A ‘HIGH-SPEED’ painting competition aimed at illustrating the goals Guyana needs to pursue to achieve climate-compatible lifestyles was successfully conducted earlier this month by Policy Forum Guyana (PFG), constituting the first “fun” step by Guyanese youths who are motivated by climate-justice convictions.

Despite torrential downpours, the competition was successfully carried out in the auditorium of St. Stanislaus College after the PFG team took prior precautions of shifting the venue from outside of the Parliament Building.

It saw 17 teams competing in four age categories, mainly school-based, and included teams from children’s homes and groups of friends.

The suggested goals included: a Guyana that seeks inclusion rather than winners and losers; a mentally and physically healthier Guyana; a Resource-Responsible Guyana; a Guyana that protects its rivers and forests; a resilient Guyana; a Guyana of Cohesive Communities; a Guyana that listens to its young people; a Guyana that recognises the rights of future generations; a Guyana that recycles, repairs and reuses; and a Guyana that treats everyone humanely.

PFG Project Coordinator Benita Davis has offered that similar events are planned for other regions, with Anna Regina and Linden being first in line. “By progressively focusing on and interpreting the above goals, the process will culminate in a Future Generations Manifesto, a youth-driven vision of the future,” Davis shared.

Developing the Manifesto will facilitate the younger generation to influence decisions that affect them more effectively. The second and later phases of the project will see the younger generation seeking support for the Manifesto from the business, professional and trade unions sectors, and ultimately, political endorsement.

The winners selected by a panel of three judges in the Age 10-12 group were: Smith’s Memorial Primary (1st); Goed Fortuin Primary (2nd); and Save the Forest (Strathspey Primary) (3rd).
In the Age 13-15 group, the following were the winners: Green Gladiators – Marian Academy (1st); CAN Colours- Marian Academy (2nd); and Westminster Secondary (3rd).

The winners in the Age 16-18 Age Group were: Richard Ishmael Secondary (1st); North Georgetown Secondary (2nd); and Aesthetic Force – Cummings Lodge Secondary School (3rd).
In the Age 19-25 Group, Brushstroke copped first place, while Dear Tigers got second.

The winners’ prizes in each category included electronic tablets, $10,000 and
$8,000 gift certificates, and copies of illustrated books on Guyana.

“Policy Forum Guyana is particularly indebted to Bounty Supermarket for its generous donation of gift certificates…A&R Jiwanram Printery, WWFGuianas, the Guyana Human Rights Association, the Gift Centre, Austin’s Book Service and Conservation International,” Davis expressed.
PFG is a non-governmental organisation with no political affiliation, and focuses primarily on accountability and transparency issues related to natural resources, climate change and the extractive industries.

According to its website, the first PFG action was to strengthen Guyana’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution to COP21, aimed at reducing global warming. Action on the second priority is taking the form of promoting greater accountability in the extractive sector, particularly through Guyana’s membership of the global movement, the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative.

PFG Guyana said it welcomes all non-governmental agencies and groups to join as members. Rules are said to be straightforward and not demanding. At present, PFG operates with a small steering committee, a Chair and Convener.

Meanwhile, having decided to pursue her degree in Environmental Science, Davis was the Best Graduating Student in the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences and the Second Best Graduating student at the University of Guyana in 2018.

The 27-year-old was in primary school when she realised that she was passionate about environmental protection, and when she moved on to Queen’s College, she continued to enjoy being part of the environmental club and scout group.

She was the recipient of the third ‘Young Heroes Award’ from the Stone Soup Leadership Institute, a non-profit organisation in Massachusetts that has been recognising those on the front lines of climate change, social justice and economic equity around the world.