Granger says transboundary watercourses should not be source of conflict

President David Granger has emphasized the need for rivers and water security at the World Water Forum being held in Brasilia.

“The management of transboundary watercourses must promote cooperation and collaboration rather than confrontation and conflict,” the President stated in an address to the Forum.

He said the World Water Forum should commit to Collaboration among states, especially neighbours which share the waters of rivers.

The President noted that Guyana is part of the Guiana Shield – an area spread over 2.7 million km² – making it bigger than Greenland.

“The ‘Shield’ is a zone which encompasses parts of Brazil, Colombia and all of French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname and parts of Venezuela.

“The ‘Shield’, described as the “lungs of the Earth” and the “greenhouse of the world” is a global resource because of the environmental services it provides,” the President stated.

He said that the ‘Shield’ is vital to global water security because it contains 15% of the world’s freshwater resources.

“The protection of the world’s freshwater sources, therefore, is essential to global water security.

“This World Water Forum is encouraged to continue to introduce initiatives to protect these resources, particularly the rivers of the Guiana Shield,” President Granger stated.