Explore Guyana 2012

The Official Tourist Guide of Guyana 2012 EXPLORE GUYANA is published annually for the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) in association with the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and the Guyana Tourism Association (GTA) by: Advertising & Marketing Services (AMS) 213 B Camp Street P.O.Box 101582, Georgetown, Guyana Tel: (011592) 225-5384 Fax: (011592) 225-5383 E-mail: info@amsguyana.com

Publisher & Editor:

Lokesh Singh lokesh@amsstlucia.com

Advertising Sales: Lokesh Singh Vickram Singh Adrian Pryce Amrita Mangal

Graphic Design: Mensah Fox

Editorial Contributors:

Lokesh Singh John Gimlette Ian Craddock / Bushmasters Inc Ruth-Anne Lynch Michelle J Chan Godfrey Chin David Martins Bob The Parrot Cynthia Nelson Stabroek News Treina Butts

Contributing Photography:

Mensah Fox Iwokrama Centre Annette Arjoon-Martins Cynthia Nelson Ian Craddock / Bushmasters Inc Godfrey Chin Carl Croker Bob The Parrot Ruth-Anne Lynch Teri Kuet Teri Obrian Trina Butts Andrea de Caires Dr. Graham Watkins Jake Bicknell Pete Oxford Dr. Raquel Thomas-Caesar Tourism & Hospitality Association Guyana Tourism Authority Wilderness Explorers FOTO NATURA

On The Cover:

Abseiling at Kaieteur Falls

Cover Photo:

Ian Craddock / Bushmasters Inc. Š Copyright 2012. Reproduction of any material without the permission of AMS is strictly prohibited.

AMS and THAG wish to express sincere thanks and appreciation to all parties who have assisted in making this publication a reality.

ADVERTISING & MARKETING S E R V I C E S LT D.

CONTENTS THE CALL OF THE WILD

INTRODUCTION 7 - Welcome Message 9 - Patrons of THAG 12 - The Call of the Wild 20 - Story Book South America MAPS 29 - Map of Guyana 30 - Map of Georgetown / Architectural Treasures EXPLORE GUYANA 33 - Historical View - Trains & Railways 38 - A Parrot’s Tale 46 - Kaieteur & Orinduik Falls 50 - Travelling Overland Georgetown to Lethem 56 - People of the Thorny Sea 62 - Mangrove Reserve PEOPLE OF GUYANA 65 - Captain Gerry Gouveia 68 - Diane McTurk 70 - Rohan Kanhai FUN & FOOD 73 - Easter & Kites 78 - Eating at Easter 79 - Guyanese Recipes ABOUT GUYANA 82 - Country Facts 85 - Government 92 - Travelling 96 - Money & Business THAG TRAVELLER 97 - Accommodations Georgetown & Environs 98 - Eco-Resorts, Interior Lodges & Attractions 99 - THAG Member Services 102 - Calendar of Events

Abseiling at Kaieteur Falls.

Photo by, Ian Craddock of Bushmasters Inc. EXPLORE GUYANA

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Visit, Enjoy, Experience

GUYANA The Call of the Wild

Paul D. J Stephenson President

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Welcome to Explore Guyana 2012!

e are pleased that you can join us on yet another enchanting adventure across Guyana, experiencing, nature; the forest and animals therein, the calls of the wild!! Destination Guyana continues to receive recognition and grow as a green destination supporting sustainable tourism.

In the past year, arrivals have increased, awards received in recognition of the promotion of Guyana and as an expression of their commitment to the sector and its sustainability namely; Wilderness Explorers, for recognition by the National Geographic Traveller: 50 Tours of a Lifetime, Surama Village; a community based tourism initiative receiving the Sustainable Tourism Award for Excellence from the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, and to the domestic air carriers; Trans Guyana, Air Services and Air Guyana for expansion of their fleet of carriers and providing services to travellers in and outside of Guyana.

Not to mention the numerous articles and publications by industry partners and travel writers, all attesting to Guyana as a destination where an enhanced experience can be received.

Paul Waldron Vice President

New products have been added to the menu of things to see and do when visiting Guyana all capturing the essence and ethos of sustainable tourism. Increased interest amongst cruise operators is also encouraging. Guyana is forging an exciting path as a destination.

These efforts are enhanced by the support of Corporate Guyana and we are truly appreciative of the endorsement by our Sponsors; Demerara Distillers Limited; El Dorado Rum and Cellink Service Provider; Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Limited for their commitment to the development and marketing of tourism in Guyana.

We anticipate 2012 will be a splendid year!! Come visit with us.

Treina Butts Executive Director

Sydney Allicock Chairman Amerindian Affairs

Paul D. J. Stephenson President, Tourism & Hospitality Association of Guyana

Mitra Ramkumar Treasurer

Colin Edwards Committee Member EXPLORE GUYANA

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Dee George Committee Member

Abdoul Ba Committee Member

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PATRONS OF THAG

he Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana, in its efforts to involve a cross- section of opinions within the Guyanese society has undertaken the task to identify leading personalities as Patrons of the Association.

