Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has dismissed the Opposition’s criticisms of the government’s highly successful Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), contrasting it with the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) introduced by the APNU/AFC during their time in office from 2015 to 2020. Dr Jagdeo pointed out that the GSDS failed to generate any significant results. At the same time, the LCDS has already earned Guyana nearly US$1 billion in deforestation incentives, contributing to Amerindian land titling, community development projects, climate adaptation initiatives, and renewable energy projects.
At his weekly press conference on Thursday, Dr Jagdeo highlighted the stark difference between the two strategies. “Under the Green State Strategy, in five years, they [APNU+AFC] earned not a cent,” he reiterated.
Dr. Jagdeo’s remarks directly responded to comments from Leader of the Opposition Aubrey Norton, who argued that 50 percent of Guyana’s earnings from carbon credits should go to Indigenous communities. Indigenous communities are set to receive an increased payout of 26.5 percent of this year’s payout from Guyana’s US$750 million deal with Hess Corporation. Dr. Jagdeo countered Norton’s proposal by pointing out the futility of the GSDS, saying, “Norton said he would’ve given 50 percent, but 50 percent of zero is zero. Because under the Green State Strategy, they earned not a cent in five years.”
In 2023, Guyana’s carbon credit payments amounted to US$22.5 million (GYD$ 4.7 billion), distributed among 242 Indigenous villages in the hinterland, accounting for 15 percent of the payments received that year. In 2024, these communities are expected to receive another GYD$4.8 billion.
In response to criticisms of the GSDS’s lack of accomplishments, Norton defended the strategy during his weekly press conference on Friday, attributing the delays to the time it took to finalize the document. He noted that the GSDS was not published until 2019, months after the APNU/AFC government lost a No Confidence Motion. Norton also stated that if the APNU were to return to power, they would revisit the GSDS, incorporating elements from the LCDS to create a revamped version. “Nobody is saying no to the LCDS… As to the question of moving forward, we will embrace the Green Strategy… We will have to revisit it and determine what elements we move forward with and what new elements we will put. There are elements of the LCDS that are useful and can be continued but have to be widened,” Norton explained.
The Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), first launched in 2009, outlines the government’s vision for inclusive, sustainable development, aiming to create a model low-carbon economy. Central to the strategy is the goal of generating economic incentives for forest preservation to offset the income that would have been gained from deforestation for agriculture, mining, infrastructure, and other uses.
The LCDS is recognized as a global model for promoting broad-based economic development while avoiding deforestation-led growth. It underlines investments in Indigenous communities, job creation, sustainability planning, and initiatives to protect the coast and hinterland from climate change.
One of the strategy’s early successes was the 2009 US$250 million agreement between Guyana and Norway, which allowed Guyana to earn payments for forest climate services. In 2022, the LCDS 2030 was presented in the National Assembly following seven months of consultations. Another significant milestone was reached in December 2022 when Guyana signed a historic US$750 million multi-year agreement for the sale of high-quality carbon credits to Hess Corporation.
On the other hand, the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS), launched in 2019 by the APNU/AFC, was promoted as a comprehensive guide for public investment, aligning with the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and Goals (SDGs). However, despite its ambitious goals, the GSDS failed to deliver tangible results during the APNU/AFC’s tenure.
The previous APNU/AFC government made numerous promises to the people of Guyana during its tenure. Unfortunately, many of these commitments were not translated into concrete actions, leaving a significant portion of the electorate dissatisfied. As the following general election approaches, the APNU/AFC leaders have continued to make pledges. However, given the lack of follow-through on past commitments, the electorate is increasingly discerning and skeptical of these new promises.
Voters, now more informed and cautious, are recognizing the previous administration’s pattern of unfulfilled assurances. This growing awareness empowers them to make more informed decisions in the upcoming election.
The APNU/AFC coalition has significantly lost credibility in the eyes of the voters, primarily due to their failure to deliver on numerous promises made during Mr. David Granger’s previous term in office. This has led to widespread skepticism among the electorate regarding the coalition’s current and future pledges. With Aubrey Norton at the helm, there is a prevailing sentiment that the APNU/AFC leadership tends to make assurances that are not fulfilled, further eroding public trust.
In contrast, under the leadership of Vice President and Secretary General Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, the PPP party has been noted for making substantial progress on the commitments made in the 2020 elections. The PPP has demonstrated a strong track record of achieving significant economic and social development milestones, which should instill hope and optimism about the party’s future among voters.
Dr Jagdeo’s administration is perceived as effectively delivering on its promises and advancing national development, thereby gaining increased confidence from the Guyanese electorate.