation should be

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considered. In addition, alternatives to single use plastics and anti-littering campaigns especially into our waterways will greatly help if we want to reverse the trend of dead zones and the prediction that our oceans within another two decades will contain more plastic than fishes. Her simple advice to all is to practice the 5 “Rs” – Reuse, Reduce, Recycle, Refuse, and Remind. Be part of the Solution.

Sanitation and Waste Management Programme for 2021 - Satrohan Nauth

MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT ADDRESSING SANITATION AND WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ITS PROGRAMME FOR 2021 The sanitation sector in Guyana faces innumerable problems that require the intervention of the Central Government being the pillar of change. This intervention is paramount as Local Democratic Organs (LDOs) are challenged to effectively manage the waste within their respective locality. In keeping with the Government’s manifesto, Low Carbon Development Strategy and the Sustainable Development Goals; the

Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development (MLGRD) has placed integrated sustainable sanitation management as a priority for the year 2021 and beyond, driven by a mandate which seeks to “strengthen the solid waste management programme at the local level to deliver timely collection and appropriate disposal of garbage”. The Ministry received its largest budgetary allocation of approximately $1.2B for the sanitation sector in Guyana for 2021 with the aim to move from waste management to resource management as part of the circular economy. Within the next five years, the Ministry intends to be a significant contributor towards sustainable development and climate change mitigation.

THE DIAGRAM BELOW SUMMARIZES THE MAJOR AREAS OF FOCUS BY THE MLGRD FOR 2021.

The need to further strengthen national policy, strategy, operational frameworks and institutional capabilities for the development of the sanitation sector is recognized as the LDOs continue to face major challenges in ensuring access to waste collection services, eliminating uncontrolled disposal and burning of waste. As a result, the Ministry is now giving more attention to both the physical components i.e, collection, recycling and disposal; and governance aspects i.e, inclusivity, financial sustainability, and sound institutions and proactive policies. The MLGRD will devise and implement innovative and effective policies as well as practices to promote the reducing, reusing and recycling (3R) initiatives and stem the relentless

in Guyana.

increase in waste per capita as the economy continues to grow rapidly. The Ministry intends to strengthen human and institutional capacity through the launching of our modern legislative and policy framework for solid waste management. A draft of the Solid Waste Management Bill is currently being reviewed by the Ministry of Legal Affairs in collaboration with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will have public consultations moving ahead, before finalization. When enacted, the implementation of this legislation will see the formation of a Solid Waste Management Authority/ Commission to oversee the management of solid waste

Furthermore, the MLGRD in collaboration with all stakeholders will formulate the country’s first sanitation sector plan that will provide strategic directions for the Ministry along with the LDOs to effectively improve the performance and management of the sector. In addition, every administrative region should have a waste management plan that allows access to a roadmap that outlines the management of solid waste in the respective regions. Therefore, the Ministry will be developing waste management plans for regions 2 & 3 this year. In addition further works to be done in the regions include temporary waste disposal sites, pre-investment studies and designs of waste management facilities. GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Sanitation and Waste Management Programme for 2021 - Satrohan Nauth

The Government is aware that accumulating waste poses potential risks to the health of all citizens and the costs of inaction are much higher than the costs of providing a proper service. Therefore, the Ministry is committed to improve access to safe disposal facilities for all citizens by continuously supporting the LDOs with the upgrading of dumpsites (Rose Hall, Belle View, De’ Edward, Lusignan, Charity, Lima, Port Kaituma and Lethem) to controlled landfills across the country, providing landfill operation services and executing cleanup programmes to enhance the aesthetics of the communities. These activities will create a clean and prestine environment while encouraging proper disposal of solid waste and alleviate illegal dumping. The Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill Facility (HBSLF) is the largest waste management facility in the country that receives approximately 500 tons of waste per day from residents and businesses in Regions 3 and 4. The first cell has outlived the intended capacity which necessitated the construction of cell number two that will provide adequate capacity for accepting waste for the continued operation of the facility. Leachate produced from the decomposition of waste is an environmentally harmful substance and must be treated before releasing into the drainage network. The construction of the leachate treatment facility at HBSLF will utilize the waste stabilisation ponds to improve the quality of effluent to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) permit. Several other projects will be undertaken in 2021 to bring the facility up to standards with the requirements set out by the EPA for continued operations. For instance, the wheel wash facility is a component of the landfill that will be constructed to clean and disinfect the wheels of the vehicles that traverse into the landfill. This will eradicate the issue of landfill debris on the access road and create a safe working environment for staff. As part of the landfill emergency preparedness plan, the Ministry will be constructing a separate building at the HBSLF in compliance with Guyana Fire Service standards to house firefighting equipment and installation of an emergency alarm system. Further works include the replacement of the weighbridge that will aid in the data collection of the daily amount of waste disposed at the site, and the installation of a potable water supply connection to the distribution network to supplement the current rainwater harvesting system. Landfill operation generates a lot of noise and emanate odours from the inorganic decomposition of waste. To combat this problem, a landfill revegetation tree barrier will be used as a bio-filter to absorb and reduce the number

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of pollutants released into the atmosphere. Furthermore, in order to promote waste separation and improve access within the landfill, the internal access road to the metal and inert waste sections will be also be rehabilitated. HBSLF after undergoing incremental development works will become a model for an engineered sanitary landfill facility where personnel from the LDOs, Educational Institutions, Private Sector, etc. can visit to gain first-hand experience on various aspects of Guyana’s first waste management facility. The Dakoura dumpsite located in the Township of Linden has been in an environmentally unacceptable state for many years. This disposal site is illegal and falls within the Dakoura watershed which poses a significant threat to polluting the Linden water supply and affecting the health of residents. The Ministry will supporting the Municipality with the closure and restoration of this site to prevent water pollution and ehance the area for other use. Traditional waste management has dealt with waste after it has been discarded, however, the Ministry intends to adopt a more effective life-cycle approach, aiming to tackle the problem at the source. Public education and awareness are integral parts of any country solid waste management programme. A change in people’s behaviour can only occur if they are aware of the problem and the consequences of their actions. The Ministry will continue to engage and sensitize the public through our 3R programme by utilizing social media; installation of billboards and waste separation depot; distribution of waste receptacles, signage, garbage bags, reusable shopping bags and bottles. This will enable citizens to make better choices to safeguard the health and well-being of their families and the environment around them. Extending sound waste management services in a rapidly growing economy is a national public health priority that requires a coordinated national and local government response and action. Hence, a regular and reliable waste collection service will be extended to all citizens by the LDOs, and uncontrolled dumping and open burning will be eliminated. Moveover, the Ministry aims to provide access to proper waste disposal infrastructure by developing waste management facilities in all administrative regions while closing and restoring illegal dumpsites. The completion of these projects will see major improvements in the sector and promote sustainable sanitation and waste management at the local level.

Satrohan Nauth Civil Engineer

Single Use Plastics & alternatives Shannia Persaud

On the 20th May, 2021, the Georgetown Chambers of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) held a webinar in observance of World Biodiversity Day which tackled Single Use Plastics and its Alternatives. The webinar was hosted by the Chairperson of the GCCI’s Green Economy Committee, Ms. Shaleeza Shaw. The webinar commenced with the first panelist Ms. Aretha Forde, Environmental Officer in the communications department at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). She has held this position for a decade which gave incredible insight to the plastic problem in Guyana. Single use plastic are items intended to be used once, as the name suggests. They are less than 35 microns thick, made of polyethylene and very difficult to recycle or cannot be recycled at all. Many persons believe that plastics can be easily recycled once thrown away but in reality, it is the complete opposite. It is much easier and less expensive to produce virgin plastic material than to recycle used plastic. Solid waste management, especially of plastic is a pressing issue in our country. There are countless times when we hear our capital city, Georgetown- what was once the beautiful ‘Garden City’, being referred to as the ‘GARBAGE CITY’. This is partly due to the fact of the non-biodegradable waste in the city’s plastics.

The number of marine life killed by single use plastics continues to increase each year. In a study by the World Economic Forum, it is predicted that there will be more pieces of plastic of plastic in the ocean than fish. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch lies in the middle of the ocean measuring three times the size of France. However, there are ways to avoid this. Ms. Forde invited the public to participate in coastal cleanups and educate yourselves on the global environmental issues to see how you can help. For more information on how you can participate in eradicating our plastic problem, you can check the EPA’s website and social media platforms.

