Iwokrama the Focus of an Emergency Meeting with President Jagdeo and Leaders of the North Rupununi

02 December 2004

On the afternoon of 1st December 2004, His Excellency President Jagdeo, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, held a two hour emergency meeting with various stakeholders to discuss the financial difficulties Iwokrama is facing and the immediate threat of the organisation's closure. The meeting was attended by Iwokrama senior management, twenty community leaders from the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB), Foreign Affairs Minister Rudy Insanally, Amerindian Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues, and James Singh, the Commissioner of Forests. The latter three, along with community leader Sydney Allicock, are all Iwokrama Trustees.

According to Iwokrama Director General, Graham Watkins, Ph.D., "The President made it clear that yesterday's meeting was not to be a discussion about closure, but to examine ways to ensure Iwokrama will continue."

President Jagdeo committed to find US$300,000 of immediate bridging funds to cover core costs (US$60,000 per month) from December 2004 to April 2005. These funds, along with funds from the Commonwealth Secretariat, Department for International Development (UK), National Audubon Society, WWF, Darwin Initiative (UK), and IUCN-Netherlands, will support critical activities including business development, monitoring, and training services.

Dr. Watkins added, "President Jagdeo said he and his Government intend to become more directly involved in supporting Iwokrama, particularly because of the importance of Iwokrama to local communities."

Such a commitment from the President underscores governmental commitment to the indigenous communities of the North Rupununi. The relationship between Iwokrama and the North Rupununi is critical to the economic, social and cultural well being of that region. The largest non-government employer in the North Rupununi, Iwokrama presently contributes US$10,000 per month in direct employment benefits to local communities. About 30 full-time residents and 25 seasonal part-time local residents are employed by Iwokrama. Planned expansion through private sector partnerships in timber, ecotourism, and training services will lead to employment of over 75 persons from Regions 8, 9 and possibly 10.

The mobilisation of the full complement of NRDDB leaders at such short notice is indicative of the concern shown by local communities for any possible demise of Iwokrama. These community leaders took the opportunity to stress to President Jagdeo the importance of Iwokrama's work in other key areas as well:

• Iwokrama's role in conservation of the globally significant Rupununi Wetlands through its recent agreements with the NRDDB and Conservation International-Guyana.
• Recent Government approval of the Arapaima Management Plan (800kB .pdf file) submitted by the North Rupununi Fishermen and Iwokrama in support of a sustainable Arapaima Fishery Business.
• Iwokrama's role in coordinating collaborative mechanisms for management and increased security along the local stretch of the Georgetown-Lethem Road.

The leaders from the 14 communities said they were very happy with the depth of concern expressed by the President during the meeting. They commented "we're all very relieved in our minds and we will continue to work hand in hand with the Government, Iwokrama and other stakeholders in the future."

In summary, today's assurances by President Jagdeo will ensure Iwokrama continues to play a major role as an international model for the conservation and sustainable use of tropical forests.

Learn more details by reading these related press releases:

>President Jagdeo Reaffirms Commitment to Iwokrama

>Leaders of the North Rupununi Communities Meet With

President Jagdeo to Assert Support for Iwokrama