Consultations must be meaningful

Jun 27, 2021 News

Kaieteur News – Public consultations are a necessary part of the process of approving Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs). These consultations must not be reduced to cosmetic exercises but rather must reflect the seriousness, which ought to be attached to such deliberations.
Public consultations are often the only means in which the public is allowed to have their say and make their input into matters, which concern their existence, safety and livelihood.
As such, public consultations concerning environmental impact assessments must satisfy three conditions. First the members of the public should be provided with sufficient information, which would allow them to arrive at an informed position regarding the issues, which are the subject of the consultation. Any attempt to withhold vital information would render the public consultations a sham.
Second, the public should be given adequate notice of the consultations. Since the purpose of the consultations is to solicit the opinions and input of the public and to learn of their concerns, it is imperative that the consultations allow for maximum public participation.
Consultations must be hosted at convenient times and at suitable locations. It cannot be like the most recent consultation, which was held at 14:00hrs. on a working day and hosted at the Umana Yana that has limited seating capacity.
Third, the consultations must involve a wide cross-section of Guyanese and not be dominated by personnel from the Environmental Protection Agency or the oil companies. In order to guarantee informed discussion, the consultations must involve senior government officials, opposition leaders, technical experts and members of civil society.
Anything less would amount to play-acting.