The ban on single use plastics was approved in 2018, but has not been fully implemented in the constitution. However, since the application of plastic is so wide and necessary in our daily lives, not every plastic material can be banned. Plastics used to package certain perishable foods and medical equipment are just a few to be excluded. The list of items included on the proposed plastic ban are plastic bags, cutlery, bottles, straws, cups and certain food containers. So, why should we want to ban plastics? • They are made from fossil fuels • Plastics have a huge carbon footprint which contributes to climate change • Plastics do not biodegrade (lasts for centuries) • Only a very limited amount of plastic products can be recycled • Plastics pollute land and water • Plastics kill thousands of marine life and birds • Plastics enter our food chain, causing hormone disruption and cancers

The next panelist, Ms. Shannia Persaud, environmental science student and hostess of the TV show, “The Empower Hour” presented on the Alternatives to Single Use Plastics. It is evident that we live in a consumeristic world where most people want to buy the cheapest and most conventional items. Single use plastics fit into those categories perfectly. However, it is extremely detrimental to the health of planet and its population.

GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Single Use Plastics & alternatives Shannia Persaud

There are many alternatives to the plastics products we use, it just requires a little extra effort by you (anything worthy does). Here are some interesting swaps for some common plastic products: • Plastic straws can be replaced with cardboard, metal or even edible straws! Yes, they actually exist! Edible straws are made from seaweed, licorice, hard candy and even pasta.

• You can also simply refuse single use plastics. If you’re ordering takeaway, you can make a special request to opt out the plastic cutlery and use the ones you have at home. IF ONE PERSON STARTS, MORE PEOPLE WILL JOIN AND THAT’S HOW CHANGE IS GENERATED. The final panelist, Ms. Melissa Young who has a degree in chemistry and is an entrepreneur spoke on single use plastics from the business point of view. Ms, Young, along with her husband, Mr. Dwayne Young, own the detergent manufacturing company called DUNAE TRADING COMPANY which sells refillable liquid detergents (branded as ‘Tidy Up’). There are twenty eight (28) distribution centers across Guyana. • Plastic cutlery can be replaced with wooden cutlery, cutlery made from avocado seeds or pasta- they are also edible!

Her business allows for the recycling of plastic bottles. Persons can bring their own bottles to their varying locations to purchase any type of detergent. Persons can also donate plastic bottles which other persons can use to refill. Ms. Young describes her initiative as “an effortless experience that you do not even realize how much of an impact you’re having”. The refilling operation is a much cheaper alternative to store bought products without compromising the quality. “It starts with us. Don’t wait on the government or anyone else to make the first move.” She also urged other businesses to implement environmentally ways in the production and distribution of their goods and services. Ms. Young hopes that Guyana would one day creat a circular economy where plastics are kept within the economy but not in the environment. She terms it as having a ‘Low Plastic Economy’.

GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Single Use Plastics & alternatives Shannia Persaud

An interesting question which arose during the webinar was that of the expensive alternatives to single use plastics. Ms. Forde brilliantly answered this by encouraging persons to look at the long run and to measure the cost benefit analysis. Wouldn’t you put more care and maintenance into a product you bought that is more expensive? The environmental cost will always outweigh the financial cost. There is also the case of governments making tax exemptions on the products that will soon replace plastics.

To conclude, the three panelists gave advice on how we can be a part of the solution: • Practice what you preach! • Be mindful, endorse stricter laws regarding littering • Support local businesses • Switch to eco-friendly alternatives • Reduce consumption of plastic products by practicing the 5Rs: Recycle, Reuse, Reduce, Refuse, Remind • Use your voice! Educate others on the detriments of single use plastics.

GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Reducing Pollution with Electric Vehicles - Vanessa Williams

• No pollution, Cleaner Air: as an environmentally conscious person the “Zero Emission” tagline made this car the one for me. • Being Different: also I like the idea of simply being different so hence my choice. Was getting it registered with Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) straight forward The Battery Charge Vehicle is step away from fossil fuels and allows for cleaner air as there are no carbon emissions.

The registration process was very straight forward. The GRA followed the normal procedures – inspecting the engine and recording its chassis number as per requirements for issuing the vehicle certificate of registration. There was nothing intrinsically special about the overall process.

The Nissan LEAF, is a compact five-door hatchback battery electric vehicle (BEV), introduced in Japan and the United States in December 2010, and now in its second generation. Its range on a full charge is 243 km (151 miles).

What do you like about the features

While battery charge vehicles are becoming fairly common in other sister Caricom states particularly Barbados, its usage in Guyana is still novel. Our team reached out to the owner of a BEV and here are the candid responses we got from Ms. Williams on some questions posed. My name is Vanessa Williams and I am the proud owner of a Nissan Leaf Electric Vehicle. I purchased this vehicle in October, 2019 from a car dealership in Japan, Fiju Automotives. What drove you to buy a green vehicle Several factors led to me to purchasing my green car- the Nissan Leaf. • Aesthetics: the vehicle in my opinion is a very sleek small car, but don’t be fooled by its size. Its spacious interior makes this car very functional. Additionally, its modern features such as heated seat controls, touchscreen navigation, surround sound speakers and Bluetooth system, reverse mirror and intricate sensor system to detect if there is an object too close to the vehicle while it is in motion helps to make driving safe and comfortable. • No more visits to Gas stations: the thought of never having to stop at the gas station was a definite pull factor. • Reduction in expenses: considering the massive reduction in petroleum expenditure that I anticipated. 34

GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

• Small but spacious making it easy to maneuver • Its modern design, is pleasing to the eyes but still has all the primary functionalities a vehicle needs to have • Acceleration pick -up time is another good feature, it allows the driver to go from 0-80 km in an instant How does it contribute to reducing carbon emissions? The Nissan Leaf contributes to reducing carbon emission because it does not have a combustion engine like normal conventional petrol or diesel vehicles. This means the car emits no greenhouse gases contributing to a reduction in atmospheric air pollution which is especially good in urban areas. Because of the nature of the engine it is also very silent when in motion, hence there is also a reduction in noise pollution. State advantages if any • The vehicle has less moving parts which means it requires little to no maintenance • It saves you time, not having to visit the gas station • It saves on gas expenditure • Isn’t too expensive electricity wise State challenges if any • Because of the range the vehicle can do on a charge, it calls for advanced journey planning. • Ease of access to charging points , the vehicle charges optimally on a 220v Voltage distribution system, most houses in Guyana operate on a 110v voltage distribution system so having a vehicle like this causes for structural changes to be made to accommodate the car, if you are renting this can be a challenge. • Finding the right adopter to connect the car charger to the domestic outlet is also a challenge since inferior chargers often can’t withstand the load.

Reducing Pollution with Electric Vehicles - Vanessa Williams

Would you encourage others to follow you and if so why? I would definitely encourage others to buy an electric vehicle. It reeks modernity and sophistication, is environmentally friendly and will save you tons of money in the long run. The car charges an average of four (4) hours on a 220 voltage distribution and eight (8) hours on a 110 voltage distribution system, from observation on average this equates to $800 in electricity cost per day and depending upon your driving pattern one charge can last two to three days. So, you do the math as to how much you can save. Is Guyana ready for these types of vehicles Yes and No. The government has made importing these vehicles very accessible since they are 100% duty free. The average consumer just needs to pen a letter to Guyana Revenue Authority asking for this concession to be granted under the green state development strategy and voila the duty free concession is granted, so from a policy perspective I would definitely say, yes.

On the other hand, infrastructure is lacking. There are no charging ports within the city environs that are accessible to electric vehicle owners. The Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) had mentioned that they would be installing a charging port at their office in Middle Street for government use (since the Government of Guyana also purchased a Nissan Leaf as part of its government fleet). I am not sure if this charging port has already been constructed or installed, and if it would be made accessible to the general public in the near future. However, the lack of this critical infrastructure places a limit on how far one can go. Additionally, while these vehicles require limited maintenance, the lack of trained electric vehicle technicians is also a constraint at this time.

The Green Economy Committee of the Georgetown Chambers of Commerce, sincerely thanks Ms. Williams for taking time out to speak with us.

GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Transition to Mercury Free Mining JIMMY REECE - CHAIRMAN (GGMC)

The mining sector in Guyana is a significant contributor to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Approximately 15% of the GDP comes from either employment or downstream businesses associated with the sector. Information emanating from the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGMDA) indicate that some 15,000 persons are directly involved in mining and some 75,000 indirectly involved due to downstream activities.

Having, served in key positions within the mining sector for over two decades, it has been recognized that there are positives surrounding this transition. These include:

Artisanal and small-scale mining remains significant in the sphere of mining. As per the GGMDA, the small and medium scale miners achieved production of 485,552 ounces of gold for 2020 (which accounts for 75% of the national gold production), totaling USD $808,587,745 in export earnings. This is a substantial improvement as compared to USD $619,988,745 in 2019. The gold sector by itself is said to contribute 64% of the foreign exchange for the country. Conversely, the use of mercury by artisanal, small and medium scale miners is definitely a cause for national concern. This rudimentary mineral extraction and processing of gold that is dependent on mercury can have negative effects on human health and the environment and is especially toxic which when a compound called methyl mercury is formed.

