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‘Beware of LCDS detractors’
– during Regional Technical meeting on Refrigeration 
AGRICULTURE Minister Robert Persaud has encouraged participating countries to protect their environs in contributing to sustainable development as they seek to comply with protectionary measures for the ozone layer. He was at the time addressing a Regional Technical meeting on Refrigeration at the Grand Coastal Inn, Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara which attracted participants from Haiti; Suriname; Guyana; Trinidad and Tobago; Grenada; Barbados; Bahamas; Antigua and the CARICOM Secretariat.

Guyana in 2009 joined countries around the world in protecting the ozone layer and has been receiving assistance from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to develop and implement a Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) Phase-Out Management Plan with the aim of freezing HCFC by 2013.
CFC and HCFC emissions from refrigerators and air conditioners over the next several decades will significantly impact on climate change and damage the ozone layer as well.
The Agriculture Minister added that Guyana has made good progress in honouring its obligations, since Government recognises the importance in ensuring compliance with the Montreal Protocol.
“I want us to reflect on a wider theme on why it is we should be obligated to the compliance of the Montrйal protocol, since we are here about fulfilling that wider context in ensuring that whatever we do in every area of human activity we do it in a way that it protects our environment and it contributes to sustainable development,” he said.
He told the visiting technicians that during the two-day session methods used in Guyana can be learned as well as shared.
The ozone layer acts like a shield in the upper atmosphere to protect life on earth from harmful ultra violet radiation and in 1987, leaders from many countries came together to sign a landmark environment treaty, the Montrйal protocol.
“This is also important in ensuring that technologies deployed are in sync with ensuring that at the end of the day our planet is not further harmed,” he said.
Minister Persaud explained that climate change has been a devastating phenomenon which has been significantly affecting countries around the world, with Guyana battling the effects of La Nina.
This, he added, is oftentimes aggravated by man’s historical neglect which has been significantly contributing to climate change.
“In Guyana, you would have been hearing about the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), the first of its kind for any country to develop our economy along a low carbon path and that strategy has been gaining international momentum and support,” Minister Persaud added.
However, he cautioned that as a region, individuals must be careful of sections of society which may be doing the call of other interest groups in disclaiming the LCDS and as such, precaution should be taken, since there are those who think Guyana should not be compensated.
“I want you to be on alert for those elements who may try to ambush these efforts so that at the end of the day our country would not be able to benefit,” he said.
Meanwhile, United Nations Environment Programme’s Policy and Enforcement Officer, Artie Dubrie said that the sustained protection of the country’s ozone layer will serve as a protection for the environment.
She lauded the participants since they have demonstrated a keen interest in sharing ideas and knowledge with partners in the Caribbean.
During the workshop, areas such as the introduction of ozone depletion and the Montreal Protocol; overview of Caribbean vocational qualifications; long-term alternatives in the Caribbean and the management of National Refrigeration Association were addressed. (GINA)