New Department of the Environment to be created and will function under the Ministry of the Presidency

Currently the Ministry of Natural Resources has significant responsibility for the management of the environment but the President said the new Department will function under the Ministry of the Presidency.

New Department of the Environment to be created and will function under the Ministry of the Presidency

The Ministry of Natural Resources will soon be relieved of its responsibility for management of Guyana’s environment.

President David Granger announced on Monday that he intends to create a new Department of the Environment, while addressing newly appointed Heads of Missions.

Mr. Granger said he has already been having discussions but did not give a timeline for the effect of such a change.

Currently the Ministry of Natural Resources has significant responsibility for the management of the environment but the President said the new Department will function under the Ministry of the Presidency.

This, he said, is to ensure that the environment is better cared for. “This is important because is only one we have,” the Head of State said.

The President acknowledged that there are several agencies that bear responsibility for protective areas, wildlife and climate change but underscored the need for them to be placed under the control of a single managerial authority.

“So a department of the environment will be established,” he added.

Mr. Granger said as far as the structure of the government is concerned, it remains strong and is “doing well”.

Since the start of the coalition government, President Granger has made several changes including the movement of several junior ministers and one senior minister.

Mr. Granger also merged the Ministry of Business with the Ministry of Tourism and created a new Ministry of Public Telecommunication.

He used the opportunity to defend those changes. “From time to time I will make minor changes. For example the establishment of the Ministry of Telecommunication. At the start of the government last May we never contemplated this but as time went on we discovered that the Ministry was needed,” he explained.

Mr. Granger said his expectation is that in the fullness of time, junior ministers will bear the full responsibility for their ministries.

He said his intention is not to have a huge governmental structure but promised to continue to asses the development needs of the country.

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