• Breaking a psychological background which encompasses generations of traditional use of mercury and its associated health issues • Captivating the interest of small and medium scale investors/operators/miners into the adaptation of mercury-free technology through incentives and financing mechanisms. • Taking control of transboundary issues such as smuggling of mercury and minerals across the borders of Suriname, Venezuela, Brazil and French Guiana. • Mercury use which remains cheaper, easily accessible, simple and a good startup for new entrant miners/investor.

As such, transitioning to mercury-free mining to ensure sustainable development that is cohesive with the preservation of health and our environment is extremely necessary and will therefore require the collective efforts of all relevant stakeholders viz; government, miners, suppliers, Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Guyana Gold Board (GGB) and Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). In an effort to curtail the mercury pollution issue, the government has signed an international agreement. The Minamata Convention is an International Treaty designed to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds. After three years of meeting and negotiating, the Government of Guyana (GoG) signed the Minamata Convention on October 10, 2013 and subsequently ratified or endorsed the Convention on September 24, 2014. Assiduous efforts are being made to enhance the reduction of mercury pollution and where possible eliminate such pollution from the targeted activities responsible for the major release of mercury to the immediate environment. In agreement with the Convention, the Government is proposing a phase-out approach from the use of Mercury in mining through its National Action Plan that will be submitted to the Minamata Convention in 2021. 36 GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

• Awareness of mercury and its impact on the environment and well being • Protection by the Government for our Indigenous peoples and their Land Rights • Implementation of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) which promotes a Green Economy • Commitment by the GoG to fulfilling its obligations under the Minamata Convention. Additionally, there remains constraints and limitations to the transition which include but is not limited to: -

In a webinar hosted by the GCCI on April 1, 2021, I outlined in a presentation the Achievements and work in progress such as Harmonization of Efforts that are being carried out in various projects under nine platforms - Policy and Regulation, Health Aspects, Environmental Health, Occupation, Health and Safety, Monitoring and Evaluation, Technology, Markets, Education, Awareness and Communication. Projects and policy development under all these platforms are necessary for and will aid the transition to mercury-free mining. To date the following notable efforts have begun to aid the transition to mercury – free mining in Guyana: 1. i. ii. iii.

The Ministry of Health has: Drafted a Public Health Mercury Policy; Drafted a Chemical Emergency Response Plan; Developed health & safety guidance to minimize health risk; iv. Initiated a mercury poisoning awareness campaign – to educate the vulnerable population about the health risk of mercury poisoning; v. Prepared treatment guidelines for mercury poisoning; vi. Drafted a plan to avoid mercury exposure; vii. Drafted guidelines to facilitate the cleaning - up mercury or spills; The training of jewelers in the safe handling of mercury - handling during operations, waste collection and disposal; viii. Encouraged the Replacement of mercury thermometers and lights;

Transition to Mercury Free Mining JIMMY REECE - CHAIRMAN (GGMC)

ix. Explored the Establishment of Poison Centers – to equip healthcare facilities in communities where mercury use is prevalent to respond to mercury poisoning. 2. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Pesticide and Toxic Chemical Control Board (PTCCB) for the management of the importation of mercury was drafted in August 2019 to coordinate and enhance the procedures for the management of the importation, storage, distribution, use and disposal of mercury. This also speaks to the limitation in importation per year i.e. 1,000 flasks / 34, 500 kg per year. This amount will gradually reduce as alternative technologies come on stream. 3. A National Action Plan (NAP), redevelopment is currently ongoing and is expected to be completed and submitted to the Minamata Secretariat in 2021. The NAP for ASGM constitutes four major areas: The ASGM Sector in Guyana; The Legal and Institutional Framework; A Public Health aspect and a Socio-Economic aspect. The draft final document will be completed by the second quarter of 2021.

• Consideration for the introduction of a development bank • Emphasis on local content policy • Possible use of a portion of the sovereign wealth fund towards aiding miners to transition • Ensuring training is available to miners at no or low cost to use new technologies that are mercury free • Ensure availability of spares for new technology to avoid production downtime • Development of fabrication skill sets • New technology to be fully tested to ensure it is fully applicable so that it can be embraced by miners. • In the value chain, creation of a certification system for a label such as “Green Gold” so as to secure premium prices for gold that is produced by miners via mercury free mining. It is believed that with greater collaboration between stakeholders and innovative thinking the transition to mercury-free mining can occur in a win-win manner.

4. Alternative and improved mineral recovery methods are promoted by Guyana Geology and Mines Commission in an effort to encourage miners to be a part of the transition. These include the use of the modified model of the Sluice Box and promotion of the use of Centrifugal Concentrators for improved gold recovery as well as encouraging the use of equipment such as blue bowl concentrators, gold cubes and shaking tables which can produce a smelter ready gold concentrate as an alternative to the use of mercury. GGMC has also promoted awareness by conducting a technology survey to provide information on the extent of miners’ knowledge regarding the use of mercury – free alternative technologies. It is recommended that the following be considered to stimulate the transition to mercury free mining: • Ongoing awareness programs and discussions • Duty free incentives • Licensing of local business person by the dealers of these new technology to reduce cost for miners and allow for suppliers to be available locally • Incentivizing banks to offset the risk associated with lending to such hostile terrain

GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

MANGROVE RESTORATION-A NECESSARY CLIMATE MITIGATION SOLUTION - Mark Ram and Shaleeza Shaw

MARK RAM

Commensurate with UNESCO, we need to raise awareness of the importance of mangrove ecosystems. Mangroves are special as they are tropical trees that thrive in conditions most timber cannot withstand SHALEEZA SHAW -salty, coastal waters, and

the interminable ebb and flow of the tide, all common to Guyana and its riverain locations. Mangroves provide important ecosystem services such as coastal protection, climate mitigation,carbon storage and sequestration and support fisheries. Of critical importance is mangrove’s carbon sequestration ability which is laudable as they are known to have higher carbon mass ratios than other terrestrial trees in the tropics. Mangrove forests are key weapons in the fight against climate change, but sadly, they are under threat worldwide and here at home, despite their promotion as a fairly lowcost solution for sustainable management and conservation. Guyana was known have substantial mangrove cover which have been depleted by coastal erosion and development . However, there has been much effort and projects undertaken to support mangrove restoration so much so that today our inventory indicates that we have some 82,437 acres of mangroves. But is that enough? The environmentalists will tell you without hesitation, no.

In a recent study in July 2021 titled: Mangrove Forest Restoration Efforts Find Success in Newly Planted Seedlings, led by University of Guyana graduate faculty, Mark Ram, and co-authored by fellow Guyanese Anand Roopsind based at Conservation International, compared the restored conditions to those of both intact and degraded forests. The research team found that restored forests yield 13% more aboveground vegetation – consisting of mangrove trees’ leaves, twigs, branches and stems – than mangrove forests which remained intact over the past decade. The restored sites have 99% more of this vegetation than degraded sites that had not been restored. “These results are very encouraging – they help us make the case that mangrove restoration is a necessary practice to ensure these carbon storing ecosystems thrive for years to come,” said Roopsind. “We now know that, with the proper technical knowledge, mangrove plantings can grow back relatively quickly and even lead to healthier mangrove forests overall.” With coastal development and deforestation leading to the widespread loss of mangrove forests, planting new seedlings has emerged as the leading strategy to regain some of the forests’ ecological benefits – like the critical role they play as fish nurseries and their carbon storage ability, which is higher by area than old-growth forests.

The Guyana Mangrove Restoration Programme from 2010 -2014, which was supported by the European Union (EU) and the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), resulted in over eleven (11) km of replanted mangroves (] 500,000 seedlings), and 40 km placed under special protection, which though laudable, should not make us complacent. Mangrove restoration efforts should be amplified in Guyana, especially as the country confronts the raft of rising sea levels and unprecedented coastal development. Conservation of existing mangroves is also crucial as the threats of erosion become violent, and the destruction of local mangroves continues, especially in Region 1 and the East Coast corridor of Region 4. Therefore, there is scope for ecosystem services protection by considering the EU’s proposal to establish a 700 km2 Mangrove Forested Area in the Barima and Mora Passage rivers, which is adjacent to the Shell Beach protected area in Region 1. Other areas with standing mangrove forests should be identified and placed under special protection schemes such as protected areas or nature reserves.

GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

“Not only are mangroves good for our climate, these forests are vital to coastal areas in the tropics. In Guyana, they provide a protective buffer against storms and sea-level rise and act as critical nursery habitats for many seafood species. They are essential for the well-being of so many local communities,” said Mark Ram, co-author of the paper from the University of Guyana.

