Earth Day exhibition launched at Guyana-China Friendship Park

Set to span two days, the Protected Areas Commission (PAC) has launched an exhibition in observance of Earth Day 2026, themed “Bridging People with Nature” at the Guyana-China Friendship Park. Scores of students from several schools gathered on the lawns of the Guyana-China Friendship Park to witness the launch of the Earth Day exhibition. The two-day event features various groups sharing information on environmental well-being, along with interactive and educational activities aimed at raising awareness. Education Minister Sonia Parag, who addressed the gathering, revealed that the Ministry is working towards establishing environmental clubs in schools across the country.

“Right now, the Ministry of Education is working to ensure that we place environmental clubs in schools across the country. This is to promote awareness of the environment, and to encourage students to play their part in connecting with nature, preserving the environment and protecting it. I have looked at the theme for this forum, ‘Bridging People with Nature.’ What that really means is reconnecting you with nature. We are also collaborating with the King’s Foundation in Guyana to create green spaces,” the Minister stated. She explained that the initiative aims to reconnect people with nature, noting that Guyana is collaborating with the King’s Foundation to develop more green spaces across urban areas.
She said she was privileged to visit the King’s Foundation in Scotland last year, where she observed how communities use natural resources from forest environments to produce fabrics, materials, and even build homes, while also creating employment opportunities for young people who might otherwise struggle to find jobs. She further stated that the partnership aims to develop an ecosystem of urban and green spaces across Guyana. She emphasised that this goes beyond simply planting trees, focusing instead on improving the overall quality of life for citizens. Parag added that the park where the event was held reflects this vision, describing it as a space designed for families to gather and reconnect with nature, noting its unique natural features and greenery.

Better use of public spaces
Meanwhile, she urged students to make better use of public spaces in order to reconnect with nature. “Since we have so many students here, I also want to talk about something else. You are in an age of social media where your phones have become like your lifeline. I know this because I have a son who is entering his teenage years, and I constantly have to have this conversation with him—come off your phone and experience what is outside. Come off your phone and connect a little more with nature and your environment. Whether you are going to school with your phone or waiting until Friday to pick it up and spend the weekend on it, we are no longer fully engaging with what is around us. Scrolling through TikTok and Facebook is definitely affecting our mental health,” she said.
In fact, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Representative Eliana Sampson told this publication that the EPA distributed over 100 trees to attendees to be planted in their personal spaces. “Today’s [Monday] event has been really good so far. We have seen a lot of schools in attendance and children showing interest in the booths we have here. What we have is students writing a promise about what they intend to do with their tree when they plant it. They were given a variety of species including breadnut, cherry, Suriname cherry, amongst others,” she said.