GWCMC and GPOC enters agreement to boost wildlife management in Guyana
On January 15, 2024 the Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission (GWCMC) and the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) entered into an agreement that will further boost management of the domestic wildlife licensing system. Persons wishing to apply for domestic wildlife licenses can now do so at any Post Office located throughout the length and breadth of Guyana since application forms will be made available at all Post Offices and can be submitted there. Additionally, when the licenses are ready persons can uplift them at any Post Office. Moreover, payments for licenses and royalties can also be made at any Post Office.
Commenting on the agreement, Ms. Alona Sankar, GWCMC Commissioner stated, “This system will bring many wildlife users in compliance with the Regulations and will also improve efficiency and reduce the time and costs related to travelling to far flung Regions to process license applications. It will provide a major fillip for the Commission in achieving its mandate since the service will be readily accessible to all wildlife users irrespective of location.”
Ms. Karen Brown, Postmaster General was excited about GPOC being a part of this venture. She stated, “the collaboration helps to decentralise the services which will be beneficial to the customers.”
The Domestic Wildlife Licensing System manages the local use of wildlife. Local wildlife users are obligated to procure licences to cover their activities. There are 6 categories of licences including: Wildlife Trapping Licence, Wildlife Commercial Licence, Wildlife Collecting Licence, Wildlife Recreational Licence, Captive Wildlife Licence and Special Wildlife Licence. The following persons would need to obtain licenses:
- Trappers, Middlemen, Wildmeat Vendors, Wildlife Breeders, Wildlife Collectors (of both plants and animals), Researchers, Recreational Hunters, restaurants that sell cooked wild meat.
The system provides a way for the GWCMC to control how, when, where and which wildlife is exploited. It also helps us to determine who exploits our wildlife.
This agreement will be place for two (2) years and will come to an end on January 15, 2026.