MANGROVE RESTORATION-A NECESSARY CLIMATE MITIGATION SOLUTION - Mark Ram and Shaleeza Shaw

The pictures below are from the Anna Regina Geotube installation for the protection of mangroves.

Ms Shaw is also a Certified Credit Professional with Jamaica Institute of Financial Services & The Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland and holds a Master in Business Administration - Chartered Banker (with Distinction) from The Bangor University, Wales.

Wave action has long been a problem for many beaches and agricultural communities as it can erode beaches.The geotextile tube system allows for a combination of technology with the traditional seedling planting. It acts as a “breakwater” structure and is placed offshore in the area where wave action is causing damage. Geotextile tubes reduce the wave energy by breaking on the system. As a result, the water conditions on the protected side of the breakwater remain relatively calm. Sand-filled geotextile tube systems are a more cost-effective solution compared with a typical rockfilled core breakwater where rock is expensive and difficult to source at project region, and where the sea condition is not extreme. As Guyana embraces an oil and gas sector and adopts to changing climatic conditions, the importance of both mangrove conservation and mangrove restoration cannot be overemphasized. Recent breaches of our coastline underscore their importance and value to the socioeconomic strata of Guyana’s development, and, of course, their aesthetic beauty. We need to have a broader view of the interconnectivity of Guyana’s coastal biodiversity and their effective management for present and future generations, as we concurrently encourage economic development. Greater support for mangrove conservation and restoration is crucial to offset the impacts of economic and infrastructure development in Guyana. Mark Ram is a Lecturer with the Department of Biology, University of Guyana.He holds a PG Dip (2019) Higher Education; MSc (2018) Forest Biology; and BSc (2016) Biology, University of Guyana. Shaleeza Shaw is the Manager of Demerara Bank Limited’s Main Branch, and the Secretary of GCCI as well as the Chairperson of the Chambers Green Economy Committee. She holds a in Diploma in Banking and Finance, a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Business Management and a Bachelor of Laws (all with distinction) from the University of Guyana.

GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

ALTERNATIVES TO FOSSIL FUELS

• Biomass Electricity Generation – Jessica Hatfield • Electric Vehicles Technology GEA Experience –Dr Mahender Sharma (GEA) • Bio Char the new Black Gold-Launch at COP26-Evolve Trading and Investment

GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Biomass Electricity Generation Jessica Hatfield

Gasification of biomass or coal is a relatively old technology which has a very interesting history. In Western European cities, town gas was produced by the gasification of coal before natural gas became widely available. By 1850, large parts of London were lit by gasifier-produced gas lights. However, with the increasing availability of other energy sources and electrification, the technology soon lost its importance. In the early years of the 20th century, gasifier systems to power stationary engines and trucks were demonstrated but did not gain general acceptance. The technology reappeared only after petroleum fuels became scarce during World War II. Almost one million gasifier powered vehicles were in use during that time. Yet, with increasing availability of diesel and gasoline, this technology was again abandoned. Interest in Gasification Technology again resurfaced during the energy crisis of the 1970s and 1980s. By the 1980s about fifteen (15) manufacturers were offering wood and charcoal power gasifiers. Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand had gasifier programmes based on locally developed technologies. Scandinavia also embraced biomass gasification using residues of the wood, pulp and paper industry. Worldwide, the development and construction of new small and medium-size gasification plants has once more gained momentum during the last decade parallel to the discussions on climate change, solid waste management and reducing our carbon footprint. Many plants have been installed in India and South-East Asia. In Germany, the guaranteed high feed-in tariffs triggered the installation of about 50 gasifier power plants. In Guyana, there is an abundance of biomass suitable for gasification to create electricity in the form of rice husks and coconut husks. A greater incentive towards this direction is the improper disposal of coconut waste as reported by National Agricultural and Research Extension Institute (NAREI) in the local press (discarded dried husk and green shells) is a growing challenge in Guyana. In both the rural communities and built areas, improperly disposed shells are associated with environmental problems such as clogged waterways and breeding grounds for mosquitoes and vermin. It is now feasible that electricity could be generated from the coconut husks using the latest pyrolis gasification technology. 1

Energypedia

Electricity can be generated from the rice and coconut husks. In the case of rice husk, the heat generated from the gas turbines can be recovered and used as the source of energy for drying the paddy or parboiling the rice. Its high levels of efficiency and energy conversion create a consistent source of electricity production without generating any carbon emissions from the process. Carbon is stored in the waste product (ash), which is less than 2% of the total volume of biomass processed. 42 GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The type of gasifier suitable for this process is known as an Imbert (or Throated) Fixed-Bed Downdraft Gasifier. The key advantage of such gasifiers is their ability to inherently produce gas with low tar and particulates making it wellsuited for power-generation. The gas derived from the rice husks is fed into the gas engines that drive the powergenerators. There are many major rice mills in Guyana and these are considered suitable for the construction of gasification power plants. The introduction of this technology would see the removal of thousands of tons of waste rice husks from the countryside and resolve the environment challenges currently being experienced by rice mills. Rice husk gasification process will generate clean sustainable electricity, rice husk ash and a reduction in carbon emissions. Rice husk ash contains 85% to 90% amorphous silica and is in great demand by the cement industry. The particle size of cement is 35 microns and there may be formation of void in the concrete mixes. This reduces the strength and quality of the concrete. The rice husk ash derived from gasification has a very small particle size of 25 microns which when added to the cement mix fills the interstices in between the cement and the aggregate. This creates a superior high strength cement or concrete which is used in the making of bridges, marine construction and building power plants. Rice Husk Ash is also sold as an insulator in the steel making process. It is useful to note that the rice husk gasification process saves 1 litre of oil for every 6kg rice husk utilised. The coconut husks and rice husks resource have the distinct advantage of being a renewable and relatively clean fuel. Benefits from its use, therefore, includes not only the displacement of fossil fuels but also the preservation of our environment. Guyana’s growing coconut industry also has great potential for the generation of renewable energy using its waste materials currently discarded. Recent strides in pyrolysis gasification means that waste to energy projects are now on the table nor only for agricultural waste but with waste from landfill and other sites being converted into energy. 2

A critical look at rice husk gasification in Cambodia: Technology and sustainability Hong Nam Nguyen, Minh Ha-Duong, Laurent van de Steene 2015.

Jessica Hatfield is a successful entrepreneur. She cofounded Clenergen Corporation to provide large scale sustainable energy crops for biomass electricity generation Jessica worked in Africa in the mining industry looking at land remediation using energy crops. In 2006 she was elected into the United Nations Environment Programme Who’s Who of Women and the Environment. Jessica has been working in the coconut and rice industry developing biomass gasification systems with the rice millers and coconut producers in Guyana. She was also active in developing with scientific partners a range of polyploid energy crop alternatives which produce maximum yields per acre for fuelling biomass gasification power stations. One of her heartfelt meme is: “The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.”

Electric Vehicles Technology GEA Experience –Dr Mahender Sharma

Over the last decade, electric mobility has been gaining momentum with increasing popularity and proliferation in a number of countries. “Is it too good to be true?”, we wondered. According to the International Energy Agency, “Sales of electric cars topped 2.1 million globally in 2019, surpassing 2018 – already a record year – to boost the stock to 7.2 million electric cars. As technological progress in the electrification of two/three-wheelers, buses, and trucks advances and the market for them grows, electric vehicles are expanding significantly.” Sometimes, radical innovation results in technology that appears too good to be true and when this happens, our skepticisim is heightened. This skepticisim is actually a useful tool that compels us to question new information and can help to foster critical thinking. At the Guyana Energy Agency, we were keenly watching, learning, reading, researching and attending various training sessions and webinars to understand the operation and benefits of electric vehicles. We were trying to understand a number of operational parameters of electric vehicles and of course, we had many questions:

The car was supplied with a Fast Charger (shown in the red box in the picture above) that was installed at the GEA’s office in Quamina Street Georgetown and is currently being used to charge the car. The charger was installed on a dedicated 30amp circuit breaker to provide the 6kW of power for charging. Based on the distances that I drive, on an average week, the car requires charging once per week. Of course, if there is additional driving during any particular week, an additional

How many kilometres can a single charge allow you to drive? How much time is needed to charge? How frequently does the car need to be charges, daily or weekly, or monthly? What type of charger is required ? What is the physical size of the charger and how much power does it need to charge the car? What will be the energy cost per kilometre driven based on our electricity cost? Will if be difficult to charge, drive and operate in Guyana? While the webinars and training offered some information, the old adage that the proof of the pudding is in the eating, holds true. So, in 2019, the Guyana Energy Agency made representation and was granted approval to procure an electric car. The new Nissan Accenta Leaf 2019 model was acquired at a cost of GY$10.6 million, inclusive of a 14% VAT Tax. The electric car has a 40kWh Traction Battery capable of covering 160 miles (257 kilometres) on a single charge.

charging session is needed to avoid range anxiety. (Range anxiety is what an electric vehicle (EV) driver feels when the battery charge is low, and the usual sources of electricity are unavailable. It sparks a fear of getting stranded somewhere, which adds time, inconvenience, and stress to a journey.) As much as possible charging is done on weekends to make use of the available solar electricity from the GEA office. In this way the EV can be considered to be operating at zeroemission, with the electricity derived from a low carbon renewable energy source. GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Electric Vehicles Technology GEA Experience –Dr Mahender Sharma

PROFILE FOR THREE DAYS 20.03.2020-22.03.2020 The e-gauge graph above illustrates the daily energy profile for the Guyana Energy Agency. The first section shows a typical workday energy profile in which most of the PV generated electricity is consumed by the electrical loads and excess requirement is met by the grid. The second section shows a typical weekend profile in which the base load is adequately covered by the PV system and the excess energy is fed into the grid.

