[Watch] 'People Forget': King Charles Makes a Pointed Remark in Guyana

This engagement highlighted the mutual respect for nature and the significance of safeguarding shared ecosystems for future generations.

King Charles has a whirlwind schedule of engagements planned during his second day in Guyana. His Majesty honored veterans and fallen heroes at Commonwealth Graves before engaging in environmental activities. His second stop was Promenade Gardens, one of the oldest parks. The King, accompanied by Minister Steven Jacobs, engaged with Ben Bolgar of the King's Foundation project and Priya Manickchand, Minister of Local Government. He also interacted with teachers and students.

The mood lightened in the garden beyond. The King joined young people working on a mural for the EMC Foundation to promote environmental awareness, and was caught sniffing a giant water lily, Guyana’s national flower. He also met Carlos Magdalena, a botanical horticulturist at the Royal Botanic Gardens, and spent time with members of the National Piping Center and Guyanese drummers.

Speaking with gathered schoolchildren, he joked: “I hope they have given you the day off school to be here! Are they giving you a lot of homework instead?”

Charles also spent part of his State Visit to Guyana at an urban park in Georgetown, pausing first at the site’s entrance, formerly the Parade Ground. There, local historian Mr. Jacobs briefed him on its past, and the King stood before a plaque honoring the enslaved people condemned to death and hanged on gallows erected on the site after the 1823 rebellion.

Accompanied by Guyana's President, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, and Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, the King then attended the Global Biodiversity Alliance Conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Center in Georgetown. While there, he inspected exhibition booths and engaged with various environmental organizations focused on biodiversity and conservation efforts in Guyana. These included the Environmental Protection Agency, the Protected Areas Commission, Iwokrama International Center, South Rupununi Conservation Society, and North Rupununi Women’s Group. Additionally, the GBA, launched in Georgetown in July last year, is a voluntary international platform that unites governments, Indigenous peoples, conservation organizations, financial institutions, researchers, and private-sector partners.

The King praised Guyana's efforts to conserve nature during his brief speech at the GBA. "And here in Guyana you have the most wonderful example of a really special treasure of natural species. You've managed to keep some enormous percentage of your forests. That is an incredible achievement and of course deserves to be rewarded," he said. "People forget it's not just nature out there; we are part of that," he strongly added.

He further expressed concern about ongoing deforestation and its negative impact on the future and health of both people and biodiversity. "I admire what is happening here in Guyana, and I look forward so much to seeing how the balance can be struck between development and conservation and nature regeneration. And remembering, if you don't mind my saying so, that nature has the best solutions to everything, really. So thank you very much," he concluded. You can watch it here.