Minister Webster urges participants to examine climate change issues

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Guyana Chronicle: July 19th, 2007
Minister Webster urges participants to examine climate change issues


Participants at the civil society consultation on the special theme of the
Commonwealth Finance Ministers' Meeting were yesterday urged to ensure that
they fully examine and consider all issues relating to climate change and
its effect on poverty reduction.

Minister within the Ministry of Finance Jennifer Webster, in the feature
address extended a warm welcome, on behalf of Government, and urged
participants from overseas to take time to enjoy the land of many waters
during their stay.

The event attracted participants from 14 Commonwealth nations, including
Africa, Asia, Europe, Jamaica, Canada and Australia. Also at the meeting was
Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ms. Elisabeth Harper.

The Minister pointed out that the effects of climate change are visible
worldwide, with changes in weather patterns, torrential rains and flooding.
She noted that Guyana's case is peculiar, since 90 percent of the population
have settled along the Coast which is below sea level.

Minister Webster pointed out that Guyana in 2005 experienced widespread
flooding along the Coast as a result of torrential rainfall and this caused
huge losses.

The Minister stated that the objective of the civil society consultation is
to identify consensual Commonwealth civil society priorities, issues and
recommendations on developing an agenda for growth and livelihoods for
presentation to the Commonwealth Finance Ministers' Meeting (CFMM) which
will be held in Georgetown from October 15 - 17, 2007.

Representatives of civil society have made valuable inputs in the
deliberations of the annual Commonwealth Finance Ministers' Meetings since
2002. Civil society statements to the CFMM provided Ministers with
additional perspectives on the issues they discuss. They have also been used
to foster dialogue between government and civil society on issues related to
the CFMM Special Theme.

The Minister stated that Guyana has been a member of the Commonwealth since
1966 and has been highly committed to and involved in the organisation. She
pointed out that Government continually strives to promote and maintain the
values and principles of the Commonwealth in its efforts to fashion a
Commonwealth society.

She noted that the Commonwealth has been in the forefront in promoting
respect and understanding in matters dealing with culture and ethnic
diversity, and pointed out that the work of the organisation is inexplicably
linked to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

Deputy Director of the Commonwealth Foundation Vijay Krishnarayan, in
providing a brief history of the organisation, stated that it was
established in 1969 and has been working to facilitate discussions between
various Governments and civil society.

He pointed out that the Commonwealth Foundation focuses on several areas
including Governance and Democracy, Sustainable Development and Culture and
Diversity. He further stated that it is necessary for Governments and civil
society to collaborate to address issues affecting them.

Coordinator for Women Across Differences, Clonel Samuels said the civil
society organisation operates in Guyana in partnership with others,
including Oxfam, the United Nations Development Programme and the Canadian
International Development Agency (CIDA) Gender Equality Programme.

She pointed out that the organisation is fully aware of the effects of
climate change on small nations and welcomed the opportunity to be part of
the organisation of such an event.

The Commonwealth Foundation, in collaboration with Women Across Differences,
is hosting the three-day the consultation which is being held at the Regency
Suites Hotel, Hadfield Street, Georgetown.

Commonwealth Finance Ministers usually meet annually immediately preceding
the autumn meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
The CFMM seeks to build consensus on key economic and finance issues and
concerns of member states, and gives the mandate for the economic
development work of the Commonwealth Secretariat. (GINA)