Press Release 01 December 2004

President Jagdeo Reaffirms Commitment to Iwokrama

Emergency Meeting Results in Pledge to Secure Bridge Funding to Keep Iwokrama on its Road to Recovery

Georgetown, Guyana - The Iwokrama International Centre announced today it has received a clear and unquestionable commitment from His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo that Iwokrama will not close in spite of its financial difficulties.

Today's reaffirmation of support came during this afternoon's two hour emergency meeting called by the President. The meeting was attended by Iwokrama senior management, 20 community leaders from the North Rupununi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rudy Insanally, Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues, and Commissioner of Forests, James Singh (the latter three, along with Community Representative Sydney Allicock, are all Iwokrama Trustees). The twenty community leaders travelled out by road in response to the President's request, as their own demonstration of commitment to Iwokrama.

Iwokrama has been facing a severe financial crisis that threatens the organisation with closure. In March 2003, the need to find US$1,000,000 of emergency funds before the end of 2004 was identified as critical to the future of Iwokrama. To date, only part of this emergency funding has been committed by the Commonwealth; the remaining funds have yet to be found despite approaches to several donors over the last 19 months.

President Jagdeo committed his and the Government of Guyana's support 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, DFID (UK), the National Audubon Society, WWF, the Darwin Initiative (UK), and IUCN-Netherlands will support critical activities including business development, monitoring, and training services.

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

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."

Today's meeting also underscores the Government's commitment to the Amerindian communities of the North Rupununi, key stakeholders of Iwokrama. The relationship between Iwokrama and the North Rupununi is critical to the economic, social and cultural well being of the communities. Iwokrama presently has 60 full time Guyanese employees, more than half of whom are from the 14 local communities that comprise the North Rupununi Sub-District. Iwokrama also seasonally employs up to 25 part-time employees from local communities. Planned expansion through private sector partnerships in timber, tourism, and training services will lead to further employment of over 75 persons from Regions 8, 9, and 10.

President Jagdeo also committed that his Government will continue negotiating with donors for support to Iwokrama through the Guyana Protected Areas System and will continue to pursue longer term funding through donors and foundations. Today's assurances by President Jagdeo will ensure Iwokrama continues to play a role as an international model for the conservation and sustainable use of tropical forests.

Iwokrama represents a globally-significant Guyanese approach to people-oriented protected areas through collaborative management and innovative financing. Iwokrama is also critical to poverty alleviation in Guyana 's hinterland by providing models for building institutional capacity and developing sustainable approaches to forest use.

Iwokrama's financial crisis began in 2001 and results, in part, from the diversion of overseas development funds to other parts of the world and to other priorities. In March 2003 Iwokrama International Centre recognised the need to rationalise funding and expenditures and reduced its annual operational budget from US$2.5 million to US$1.2 million. Among other cost-cutting measures, the organisation moved to less expensive offices and substantially reduced staffing. Over the last 19 months, Iwokrama has maintained high productivity, increased cost efficiency, and transformed itself from a research and planning organisation to a business-oriented institution poised to achieve self-sufficiency by 2007.