Norway is concerned over LCDS budget cut -Ambassador Wiig

Norway has serious concerns about the status of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), in wake of the opposition imposed cut to the 2013 budgetary allocation for several initiatives under the LCDS.

The country’s Ambassador Aud Marti Wiig during a courtesy call and meeting with Prime Minister Samuel Hinds today expressed her country’s concern. The Prime Minister said that the recent reduction has attracted the attention of the Norwegian Government, given its key role in the programme, in terms of financing and institutional strengthening.

According to Prime Minister Hinds, concerns were also expressed about government’s strategies on hinterland consultations, relations with indigenous residents and environmental issues. He said that he assured Ambassador Wiig, that Guyana will be able to meet and exceed its expectations and goals with regards to the LCDS.

Norway’s Ambassador to Guyana, Aud Marti Wiig (right) during a courtesy call on Prime Minister Samuel Hinds

The Prime Minister added that government is confident that funding to the LCDS will be restored by the parliament as the opposition has stated its intention to approve any supplementary budget allocations with regards to the programme.

The opposition’s budget cut of $19Billion of the $20Billion allocated to the LCDS projects has affected the Amaila Falls Hydro Project: designed to provide cheap reliable electricity, the Amerindian Development Fund: to support and boost economic development of indigenous residents, Amerindian Land Titling: aimed at fast tracking titling and demarcating lands for indigenous residents, the Cunha Canal Rehabilitation: targeted at preventing flooding of the East Bank Demerara and coastal areas, Institutional Strengthening: intended to provide micro and small enterprise funding and the University of Guyana based Bio Diversity Center: aimed at spearheading research into flora and fauna locally.