Caribbean on sustainable development path

A GREENER, CLEANER AND STRONGER CARIBBEAN IS POSSIBLE by increased
use of renewable energy Guyana’s Natural Resources Minister, Mr. Vickram Bharrat, told the
recent Caribbean Academy of Sciences Guyana Chapter 22nd Biennial Conference
Bharrat said renewable energy is an environmental ‘Messiah’ while simultaneously helping nations to
achieve long-desired sustainable development.
“The use of renewable energy not only saves the environment, but also helps us as a nation to
achieve sustainable development and if every country and island in the Caribbean community
uses more renewable energy, we will have a greener, cleaner and stronger Caribbean,” the
Guyanese minister said.

He said the application of new scientific breakthroughs “alternative sources of energy that are
environmentally friendly are being created such as biomass, geothermal resources and hydro-
power.
Science and its Siamese twin technology, continue to play a pivotal role in contemporary life
leading to massive gains in poverty alleviation, public health, agriculture, affordable energy,
water supply, environmental management, economic growth, rural development and in the
important field of education

S&T also hold the key to progress and development of any nation. Technology plays a
fundamental role in wealth creation, improvement of the quality of life and real economic
growth and transformation in any society. The difference in S&T and its application explain
the growing gap between rich and poor countries.
Minister Bharrat told the Biennial that S&T and innovation which cleared the way for
increased use of renewable energy at the same time have made it more likely for countries of
the Caribbean to achieve Sustainable Goals 12 and 13 of the UN.

SDG 12, encourages sustainable consumption and production patterns globally, while SDG
13 addresses the urgent need to combat climate change and its impacts on the planet.
Guyana, Bharrat assured, that the South American independent Republic remains committed
to sustainable development although using renewable energy is expensive and difficult to
accessible by average citizens.
“We must acknowledge the challenges of achieving sustainable development in order to
embrace the sacrifices we must make. Our world is dying and we must preserve the resources
that we have before it’s too late,” the minister counselled.
As developing stated, Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean are dependent heavily on their
human and environmental resources “therefore, we must use them in a careful manner,”
counselled Bharrat.

“As citizens we must all commit to the cause in order to achieve our desired results,” the
minister urged the Caribbean Academy of Sciences caucus.