The efficiency of an electric motor is approximately 80% compared to 20%-35% for conventional Internal Combustion Engines (ICE). In addition to reducing the dependence on imported fossil fuels, electric vehicles also have the added benefits of reducing noise and air pollution and providing another mobility option, especially for urban areas.

The third section shows a typical weekend with the addition of the EV charging. The PV energy is sufficient to cover the electricity to charge the EV. This is the ideal way to charge the EV as it makes us of the available renewable energy and facilitates a true zero-emission driving experience. The electric car combines the benefits of superior comfort, state of the art driving technology and sustainable environmentally friendly mobility. Renewable energy and energy efficient technologies are major components in the progress towards attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all) and addressing climate change. Electric vehicles (EV) offer a significant opportunity to shift to a sustainable form of energy and promote a high penetration of renewable energy in the electricity sector. The additional demand for electricity due to EV charging can support the decarbonisation of the transport sector, if paired with clean low carbon energy sources. 44

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Visually, the electric car is quite appealing with a modern interior and a compact overall exterior. While there was initial apprehension about the interior space, it was found to be quite comfortable and with a surprising amount of trunk space as well. It took very little time to acclimatize to the modern shape and design of the gear chan ger. The calming quietude and responsive acceleration make the driving experience extremely enjoyable. The car’s regenerative braking allows the energy from

Electric Vehicles Technology GEA Experience –Dr Mahender Sharma

braking to be stored in the battery. There is even a proprietary feature on the car that allows the car to brake when the foot is removed from the accelerator pedal. While this took some getting used to, I now use it all the time. An added benefit is that it reduces wear and tear on the brakes! There are many other features on the car like Lane Departure Warning, Intelligent Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Recognition, Intelligent Lane Intervention and Rear Cross Traffic Alert which all work to improve the driving experience and improve safety. The 8” Touchscreen Entertainment System with Rear View Camera allows Bluetooth integration and hands-free calling. While there are no oil, filters and mufflers to change, you do have to inflate the tyres. The dashboard can cycle through a number of different screens with useful information about the vehicle’s operation and would also tell you when your tyre pressure is low. Depending on the state of discharge, the charging time is between 3 to 5 hours. In its current state, the vehicle’s battery, with the use of air-conditioner, provides a range of about 215km with consumption of 6km per kWh. If energy

is purchased from GPL at Government Commercial rate of G$58.83/kWh, the cost per km driven would be G$9.81 per km. While the new electric vehicle models of 2021 are already boasting driving ranges exceeding 400km, it is time the provision of charging stations for the growing fleet of electric vehicles in Guyana. The assistance of the private sector is welcomed in this regard. In my opinion, the electric car is our future. It provides an impressive agglomeration of technologies that work seamlessly to provide an enjoyable driving experience in a safe, efficient and cost-effective package.

Dr. Mahender Sharma Chief Executive Officer Guyana Energy Agency

GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Bio Char the new Black Gold - Launch at COP26-Evolve Trading and Investment

In November 2021, world leaders will meet in Glasgow for COP26 the UN Climate Change Conference, this in a year when the world has recorded its highest temperatures on record and countries including Canada, the USA, Germany, Belgium, Greece, and Turkey have all experienced Mr George K Irvine, Senior Vice President, Evolve Trading and extreme weather-related events. Investment ltd. You would like to think this conference will be the one that delivers a globally supported action plan to ensure the measures that need to be taken to effectively combat climate change are put in place. The recently published report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) talking about the benefits of decarbonisation should be unnecessary. The Report highlighted that Global warming of 1.5°C and 2°C will be exceeded during the 21st century unless deep reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions occur in the coming decades”. Over the last 25 years, the amount of waste produced by cities have increased e x p o n e n t i a l l y. Improvements in waste collection have been made and our streets cleaner, but the disposal of millions of tonnes of waste still is a major issue. Landfill sites are overwhelmed, and water tables are becoming polluted as the toxins and chemicals from decomposing waste soaks into the ground. This situation is clearly not sustainable, and action needs to be taken to reverse this global crisis. Our Initial studies have found that we could Generate up to 5 MW/h of energy from simple domestic waste. Unlike other waste to power units (incineration) that burn the feedstock to generate power, pyrolysis system using hot temperatures and zero oxygen shall ensure that all matter is broken down to its base level. It will ensure that not only energy can be generated, but also metals and glass recovered, and a carbon rich char produced. The technology is currently being used by Royal Navy on both of its Queen Elizabeth aircraft carriers and has the ability to process clinical waste on site and there is no need for this waste to go to landfill. Evolve Trading and Investment Ltd a company based in Wales but with strong links to the Shetland islands have purposely chosen to introduce our ground-breaking technology on the eve of the COP26 global summit. We would like to use this opportunity to thank our local partner A&S Enterprise headed by Mr Shaam Kaysho Ramlaggan Outar. Thanks also to Ms Shaleeza Shaw, Chairperson of 46

GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

the Green Economy Committee of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mr Sherwyn Naughton, Country Director Department for International Trade (DIT); Camilo Neira, Regional Head UK Export Finance (UKEF); former British High Commissioner to Guyana, Mr Greg Quinn OBE and Mr Richard Isava, Managing Director Guyana Americas Merchant Bank. We would also like to use this opportunity to thank our international partners who have been incredibly supportive and without their help we would not be where we are today. These companies include Pomeroon Trading Ltd , Nick Palmer - Pyrocore Ltd, John Henderson - Ocean Kinetics Ltd, Harland & Wolff (Arnish ltd) Nick RevelLedwood Mechanical Engineering; Rod Agnew - Optimus Engineering; Brett Jackson- Granite PR; Francis Kiernan - ABIS Energy, Ewan Robertson – IPSS, James Weaver - Lloyds Commercial Bank with legal support from Ewan Neilson at Stronach’s LLP. We have chosen Guyana as the first country that will benefit by implementing this clean green sustainable alternative for power generation and bioremediation of the soil. When Guyana implements this technology, we are confident that Guyana would exceed the expectations set down by the Paris Climate Agreement, join the global carbon capture club to reduce carbon emissions and would have every chance of setting the standard of becoming the first carbon neutral region in South America with the reliance and eradication of landfills well before the current target of 2030. We have engaged with leading UK Academia and Mr Neil Passmore, owner of one of the largest coconut farms in Guyana to use our technology to convert coconut husks into bio energy and sequestrated bio char (Organic Super fertiliser) which has been proven to improve soil fertility by increasing agricultural yields in degraded soils from 20200%. This organic char can be impregnated into the land thus completing the environmental circle. Any excess energy will be made available to the local community. As part of our Local Content Development Plan (LCDP), we plan to establish a skills-based training facility at each location to ensure that we have the correct competence to operate the unit(s). The units will be designed and built in The United Kingdom before being transported overseas for further installation, operation, and handover to the client.

Mr Greg Quinn, OBE, former British High Commissioner to Guyana with Mr George Irvine

Mr Shaam Outar with CEO Go-Invest Dr Peter Ramsaroop

CHAMBERS GREEN ECONOMY COMMITTEE MEMBERS CHAMPIONING ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP • Texila American University -Preparing and Improving Youths for the 21st Century • Eco Green Guyana- Providing Solutions for Coastal and Inland Erosion • Excel Logistics & Management Services – A Greener Today • Tullow Oil Guyana- 2030 Net Zero Commitment • Demerara Bank Limited –Green Initiative • Global Compliance Service- The ISO 14001 Standard- A tool for • Environmental Sustainability!

GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Texila American University - Preparing and Improving Youths for the 21st Century

Texila American University (TAU) is a member of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It is managed by Mr Saju Bhaskar, Founder and President of Texila American University. The University was established in 2010 at Lot 2442 Providence, East Bank Demerara and has been in operations for over eleven (11) years. It commenced operations with a meagre seven (7) students. Today through perseverance backed by research and strategic adaptation, the University now boasts 700+ students from 40+ countries.

