[www.inewsguyana.com] – The Government of Guyana has clarified that its financial assistance to the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development is nothing new; as a matter of fact the recent US$100,000 loan from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) to the center, is the third such loan.
A media release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) noted that Iwokrama is and remains to be a vital research Centre and focal point for Climate Change, Sustainable Forestry and Eco-Tourism.
“The recent approval by the Government for the transfer of the sum of US$100,000.00 from the GGMC to Iwokrama, is as a result of the Centre’s inability to raise finances on the international arena and the unforeseen hurdles encountered with partnerships such as the Iwokrama/Tigerwood Guyana Inc. partnership. This partnership was expected to provide much needed revenue from the sustainable harvesting of forests and be a model for sustainable forestry development.”
According to GINA, in light of the ongoing work of Iwokrama and the need to maintain and promote the respective activities in both the Sustainable Use Area (SUA) and the Wilderness Preserve (WP), the Government has again committed funds to ensuring that the critical work continues and progresses.
“The financial injection of US$100,000.00 represents Government’s continued support to Iwokrama, which it has demonstrated over the years by approving the financial support of US$450,000.00 by GGMC in 2013 and US$600,000.00 by the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC). The financial support by GGMC to Iwokrama is similar to other such support provided over the last three years by the Commission to entities such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Protected Areas Trust Fund (NPATF), and the Ministry of Public Works, which would have been recipients of such financial assistance.”
Government hopes that the importance and relevance of Iwokrama would not be lost on the international community and as such financial support can be committed to the Centre given that the benefits to be derived from forest services are not limited to Guyana.
