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Karen Cummings
Foreign Minister
In office 2 May 2019 – 2 August 2020
President	David A. Granger
Preceded by	Carl Barrington Greenidge
Succeeded by	Hugh Todd
Personal details
Born	Karen Roslyn Vanessa Cummings Berbice, Guyana
Alma mater	University of Guyana St George's University Walden University

Karen Roslyn Vanessa Cummings is a Guyanese politician who was the country's Foreign Minister from May 2019 to August 2020.

Early life and education

Cummings is from Berbice and graduated from Bishops' High School. She has a Bachelor of Science in physics and a MBBS from the University of Guyana as well as a Masters of Public Health from St. George's University, Grenada. As of 2016, she was undertaking a Doctorate in Public Health from Walden University in the United States.

Career

Cummings was a medical registrar at the Georgetown Public Hospital as well as a Government Medical Officer and Regional Medical Superintendent.

Cummings became a Member of Parliament in 2014, and advocated for gender equality and healthcare reform. She was sworn in as a junior minister, Minister within the Ministry of Public Health in the Cabinet of the APNU + AFC Cabinet on 20 May 2015.

Cummings was appointed Foreign Minister by President David A. Granger on 2 May 2019, replacing Carl Barrington Greenidge who was one of four government ministers forced to resign after the High Court's decision that holding dual citizenship was unconstitutional for the role. Cummings admitted to reporters that she was surprised at being chosen for the role but that she was "prepared for the task."

During the March 2020 presidential election, it was reported that Cummings had met with international observers and warned that their credentials might be withdrawn because the government was unhappy with statements they had made, and received criticism from former Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur among others for threatening them in their role as observers. The government subsequently issued a statement saying "We regret any misunderstanding the comments of the Foreign Affairs Minister may have caused."

References

1. "Official Gazette THURSDAY 20 TH AUGUST, 2020" (PDF). The Official Gazette. p. 1507. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
2. ^ "Minister within the Ministry of Public Health". Ministry of Public Health Guyana.
3. "List of new Cabinet members". Stabroek News. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
4. "BREAKING: Dr Karen Cummings is new Foreign Affairs Minister". Guyana News and Information. 2 May 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
5. "Dr Karen Cummings named Foreign Affairs Minister". Guyana Times International. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
6. "New Foreign Affairs Minister named in Guyana". The Caribbean Camera. 8 May 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
7. "Observers stunned as Dr Karen Cummings threatens to revoke accreditation". News Room Guyana. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
8. "Foreign Minister accused of threatening to take away observers accreditation". Stabroek News. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
9. "Foreign Affairs Minister threatens to revoke accreditation of Int'l Observers". Kaieteur News. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
10. "Breaking News! Foreign Affairs Minster threatens to revoke accreditation of int'l observers; Govt. says it's a misunderstanding". Kaieteur News. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2020.

v t e Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Guyana
Forbes Burnham Shridath Ramphal Frederick Wills Rashleigh E. Jackson Desmond Hoyte Cheddi Jagan Clement Rohee Rudy Insanally Carolyn Rodrigues Carl Barrington Greenidge Karen Cummings Hugh Todd

• Living people
• University of Guyana alumni
• Members of the National Assembly (Guyana)
• Guyanese women in politics
• Foreign ministers of Guyana
• Female foreign ministers