New environmental NGO

A new NGO is being set up - ECO-1. See the web site for details. I must admit to being involved though not a founding member! Registration is applied for.

Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting has begun

A major event for Guyana though not as much of a strain on our transportation system as the Cricket World Cup. The media here have quite a bit of coverage especially on the environmental issues raised.
Am hoping there will be real actions deriving from this event...
Our President offered our forest too support action against climate change - a good idea. Of course the forest is doing all it can, it just has to be allowed to continue to do so... I entirely agree that leaving existing forests standing gets no credit in the present scheme of things (see Credit for our trees).
Some news items about the CFMM:
Offer of entire forest in climate fight stands
Guyana forest offer for Heads meeting

Sunday 21st - the Meeting is over. Not sure what will come of it but it does seem that some serious discussion of climate change did place. Time will tell.

Cariscience, UNESCO and Guyana

Walter Erdelen, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences and Professor Harold Ramkissoon Executive Secretary of CARISCIENCE met the Head of State President Bharrat Jagdeo. The occasion was a UNESCO report called "Using Science, Technology and Innovation to change the fortunes of the Caribbean Region". Various related issues were discussed.
Science in Guyana is in dire need of a boost - let us hope this helps. It has few champions and has to compete with many other pressing Government priorities...
Looks like Cariscience needs a boost too since their domain name cariscience.org has expired... they have done some good work in organising conferences around the region in recent years.
A quick search using Google and a look at UNESCO's web site failed to locate the report.

Links
GINA reports here, here and here

Brushed by a hurricane

Thursday and Friday (16th and 17th) gave us in Guyana a light touch of hurricane weather with episodes of heavy rain and unusually strong thunderstorms. The weekend saw only some more heavy showers. We are glad Hurricane Dean came no closer.

Stabroek News article on domain names

A very useful article in the Sunday business section by Patrick van Beek has drawn attention to the value of using .gy domain names for business purposes.
He says:

I think that empowering Guyanese individuals and firms with the ability to use .gy domain names should have widespread benefits. Firstly it creates a visible indicator to the rest of the world of Guyana's existence. Every email sent with a .gy extension puts Guyana on the map. It also sends the signal that Guyana is embracing information communications technology and that we are partaking in the knowledge economy.

Some further clarification is also useful:
1. Non-commercial domains are currently available at G$2400 per year from DevNet (previously SDNP, who also do hosting)
2. The Registry (at the University) currently charges G$5000 per year according to their web site.
3. Make sure YOU own the domain NOT the person who does your web site. You need to be the 'Administrative contact'. Otherwise you may lose control of your web site. This has happened...

Note: I am currently working at DevNet... :) but the facts are accurate.

Links
The Stabroek News article
GY Domain Name Registry
DevNet