Severn Suzuki, in a speech to the United Nations in 1992.
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Comment by Cyril Bryan, Editor. Guyanese Online Blog
Some may say that the listeners were just polite and gave her a hearing. Others may say that although the chamber was not packed, they gave her a hearing by listening in rapt attention… something they do not always do to presenters. What she had to say is of great importance then, and even more today.
In any case this speech was made in 1992. almost 20 years ago, and we must ask ourselves…. has much changed since then? Are we still just talking and arguing about global warming and the melting of the icebergs and the poisoning of our environments. Actually, things have got decidedly worse since this speech was made.
It is projected that with rising sea levels and harsher weather, that many low lying islands and coast-lands will be affected. Some island nations like the Maldives, may disappear or be severely affected.
In the case of Guyana we are already seeing the affects of harsher spring tides, flooding, salt water incursions on farmlands especially in the Essequibo Islands, and on the East Coast of Demerara. Most of Guyana’s population lives on the flat, low-lying fertile agricultural belts along the coastline. Robust sea Defences, and sophisticated drainage and irrigation systems have to be high-priority items so as to ensure that the coast lands of Guyana remain livable.