• Association of Commonwealth Universities • Medical Council of India • Pakistan Medical Council • Private Sector Commission • Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry • Affiliation with ACGME hospitals in US • TAU is listed in WODMS, a joint effort by the International Medical Education Directory and the Avicenna Directory. • TAU is a member of AMEE, a globally recognized organization which promotes international excellence in health-care education. • TAU is a member of IAU-UNESCO, it is a globally organization serving the higher education community worldwide. • TAU is a member of ACU (The Association of Commonwealth Universities) • TAU graduates are accepted by BMHC, a statutory body in Bhutan which is responsible for recognition of medical qualifications in Bhutan.

GCCI: How did you grow over the years? We operate in three continents and the Caribbean Region. Hence, we were able to leverage on our existing network in the USA, India, Nigeria, South Africa, and Philippines to grow our numbers over the years. Though we started as a medical school, we are now offering programs not only in Medicine, but also Business Management, Public Health & Nursing. GCCI: You have boasted about being the largest private University in Guyana having graduated more than 400 students. What would you say have aided that position? The University is proud to mention that it has the most modern Labs (Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, Histology & Pathology Labs), Patient Simulation Center, a Learning Resource Center with 1000 seats; a high-tech Digital Library; and Texila’s Digipedia is a knowledge hub that provides accurate and up-to-date content to the students with more than 8000 collections. However, more importantly, we are associated and recognized by a number of councils and entities which include: • Recognized by Medical Council of Canada • Listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDMS) • Recognized by Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (USA) • Registered with National Accreditation Council, Guyana • International Association of University – UNESCO • Medical Council of Guyana 48

GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

GCCI: What medical programs do you offer? In the College of Medicine, we offer • Pre-med Program • MD Program • Post Graduate Medicine Programs • In the College of Public Health, we offer Masters in Public Health • In the College of Business Management, we offer a Bachelors and Masters in Business Management. GCCI: What are your aims? TAU aims to provide leadership in medical education and innovation. We aspire to achieve this through world-class teaching and training and stateof-the-art infrastructure. At TAU, we combine scientific understanding with outstanding clinical and communication skills to nurture a caring, compassionate and professional doctor. GCCI: Tell us about the diversity of your students. We have admitted students from over 45 different countries

Texila American University - Preparing and Improving Youths for the 21st Century

USA, Canada, Germany, Australia, Asia (India, Nepal, Bangladesh, etc.), Africa (Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, etc.), Trinidad, Jamaica and Guyana. We embrace Guyana, the beautiful country with land of water accommodated by students with compassion.

GCCI: What is green about the University and how does it reduce carbon emission? We do this through:

(a) Dual flush water closets (b) Water efficient urinals

• Use of non-toxic and recycled / recyclable material • Efficient use of water • Use of energy efficient and eco-friendly equipments • Quality of indoor air quality for human safety and comfort • Effective controls and building management systems

Material Efficiency

Water Efficiency Measures

(a) Windows - UPVC (b) Walls – Precast concrete wall (c) Flooring - Tiles (d) Roof insulation – Concrete and Tiles GCCI: Tell us a little about the students you have graduated. Since 2015, 400 students from 35 countries been graduated and practicing in Guyana, India, Nigeria, Zambia, USA, Jamaica, Canada, South Africa, etc. We concluded our 8th graduation ceremony in May 2021. GCCI: How do you see yourselves today? We see ourselves as one of the best medical school campus in Caribbean. We are proud to have faculty members from different parts of the world and to be part of a group with other Universities and education institutions. The number of students we have and have graduated speaks for itself and our reputation. GCCI: What are your future Plans? We are ready to introduce Competitive Online Programs in the various fields of science and administration & management, which will enable the students to learn from home at their own comfort. GCCI: What is your staff strength? We have 150 plus part-time and full-time staffs, of which 75% are Guyanese staffs serving at various levels of the organization. GCCI: Other Initiatives? Supported CSEC students with the free MCQ platform and free virtual classes across Caribbean. This initiative was well-received by many countries such as Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and most efficiently St Vincent and the Grenadians during the difficult time of Volcanic eruption and Covid-19.

We aim to be Energy Efficient via:

Contact Information: Texila American University,

(a) Natural Ventilation (b) Variable Refrigerant Volume Air Conditioner

Lot 2442, Plantation Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD), Guyana, South America.

The Daikin VRV system is a multi-split type air conditioner for commercial buildings that uses variable refrigerant flow control developed by Daikin to provide customers with the ability to maintain individual zone control in each room and floor of a building.

Admission: +592 676 5194, +592 2657651 & +592 2657652 Admin: +592 265 7650 https://gy.tauedu.org/ GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

ECO GREEN GUYANA - PROVIDING SOLUTIONS FOR COASTAL AND INLAND EROSION

Eco Green Guyana is managed by Mario Amres, a member of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In 1996, his brother, the late Anthony Amres, started the first mobile concrete business in Guyana (Readymix Concrete). This was after his brother witnessed seeing the bucket brigades of concrete being pulled up in multistoried structures. Mario noted it was not all smooth sailing and acceptance of the product took time. He conveyed that it took two years before they got their first order because clients were not accustomed to flowing concrete that contained concrete chemicals.

Mario indicated that after working with his family businesses over the years, late last year (2019) he decided to start his own business to exemplify his personal passion for the environment, one that he hopes will have a lasting effect on his home country, Guyana. Hence, the birth of Eco Green Guyana. Mario’s beginnings goes back to when he was the Marketing Director of G.E.B Security Services Inc. Back then he advised, “I handled our marketing, PR campaigns, clients relations, and new client contracts, as the first private security company here established in 1967.” Mario is very proud of his father who is considered the pioneer of private security services in Guyana. For him, it was always important to maintain very high standards in the industry and also be innovative, by introducing such technology to the industry as CCTV cameras, wireless alarms, GPS, and remote monitoring. In a very reflective mode, Mario noted that what he is most proud of with G. E. B Security Services Inc is that in 2010, following an analysis they had done, it was found that over 10,000 Guyanese had been employed over the years. For him, providing an honest pay for that amount of Guyanese meant far more than the technical aspect. He reminisced that G.E.B. in those days was the acronym for Guyana Employment Bureau. Mario said, “we first started as an employment agency however due to the overwhelming response for watchmen as they were called at the time, my father decided to fill the need, so he went to London for training and the rest is history.” As it relates to eco-tourism, Mario is proud to relay that in the 1980’s his father, Maurice Amres, introduced the Timberhead Resort. This resort was marketed as Guyana’s first nature resort. Over the years notable visits were made by the Royal family including Queen Elizabeth, Prince Phillip, and Princess Magaret, and several celebrities as Mick Jagger and Eddy Grant amongst others.

GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Fast forward and Mario advised that over the last 10 years, he has represented Tencate Geosynthetics and introduced Geosynthetics which includes Geotextiles, Geocomposites, Geotubes, Geogrids. These materials, he related are now being embraced in Guyana. Mario explained that due to the family’s existing Readymix business, he introduced concrete chemicals for the engineering of concrete finishes especially for industrial and commercial use as a value added step which allows more longevity. With Eco Green Guyana, in his words, “I have added new leading global brands that will help us to deliver new Green Solutions that are proven. Our Tencate Geotubes is not only for coastal and inland erosion control, but also for

ECO GREEN GUYANA - PROVIDING SOLUTIONS FOR COASTAL AND INLAND EROSION

industrial waste management, flood management, and land and water reclamation and remediation. We not only sell materials but Tencate with over 100 engineers at their global offices, lend a high level of technical assistance to projects using our materials. We can go to both local and remote communities and show them new techniques, for building roads, flood and erosion control, rainwater harvesting, stormwater management, aquafarming, building better drainage structures.” When questioned what is green about his business and how does it reduce carbon emission, his reply was, “We offer a Dewatering System using Tencate GeoTubes. This means mining companies, farms, municipal plants and any industry producing industrial waste can now separate this sludge and return clean water to the environment (creeks, rivers, streams).This service alone can help companies with reducing their carbon foot print and built their repute for being green conscious.” He added that Tencate materials are also designed to be environmentally friendly and do not affect marine life as per the pictures below of submerger Geotubes which shows marine life that has taken over.

