Ryan Cummings

Release Date: December 2021 The document is a press release calling for the withdrawal of an invitation to Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro, citing his harmful policies towards the Amazon and its indigenous peoples. It references a global petition signed by over a million people, urging the International Criminal Court to investigate Bolsonaro for crimes against […]

Release Date: March 24, 2021 The document criticizes the political control of long-term investment decisions in Guyana, highlighting a disconnect between high-level financial narratives and the daily struggles of citizens, such as flooding and power outages. It questions the focus on foreign investment over local, particularly in the extractive sector, and calls for a more

Release Date: October 16, 2018 The document criticizes the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) Report for Guyana, stating it lacks a comprehensive vision and focuses too narrowly on financial aspects, particularly oil and gas. It argues that the report should incorporate a broader perspective of environmental justice, considering various community interests and environmental entitlements. The

Release Date: November 16, 2020 The document from Policy Forum Guyana discusses the significant financial and environmental costs of Guyana’s extractive industries, particularly in mining. It highlights the discrepancy between the declared value of gold and diamond production and the government’s revenue, which is less than 10% of the total value, suggesting a loss to

Release Date: June 2, 2018 The document is a press release announcing the launch of the Venezuela Support Group (VSG), a coalition of eight civic and faith-based organizations in Guyana. The VSG aims to provide assistance to Venezuelans seeking refuge in Guyana, away from the crisis in their home country. They plan to work with

Release Date: January 20, 2020 The document discusses the influence of oil companies’ public relations campaigns on Guyanese perceptions of the oil industry, which often overlook critical issues such as Citizens’ Dividend, equal rights to resource benefits, and inter-generational equity. To address this, Policy Forum Guyana invited Rahul Basu of the Goa Foundation to share

Release Date: September 19, 2018 The document describes a near-tragic incident on the Upper Mazaruni River in Guyana, where a community outing was almost turned into a catastrophe due to an illegally anchored Brazilian ‘dragga’. The cable from the dragga rose out of the water, narrowly missing the passengers lying on mattresses. The incident highlights

Release Date: March 29, 2018 North Rupununi District Development Board The document discusses the concerns of North Rupununi communities regarding the potential environmental impact of a proposed reservoir construction by the IDB-funded Sustainable Agricultural Development Program. It highlights the lack of meaningful consultation with key stakeholders, the ecological significance of the Rupununi wetlands, and the

The document is a press release from three youth organizations in Guyana—Policy Forum Guyana (PFG), the UG Geographical Society (UGGS), and the UG Female Empowerment Movement (UGFEM)—demanding a greater role for young people in decision-making related to the climate crisis. They have sent a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Karen Cummings, urging for

Release Date: February 19, 2016 The document is a press release from the Guyana Policy Forum, detailing their submission of a list of individuals to the Ministry of Natural Resources for the interim civic component of the tri-partite committee managing the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). It highlights the Forum’s efforts to ensure balanced representation