Students gathered in the Honors College and International Center Wednesday for a short presentation on Guyanese culture, complete with lime wash and plantain chips.

WKU Global’s International Recruitment & Admissions Director, Amy Cardwell, gave an overview of Guyana, highlighting its culture, environment and economy.

Lime wash, a Guyanese beverage also known as swank, was provided at the Chai Chat. The beverage is a type of limeade commonly made with brown sugar. Guyanese plantain chips were also provided.

Cardwell talked about her time in the rainforest of Guyana, including its harsh heat and “natural beauty.” She also addressed the country’s history with slavery and how it resulted in a diverse population.

“Around 44% of the people there are of East Indian descent and 30% are of African descent,” Cardwell said 

Cardwell also described Guyana’s oil boom and its impact on the country’s economy. Following the discovery of crude oil off Guyana’s coast, Guyana’s economy saw a sizable boom in 2019, when commercial drilling began. 

Since then, Guyana’s oil revenues have surpassed $8 billion, and enough oil to fill roughly 11 billion barrels has been discovered. Cardwell said Guyana is “a huge part of the petroleum industry.”

Emphasizing the oil boom’s impact on Guyana’s environment, Cardwell closed out the meeting with some concerns.

“They’re experiencing a lot of growth due to (the oil boom), and I do worry that the oil they’re drilling may cause, like, environmental issues there…” Cardwell said. “I know that they’re working hard to make sure that they have the right protections in place for the environment there. But as we know, with progress and growth, a lot of times, those things fall to the wayside in any country.”