It is customary for presidents, prime ministers, or heads of state/governments,

whatever description is given, after they demit office, to retire in full comfort where they spend their time writing  memoirs/accounts of memorable events during their sojourn in office. This is coupled with holding court, so to speak, where they meet friends, and even receive old colleagues on courtesy visits.

But there are others, who have been using their well earned rest from the onerous responsibilities of state in the furtherance of many humanitarian activities and causes, such as bringing peace to troubled nations; furthering the cause of democracy; mediating  conflicts; pleading the causes of poor nations; highlighting  the economic needs of southern nations; and sustainable development.

The names associated with these noble endeavours include former leaders now deceased, such as the late German Chancellor, Willy Brandt; and former Tanzanian President, Dr. Julius Nyerere. Those still alive, and contributing to these causes  have  all been recent  leaders and include the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair; former Presidents of the United States, Bill Clinton and George Bush Jnr;  former Prime Minister of Norway, Gro Harlem Bruntlandt; and Carl Bildt, former Prime Minister of Sweden. Of course, there are others, but these are the most prominent of past world leaders, who are still promoting the furtherance of the well-being of mankind.

To this illustrious list, the name of Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, former President of the Republic of Guyana, must be added. Now, here is a man who became leader of his country at a very young age, the youngest Head of State/Government at that time to be specific, at a most challenging time. Undaunted by the many challenges that emanated from anti-national forces, he architectured this nation’s rise from a trottled economy to one that has now become the envy of its sister CARICOM member states, with a recorded eighth consecutive year of positive economic growth; coupled with the most successful socio-economic programmes that have resulted in life-changing benefits for tens of thousands of Guyanese, of all ethnic groups, and  political affiliations, throughout the length and breadth of Guyana. One does not need to repeat what these ground-breaking interventions are – they stand as monuments to a visionary leader, whom the final history of this nation will hail as the Father of a modern Guyana.

But his vision of leadership, was to have transcended  his country of birth and its people, in a further dynamic, but especially crucial manner, in joining the battle against the threat of global  climate change. Dr Jagdeo’s contributions to climate change studies and the economics of  sustainable economic development, has brought him international acclaim as one of the world’s foremost acknowledged  experts in this the most critical challenge that threatens the existence of mankind and his planet.

Even before he demitted the presidency, Dr. Jagdeo had been indefatigably promoting the cause of sustainable development, explaining  how nations can benefit from forest services, without jeopardising earth’s existence. And his internationally acclaimed and well received Low Carbon Development Strategy(LCDS) has been accepted as an authority on this most important of environmental issues.

The offices to which he has been appointed illustrates how very busy his international schedule has been since the ending of presidential duties. These include head of a Commonwealth High Level Advisory group on Climate Finance, the purpose of which is to identify solutions for unlocking resources to enable  small, poor and climate-vulnerable Commonwealth countries to combat climate change. He serves in an almost similar capacity on a United Nations’ Secretary General Committee, tasked with raising $100B. Other appointments are:  High Level Envoy for Sustainable Development in Forest Countries on behalf of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature(IUCN); IUCN Patron of Nature; Roving Ambassador for the Three Basins(Amazon, Congo Basin, and South East Asia; and First Chair of Global Green Growth Institute(GGGI), South Korea.

His contributions as a global advocate for international action to avert the most extremes of climate change has been lauded by two of the world’s most eminent gentlemen: Nobel Laureate Dr. Pachauri, and international statesman and regionalist, Guyanese Sir Shridath Ramphal, former Secretary General of the Commonwealth.

As is well  known, the battle against the threat of climate change, and its ever growing threat to the safety of mankind and the sustainability of his planet is a foremost one, because of what can be described as lack of political will on the part of many states, many of whom are the biggest emitters of greenhouse  gases. The troubling aspect is that despite the daily reports of an environment becoming warmer by the hour, lip service is being paid. However, one is assured that Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, with even more zeal and eloquence, will carry the message of saving the planet to all the corners of a threatened earth.

And the mere fact that he has been awarded five honorary doctorate degrees is evidence that his message has begun to impact. Guyana and the world can depend on his tireless advocacy for saving the planet.