Georgetown, Guyana – (January 28, 2016) Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. Raphael Trotman, today, inducted Director of Resource Management and Training at the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development, Dr. Raquel Thomas-Caesar, former First Lady, Ms. Varshanie Singh, Social activist, Ms. Vanessa Kissoon and businesswoman, Ms. Jocelyn Dow, among others, to serve on the Boards of agencies under his remit.
From left: Mr. Calvin Bernard, Chair-Wildlife Scientific Authority; Ms. Jocelyn Down, Chair-Guyana Forestry Commission; Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ms. Simona Broomes; Mr. Marcel Gaskin, Chair-Environmental Assessment Board; Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. Raphael Trotman; Dr. Allyson Stoll, Chair-Environmental Protection Agency, Mr. Phillip DaSilva, Chair-Wildlife Management Authority and Dr. David Singh, Chair-Protected Areas Commission.
Ms. Singh and Dr. Thomas-Caesar will serve as members of the Protected Areas Commission, while Ms. Kissoon and Ms. Dow will serve on the Guyana Forestry Commission’s Board as member and Chairperson, respectively.
The appointees were inducted at a simple ceremony held at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre (ACCC), along with other members of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), the Wildlife Scientific Authority (WSA), the Protected Areas Commission (PAC), the Wildlife Management Authority (WMA) and the Environmental Assessment Board (EAB).
The Environmental Protection Agency’s Board will now be headed Dr. Allyson Stoll; the Wildlife Scientific Authority by Mr. Calvin Bernard; the Protected Areas Commission, by Dr. David Singh; the Wildlife Management Authority by Mr. Phillip DaSilva while the Environmental Assessment Board will be chaired by Mr. Marcel Gaskin.
Minister Trotman said today’s installation ceremony is a historical event as never before had so many boards come together. He then challenged the Boards to assume a ‘one team’ approach in the conduct of their duties as they are all tied together by a common mandate that is to protect the environment, to protect the national patrimony.
Members of the six Boards that Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. Raphael Trotman, installed today.
“When I became Minister, the synergies we expected to see were just not present and there were tensions between miners and agencies; there were so many conflicts and matters to be addressed…As Board members, you are to be guided by government policies and from the legislation,” Minister Trotman said. “These Boards are semi-autonomous, but at the end of the day, you are extensions of the Government.”
With regard to the autonomous function of the Board, the Ministers will not intervene or have a say in the way the work is conducted, he said. However, he also said that if the Boards neglect to respect and promote Government policies, changes might become necessary.
“It is not our place to interfere, but if we find that the policies of the Government are not being respected, promoted, then we are going to let you know and we are going to touch those agencies like we have had cause to do… We expect that high ethical standards will be applied and all Guyanese will be treated fairly and equitably. We are not here to serve a party but to serve a purpose. We must all do the best for our country,” Minister Trotman said.
Meanwhile, Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ms. Simona Broomes in her brief remarks, said that the agencies are all linked to the growth of the country’s economy and as such, the Board must be cognisant of this when planning its programme.
“The Boards are appointed to provide direction to the organisation; that the vision, mission… goal and the rules that the Board establish should be policy- based. Those are two critical concerns that… the Board should bear in… mind,” she said.
Chairperson of the Guyana Forestry Commission, Ms. Jocelyn Dow, who spoke on behalf of the Boards, expressed gratitude to the Government for the confidence reposed in them and pledged to ensure that the rights of every Guyanese are upheld.
“We are thankful and we must all remember that we are protectors of the country’s patrimony. We must ensure that the resources are equitable and justly distributed,” she said.
Members of the Wildlife Scientific Authority are: Mr. Calvin Bernard – Chairperson, Dr. David Singh, Dr. Karen Pilgrim, Dr. Lennox Applewhite, Ms. Cindy Maloney Burch-Smith, Mr. Elford Alwin Liverpool and Ms. Alona Sankar, Head of the Wildlife Management Authority.
The Protected Areas Commission (PAC) Board comprises: Dr. David Singh – Chair, Mr. Clayton Hall, Mr. Gerard Ramsaroop, Dr. Raquel Thomas-Caesar, Ms. Varshnie Singh, Representative of the Opposition, Mr. Damian Fernandes, Commissioner of the PAC, a representative from the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, representative from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission.
The Guyana Forestry Commission’s Board is as follows: Ms. Jocelyn Dow – Chair, Mr. Troy Cadogan, Mr. Clayton Hall, Mr. Aaron Fraser, Ms. Vanessa Kissoon, Mr. Khalawan- Forest Producers’ Association, representative from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Ms. Janette Bulkan, Mr. Mohindra Chand – Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), Mr. James Singh -Commissioner, Workers’ Representative (GFC), Legal officer (GFC), and two representatives from the Ministries of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and Agriculture.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s Board comprises Dr. Allyson Stoll – Chair, Mr. Trevor Williams, Mr. Tracey Johnson, Mr. Imole McDonald, Ms. Latchmin Punalalll, Mr. Derek Knowlessar- Ministry of Communities, Executive Director, Dr. Indarjit Ramdass, representatives from the Ministries of Agriculture and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, a representative from the Opposition and the Legal Officer (EPA).
The Board of the Wildlife Management Authority is: Mr. Phillip DaSilva, Dr. Simpson DaSilva, Mr. Calvin Bernard, representative from the Guyana Livestock Development Authority, representative from the Guyana Forestry Commission, representative from the Guyana Revenue Authority, representative from the Guyana Police Force, Ms. Alona Sankar, Legal Officer (WMA) and a representative from the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry.
The Environmental Assessment Board members are Mr. Marcel Gaskin – Chair, Representative of the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Guyana, Mr. Alfred Mentore, Ms. Sherlinda Daniels, Ms. Denise Simmons and a representative of the Ministry of Business.