The Chambers queried with Mario that given the huge waves we get hit with sometimes...6ft and over...what size in diameter of tube would our coast need? He advised that Tencate Geotubes are used around the globe in massive projects, picture below Geotubes used in creating new island in Bahrain. Waves in Guyana are no problem, once we have data we design for specific application each time. Mario, years ago we had a lot of jetties along the coast.... about every 500 metres....they broke the waves and aided accumulation of mud, etc. which in itself reduced the impact of coastal erosion.....do you think that is still a viable measure? He replied, Jetties are still useful being attached to the coastline. It interrupts the natural sediment flow that is needed along the coast, accumulation of mud will happen. However, this will have an adverse effect downstream on other areas with no accumulation. When building Jetties today we have to look at the effects downstream and build accordingly. On the question of successes and challenges, he indicated that, “We’re a new company dealing with the present situation, but we intend to use this opportunity to get our message to a wider cross section of the public.”

When asked if local clients are supportive, Mario advised that clients would be more supportive with the EPA strengthening its resources to enforce the environmental laws on a more consistent basis. He added that we also need more stringent penalties for defaulters. This would greatly help in getting people to treat the environment with more respect and not just as a commodity to exploit. What about future plans, if any, Mario? His response was, “We would like to build energy efficient Green homes of all sizes and use materials that are strictly environmentally friendly.” He passionately goes on to say that, “Guyana needs a sub-development that is eco-friendly with residents that are eco-friendly. With the present global crisis, many Guyanese are looking to return home. Only prefabricated homes will even have a chance to fulfil this present and future demand. At Eco Green Guyana we are looking at ways to bridge this gap.” In his closing remarks, Mario reflected that Guyana is one of the few countries in the world that can be fully sustainable and advised that we use this opportunity very wisely. For him, a sustainable Guyana means that we will be able to maintain a good standard of living, should we have to deal with any global financial collapse or pandemic. According to him, with the times we’re presently facing, we must be able to prepare for just about anything. Mario and his family has had a tradition of being pioneers in a number of business initiatives that have all turned out to be successful and created much needed employment opportunities. With Eco Green Guyana, and the perseverance his family is noted for, we have no doubt another success story will unfold. Good luck Mario!!! Eco Green Guyana (Helping to Build Sustainable Communities across Guyana). Tel No. (592)-647-4997 Email:ecogreenguyana@gmail.com Website: currently being developed.

GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

EXCEL Believes in a Greener Today!

Our current climate compels us that the time is now to roll up our sleeves and do all that we can to implement and transition into greener strategies to preserve our planet. Excel Logistics & Management Services a member of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s (GCCI) Green Economy Committee that advocates for just that, a “Greener Today”!

and uses energy saving and ecofriendly equipment in the mining sector. Excel does not support the pillaging of Guyana’s great land, therefore by keeping resources and processes localized, as well as being in compliance with all environmental laws and regulations. Excel extends critical technical support and expertise to foreign investors as it relates to mining in an informed and responsible manner. The GCCI’s Green Economy Committee canvasses Georgetown’s industry professionals to take part in greener initiatives that will contribute to the prosperity of Guyana’s great land and our planet. As a member of this committee, Excel is committed to championing the objectives of the GCCI’s Green Economy Committee with its clients in carving new ways to build environmental consciousness by promoting youth education with a greener focus, engaging awareness through tourism and agricultural studies, and facilitating trainings and networking events with the sole purpose of informing and educating via greener practices. Ingenuity and knowledgeability are key for Guyana and our planet. We need to share and implement learnings in order to preserve our landscape. This is the only way to Excel.

Excel’s comprehensive solutions in working with foreign investors entering Guyana’s oil, gas, and mining sectors, allows the company to strategically and wholeheartedly put Guyana’s environmental needs first. By being the first responder to foreign investors, Excel can take a responsible and prudent approach when creating the nexus foreigners to Guyana’s eco and green economy. Excel continues to pursue greener policies by adopting environmentally friendly and responsible alluvial mining initiatives and advocating for land reclamation post mining. This regulation enacted by the government and enforces by the Guyana Geology and Mine Commission’s collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources, emphasizes that land reclamation is mandatory and must be completed after mining. Reclamation and preserving the land post the mining process is key in diminishing the overall damages done to the land and its environmental components due to clearing and excavation. Excel continues to support and practice the message presented by the Guyana Geology and Mine Commission, that we need to “promote the economy in a way that is considering the environment.” ‘Mercury-Free’ mining also eradicates upwards of “40% of global mercury pollution [caused] from mining.” Excel prides itself in the use of “green practices” for its daily operations 52

GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

www.ggmc.gov.gy/video/all/land-reclamation-andenvironmental-compliance-guyanas-extractive-industriespart-1 www.mercuryfreemining.org/ For more information about Excel Logistics and Management Services, please contact us at tel nos: 223-0646/223-0648 or 699-0625; ksammy@excel guyana.com or visit or website: excelguyana.com.

Tullow’s 2030 Net Zero Commitment

maintained a core-team in-country presence which is serviced by goods and services provided by local suppliers and Guyanese workforce.

Tullow Oil plc is an independent international Oil & Gas Explorer and Producer operating across Africa and South America.

Q: Tullow has committed to becoming a net zero company by 2030. How do you plan to achieve this? Tullow has committed to being net zero by 2030 for its Scope 1 and 2 emissions, which are those emissions generated directly through its operations and also from its purchased electricity. The company aims to achieve this through a combination of decarbonising our operated assets in Ghana and through a nature-based carbon removal programme to offset our hard to abate emissions from power generation. Tullow’s current focus is to work on getting the carbon intensity of its operations in line with International Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP) industry averages or lower, at the latest by 2025 through its commitment to eliminate all routine flaring and by installing/executing several net positive cash flow carbon abatement projects on its Ghana assets.

Founded in 1985, the Group has interests in over 50 exploration and production licences across 11 countries. It has a balanced portfolio of exploration, development and production assets. Headquartered in London, Tullow’s shares are listed on the London, Irish and Ghana Stock Exchanges. At Tullow, finding, developing and producing the natural resources of a country presents a unique opportunity to create jobs, develop capacity in parts of the national workforce, create local business opportunities and encourage foreign direct investment through international supply chains when exploration success can be developed to the production stage of the Oil and Gas life cycle. Currently, most of Tullow’s production comes from the Jubilee and TEN fields in Ghana that Tullow discovered and brought on stream respectively in 2010 and 2016. In April 2021, Tullow began a new multi-year, multi-well near field development and exploration drilling campaign in Ghana. In Guyana, Tullow has been active since 2008, holding 37.5% in the non-operated Kanuku licence and 60% in the Tullow operated Orinduik licence. Following two heavy oil discoveries in the Orinduik Block made in 2019, ongoing exploration activities consist of multiple highly technical geoscience workstreams to support portfolio maturation. Tullow continued to engage suppliers of key services to as to build a database of the progression of the availability of goods and services and to maintain a sound in-country capabilities assessment up to date. The company has

Tullow’s sustainability framework has four pillars – safe operations, shared prosperity, environmental stewardship and equality and transparency which combine all these inputs and expectations.

GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Tullow’s 2030 Net Zero Commitment

Q: Tullow is still at the exploration stage in Guyana. How have you begun to deliver sustainability within the Guyanese community? Tullow regularly engages with stakeholders in Guyana on our activities and has also partnered with companies in Guyana to deliver local projects, and most recently projects supporting continued access to education during the pandemic. It is a corporate sponsor of STEM Guyana and is supporting the establishment of learning pods, the production of a STEM focused TV series ‘Robin the Robot’ and the ‘Parents learn then teach’ programme. The company is also a local partner to the MatPal institute and has assisted Matpal with purchasing equipment to enhance marine safety training capabilities and the development of the institute. This partnership is particularly important as it supports building local capacity for the marine and oil and gas sector. Tullow is committed to delivering shared prosperity and mitigating impacts including climate change and is closely aligned with Guyana’s green economy goals. In this regard, Tullow is supportive of a mangrove restoration project along 0.5 km of coastline identified by the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute spanning from Colombia

GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

to the village of Aberdeen in Region 2. The project aims to plant 15,000 spartina grass sprouts to rehabilitate the area before settling 20,000 black mangrove seedlings into the area. This work is being done in parallel with raising awareness amongst the local communities on the importance of protecting the mangroves. This project aims to enable a better understanding of some of the challenges associated with small scale reforestation, but more importantly it will provide a direct benefit to communities by building coastal resilience, with the ultimate objective of protecting the rich and diverse ecosystems which are essential for local livelihoods. Tullow Guyana is also a member of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry and is committed to operating sustainably in all aspects of the business. Contact Information 176 Middle Street, South Cummingsburg, Georgetown, Guyana Email address: eon.stephens@tullowoil.com; Website: www.tullowoil.com

DEMERARA BANK LIMITED GREEN INITIATIVE

2015, with four other branches converted to the renewable energy solution in subsequent years. The most recent branch at Mahaica is fully operational on solar energy. Apart from Green Loans, Demerara Bank Limited offers a wide range of premium banking services through its network of eight branches strategically located across the country. These products and services include Savings and Term Deposit Accounts, Loans, Money Transfer Services, Cambio Services, Payroll, Safety Deposit Boxes, Night Depository facilities as well as Internet and other electronic funds transfer options. As we look to the future, we remain optimistic about our plans and will continue to invest in sustainable efforts to make the greatest positive impact on our customers, employees and the environment as a whole. Demerara Bank Limited is a member of the Georgetown Chambers of Commerce. As one of fastest growing financial institutions in Guyana, we understand the value of long-term sustainability and we firmly believe that we can make a difference for the future by taking appropriate action today. Demerara Bank Limited launched its Green Loans in November, 2016, an initiative that is aimed at building a sustainable future through the provision of low-cost financing for all renewable energy projects. To date, numerous individuals and corporate entities have benefitted from this initiative which has not only allowed for significant costsavings but also for beneficiaries to achieve their goals for long-term sustainability.

