EPA says Berbice eco-retreat needs no full environmental assessment
The agency says the Doe Park Guest House & Wellness Retreat will not greatly affect the environment, but it says this does not mean the project is approved.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ruled that the Doe Park Guest House & Wellness Retreat does not need a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The project is an eco-retreat and guest house. It is planned for Lot 24–25, New Forest, East Canje, Berbice.
The EPA published its notice on 28 October 2026. It said it had screened an application for an environmental permit to build and run the retreat.
The agency said the project will not greatly affect the environment. So it does not have to do an EIA.
ELAW: Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide reported that under Guyana's Environmental Protection Act, developers of projects listed in the Fourth Schedule must apply to the EPA for an environmental permit. It said the same applies to any other project that may significantly affect the environment. It added that the EPA screens applications to decide whether a full impact assessment is needed.
The EPA made clear that its decision is not a green light for the project. It said the decision is "in no way an indication that this project is approved."
People the project may affect can challenge the decision. They can lodge an appeal within thirty days of the notice being published.
The EPA made a similar ruling on three logging projects. They were proposed by Mohamed Wazir Khan, Rovin Seekumar and Sunil Singh. The EPA said these projects will not greatly affect the environment, so they do not need an EIA either.