Natural resources Minister Raphael Trotman, along with a high level-delegation will be leaving Guyana for the Kingdom of Norway to attend the “Oslo REDD Exchange” 2016.
The forum will be held on June 14 and 15 and will bring together high level representatives from around the world to exchange ideas, experiences and perspectives on how best to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) in developing countries and protect tropical forests.
During the visit, the team will meet with Minister of Climate and Environment Vidar Helgesen to discuss the Guyana/Norway partnership, examine renewable project opportunities and explore avenues of support for the development of Guyana’s oil and gas sector.
Minister Trotman will be accompanied by Chairman of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) Jocelyn Dow and Head of Planning and Development Pradeepa Bholanath, Technical Officer of the Ministry of Natural Resources Teresa Gaime and Head of the Project Management Office at Ministry of the Presidency Marlon Bristol.
Apart from the conference, the Guyana delegation will be involved in other engagements while in Norway.
Following its ascension to office, the APNU+AFC Government, through the Ministry of Natural Resources has been actively engaging the Norwegian government to advance the Guyana/Norway partnership agreement which seeks to provide Guyana with US$250 million for avoided deforestation.
Additionally, Trotman, who has responsibility for the agreement, and a team from the Ministry of Natural Resources and other coordinating agencies, have facilitated several exchanges to help finalise an agreement that would yield better outcomes for Guyana.
The Kingdom of Norway had recently sent three teams of advisors from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), and Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative who supported local stakeholders to improve their capacity to execute the Joint Concept Note and take advantage of REDD opportunities.
This will be government’s first visit to Norway having facilitated previous visits by Norwegian representatives over the course of engagements between the two countries.
Guyana’s presence at the conference will further strengthen the capacity of local coordinating agencies while other in-country meetings will move it closer to achieving its Green Economy vision.
The visiting team will place much emphasis on petroleum production and renewable energy both of which Guyana believes that Norway can provide valuable support for.
Both countries are eagerly anticipating the visit and the positive outcomes that will further strengthen their relationship.
“During the visit, the team will visit the Minister of Climate and Environment Vidar Helgesen to discuss the Guyana/Norway partnership, …………………………..and explore avenue for support the development of Guyana oil and gas sector.”
Like Trotman missing the point. Halting deforestation would counter emission. However. the experts around the world are supporting and promoting reduction in emission by the uses of alternate energy and decreasing the use of fossil fuel(petroleum). I don’t see how support the development of Guyana’s oil which is petroleum(fossil fuel) will fit into this.