–Persaud assures Linden residents
AGRICULTURE Minister Robert Persaud delivering brief remarks at the Linden Constabulary Hall on the occasion of World Meteorological Day yesterday assured the gathering that government has recognised the impact of climate change and has undertaken several measures to deal with the issue.

He noted that climate change is causing a major shift in our way of life, be it at home, in the field or at work.
As such, he exhorted that people have to learn to adapt to different residential locations because of the changing weather patterns. “We have to modify our cropping pattern, our technologies and much more,” he stressed.

Citing a recent example the minister referred to the overtopping on the East Coast where 90% of the population is located and approximately 85% of the activities take place.

Persaud yesterday met with residents of Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice) to commemorate the occasion under the theme, “observing our planet for a better future”.

This year’s observance was held under the theme, “Observing our planet for a better future,” and featured the launching of an ozone activity booklet entitled, “Save our sky” provided by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) which encompasses a compilation of several natural hazards around the world.

According to the minister the situation on the East Coast emerged from the current La Nina condition associated with easterly gusty winds combined with the low pressure system in the Atlantic that is generating wave action causing abnormal swells and excessive high tides affecting the Caribbean.

Persaud also advocated the support of farmers/loggers during this period by complying with the relevant authorities whenever advisories are being issued in ensuring the safety of every individual.

More so, he noted that some $13.5 M has been allocated for the well-being of farmers in the Region.

The minister added that the process of getting the entire sector to understand and prepare for the fallouts caused by climate change on agriculture will have to be accelerated. “Nations such as ours must intensify lobbying of those responsible for the greatest contributions to global warming and climate change causing them to change their attitude. They must recognize that they have a moral obligation to help the countries that are affected most by global warming, countries like ours that lie below a rising sea level and with limited resources to defend ourselves against damages caused not by us but contributed by others with greater economic wealth,” Persaud said.

“We also in Guyana, are now confronted with and are experiencing an inconvenient reality,” the minister pointed out.

Chief Hydromeoteorological Officer (ag) Ms. Bhaleka Seulall noted that this year’s theme is by no means a casual occurrence referring to the year that has elapsed since the previous World Meteorological Day where a number of crucial events have occurred, all of which have strongly emphasised the vital and unprecedented relevance of global observations.

She added that the provision of weather, climate and water-related information is essential to support the socio-economic activities, such as agriculture, transport, mining, energy production, aviation and water resources management, all of which are crucial for the growth and development in any country.

Ms. Seulall also appealed to the Guyanese community to contribute a few minutes of their time so as to ensure that the Hydrometeorological Service can effectively expand the weather, climate and water database which will ultimately aid in improving weather predictions both locally and internationally.

“We should begin to act locally and think globally,” she acknowledged.

World Meteorological Day celebrates the convention of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) which was entered into force on March 23, 1950, a date that is celebrated annually by the meteorological community.