As an organization, the Bank has made significant strides to reduce its carbon footprint. It is worth highlighting in particular that the majority of its branches are fully powered by solar energy and that sustainable practices have been integrated into all areas of operations. The Bank’s Corporate Office was the first location to be fully powered by solar in

Contact Us Corporate Office: +592 226 0601 Main Branch: +592 225 0610 Rose Hall: +592 337 4441 Corriverton: +592 335 3551 Anna Regina: +592 771-5403-4 Diamond: +592-265 5706-8 Le Ressouvenir: +592 220- 6460/6483 Mahaica: +592 228 5663/5665/5674 Email: banking@demerarabank.com Website:www.demerarabank.com

GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Global Compliance Service- The ISO 14001 Standard A tool for Environmental Sustainability!

Consistent with the organization’s environmental policy, the intended outcomes of an EMS include: • enhancement of environmental performance; • fulfilment of compliance obligations; and • achievement of environmental objectives.

What is ISO 14001? The ISO 14001 standard is the well-known tool used by organisations globally to implement an Environmental Management System (EMS). This standard was first launched in 1996 and last published in 2015. The ISO 14001 standard was revised based on the environmental context in which we live where there has been an increase in discussions on Climate Change. Many organisations have to meet the expectations of policymakers in areas related to water utilisation, energy usage, and environmental performance. Stakeholders expect that organisations will be stewards of the environment and perform accordingly to ensure the protection of the environment and conservation of resources. The ISO 14001 standard is a tool that supports the advancement and continual improvement and has gained recognition through use in organizations as a selfimprovement tool. ISO 14001 has also gained prominence through third-party recognition, certification where we have now more than 400,000 certificates for 14001 globally. This is a sign of its impact and a sign of its uptake in many countries. What is an Environmental Management System (EMS)? An environmental management system helps organizations identify, manage, monitor, and control their environmental issues in a “holistic” manner. The ISO 14001 standard, ‘Environmental Management Systems- Requirements with guidance for use’ is suitable for organizations of all types and sizes, be they private, not-for-profit, or governmental. It requires that an organiza¬tion considers all environmental issues rel-evant to its operations, such as air pollution, water and sewage issues, waste management, soil contamination, climate change mitiga¬tion and adaptation, and resource use and efficiency. Organisations seeking to manage their environmental responsibilities in a systematic manner that contributes to the environmental pillar of sustainability achieve the intended outcomes of its environmental management system, which provide value for the environment, the organization itself, and interested parties.

GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Like all ISO management system standards, ISO 14001 includes the need for continual improvement of an organization’s systems and approach to environmental concerns. The standard has key improvements such as the increased prominence of environmental management within the organization’s strategic planning processes, greater input from leadership, and a stronger commitment to proactive initiatives that boost environmental performance. Why invest in ISO 14001? There are many reasons why an organization should take a strategic approach to improving its environmental performance. Users of the standard have reported that ISO 14001 helps: 1. Demonstrate compliance with current and future statutory and regulatory requirements. 2. Increase leadership involvement and engagement of employees. 3. Improve company reputation and the confidence of stakeholders through strategic communication. 4. Achieve strategic business aims by incorporating environmental issues into business management. 5. Provide a competitive and financial advantage through improved efficiencies and reduced costs. 6. Encourage better environmental performance of suppliers by integrating them into the organization’s business systems. What are the key benefits of Certification? Accredited certification to ISO 14001 is not a requirement, and organizations can reap many of the benefits from using the standard without going through the accredited certification process. However, third-party certification – where an independent certification body audits your practices against the requirements of the standard – is a way of signalling to your buyers, customers, suppliers, and other stake¬holders that you have implemented the standard properly. What’s more, for some organizations, it helps to show how they meet regulatory or contractual requirements.

Global Compliance Service- The ISO 14001 Standard A tool for Environmental Sustainability!

What are the key elements of the ISO 14001 standard? The ISO 14001 standards have the high-level structure which makes it easy for organisations to integrate the EMS to the ISO 9001 QMS or the ISO 45001 OH&S Management Systems.

Local organisations are encouraged to implement the ISO 14001 EMS to monitor their environmental performance in the mist of global discussions on the impact of our activities on Climate change as we all commit to protecting and preserving our environment for future generations. Global Compliance Service Inc. is a member of Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry and is a 100% Guyanese and female-majority owned Certification Body/Registrar. We are the Resident Office of Global Compliance Service, an Accredited Certification Body with its Headquarters is located in Geneva, Switzerland. We are providing opportunities for local organisations to access Training and ISO Certification Services to ISO Management System Standards. Candelle Bostwick CEO and Lead Auditor Global Compliance Service Guyana Inc. Lot 20A Public Road Mc. Doom East Bank Demerara Contact us at 223-6666 guyana@gcsregistrar.com www.gcsregistrar.com

How to get started with ISO 14001:2015? • Tip 1 – Define your objectives. What do you want to achieve with this standard? • Tip 2 – Get the buy-in from senior management. It is essential that the leaders of your organization support the objectives of an effective environmental management system and are committed to the process. • Tip 3 – Get a good overview of existing processes and systems that are relevant to your environmental impact. This will form the basis of your environmental management system and allow you to more easily identify any gap GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Green Economy Committee Members

GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

DIAMOND SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSOR

MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES

INTER-AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (IDB)

The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) as it is known was established on December 17, 2011 as the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MNRE) with a primary focus of harmonizing policy and management in the Natural resourcesbased sectors. However, following the appointment of the new Government in May 2015, the institutional structure of the MNRE changed and it became a Department of Natural Resources and Environment under the purview of the Ministry of Presidency. A second change occurred on January 18, 2016 which saw the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment transformed to into the Ministry of Natural Resources.

We work to improve lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. Through financial and technical support for countries working to reduce poverty and inequality, we help improve health and education, and advance infrastructure. Our aim is to achieve development in a sustainable, climate-friendly way. With a history dating back to 1959, today we are the leading source of development financing for Latin America and the Caribbean. We provide loans, grants, and technical assistance; and we conduct extensive research. We maintain a strong commitment to achieving measurable results and the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability.

TO OUR ADVERTISERS/DONORS • HAND IN HAND MUTUAL FIRE & LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY • CT WILLIAMS TECHNOLOGIES INC. • EXCEL LOGISTICS & MANAGEMENT SERVICES • UNIVERSITY OF GUYANA • PURANS BROS • NEW GPC INC • LEHR INC. • FLOOR IT • STERLING PRODUCTS LIMITED • ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY • SIVIC DISTRIBUTORS INC. • GAFSONS INDUSTRIES INC. • RAJIV GANDHI UNIVERSITYOF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY • MERCHANT MARINE SERVICES GUYANA INC • EVOLVE TRADING AND INVESTMENT LIMITED • EAGLE TRANSPORTATION & GENERAL CONSTRUCTION INC • GLOBAL COMPLIANCE INC.

GREEN GUYANA - ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS OF ARTICLES • DR MAHENDER SHARMA (GUYANA ENERGY AGENCY) • JIMMY REECE (GUYANA GEOLOGY AND MINES COMMISSION) • UNIVERSITY OF GUYANA • SATROHAN NAUTH (MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT) • IVANA THOMPSON • JESSICA HATFIELD • SHANNIA PERSAUD • ANA CORREIA • SHAAM OUTAR • GEORGE IRVINE (EVOLVE TRADING AND INVESTMENT LIMITED) • VANESSA WILLIAMS • MARK RAM AND SHALEEZA SHAW • PYAGUY YOUTHS • SEAWALLS AND BEYOND • TEXILA AMERICAN UNIVERSITY • ECO GREEN GUYANA • EXCEL LOGISTICS & MANAGEMENT SERVICES • TULLOW OIL GUYANA • DEMERARA BANK LIMITED • GLOBAL COMPLIANCE SERVICE • GCCI GREEN ECONOMY COMMITTEE