Our Patrons will collaborate with the members of the Association to promote the good news as well as be the advocates of discussions as they arise within their respective areas.

The Patrons of the THAG derive from diverse backgrounds bringing their knowledge, expertise and

years of experience to the fold. These individuals will act as guides and mentors for small and medium enterprise facilities entering the service industry. It is our esteemed pleasure that they should accept our call to serve as the Patrons of THAG.

The Tourism and Hospitality Association, established in 1991, has been working from within the Association to encourage those non- members to join and confirm to the growing needs of the sector .

The Association aims to effect changes in the sector;

from improved organisational structure to build capacity amongst the membership.

Initiatives currently being effected within our mandate include matters related to capacity building, marketing , regulations and standards for the sector and extended issues for advocacy such as the identification of Tourism as a viable contributor to the GDP.

The announcement will be made at our Awards Ceremony to be held in October 2011.

and Strategic Studies) and of the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Greenwich University, UK (MSc in Tourism & Protected Landscape Management).

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Joseph Singh, Major General Rtd.

orn at Plantation Ogle, East Coast Demerara in 1945, Major General Joseph Singh attended the Ogle Canadian Mission School and the McGillivray CM School at Canal No 1.

In 1956, he was awarded a Government County Scholarship to Queen’s College where he completed his secondary Education and after a short stint in the Civil Service was selected to attend officer cadet training in the UK. He is a graduate of Mons Officer Cadet School, Aldershot; the School of Infantry, Warminster; the Army School of Education, Beaconsfield; the Army Free Fall Parachute School, Netheravon; the Army Staff College, Camberley; and, the Royal College of Defence Studies, Belgrave Square.

He had a military career of 34 years. Between 1981 and 1990 he was on secondment as the Director General of the Guyana National Service and returned to the Guyana Defence Force as Chief of Staff for the period 1990-2000.

He is a graduate of the University of Guyana (Public Administration), the UK Royal College of De¬fence Studies (Post Graduate - International Relations

After his retirement from the Guyana Defence Force in June 2000, he was appointed Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission for the March 2001 General and Regional Elections. He completed this assignment, and was then appointed Executive Director of Conservation International Guyana. From 2001to 2005 he was actively involved in the national processes linked to conservation and sustainable management of resources and was also Chairman of the Regional Steering Committee for the Guiana Shield Initiative. From 2005 to 2010, he was the CEO of the Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company Ltd and also Chairman of the National Working Group- a Public and Private Sector partnership with Communities, in pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals.

He is currently Chairman of the Board of the Geology & Mines Commission.

He has published: “The Role of the Military in Environmental Enforcement” and “Strategies in countering non-military threats to emerging Democracies”. He also edited and published Caesar de Freitas’ “On the Frontier of Guyana and Brazil”, Arthur Hudson’s “The Mataruki Trail”, and Matthew Young’s “Guyana, The Lost El Dorado”. He is also the author of several articles in peer-reviewed books and journals.

He is the recipient of the Military Service Star, national awards from Brazil, Venezuela, Suriname, French Guiana and Cuba was appointed an Officer of the Golden Ark for his contribution to global conservation. He sits on the Boards of several Regional and National Institutions and is a Fellow of the UK Chartered Management Institute, a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society, and the Country Representative of the UK Scientific Exploration Society. He is married (1971) to Carolyn and they have one son, James, daughter-in-law Anabelle, and three grandchildren.

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Dr. Yesu Persaud, Executive Chairman, Demerara Distillaries Ltd. esu Persaud is a son of the soil of Guyana, who continues to serve the people and commerce of Guyana, in a dynamic and diverse way.

Born on October 18, 1928 on the Diamond Sugar Plantation on the East Bank of Demerara, Guyana, one may conclude that Yesu Persaud has the ingredients for success in the Distilling industry bred into his DNA. Educated both in Guyana and the United Kingdom, Yesu Persaud is a Chartered Certified Accountant (F.C.C.A.), Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (F.R.S.A.), Fellow of the University of Warwick, Companion of the British Institute of Management (C.B.I.M.), as well as a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Guyana.

Having lived in the United Kingdom and Canada and worked in the UK for sometime also, Yesu Persaud returned to Guyana and served as Inspector of Taxes before he joined Sandbach Parker & Company and rose to the position of Group Finance Director, a post at that time only open to qualified expatriates.

Sandbach Parker & Company was involved in Commerce, Shipping, Distribution, Agencies, Sugar Estates and Distilling. Dr. Yesu Persaud later became

very involved in the Distilling Industry, leading to his current position as the Executive Chairman of Demerara Distillers Limited.

Mr. Persaud is the Honorary Consul for Chile in Guyana and also serves in various capacities on the Boards of several private sector companies, including Trust Company (Guyana), Ltd., Bev Processors, Inc., Guyana Unit Trust, the Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry (CAGI) and Diamond Fire and General Insurance Company. He is the founder and Chairman of the Institute of Private Enterprise Development, an institution that develops, stimulates and finances entrepreneurs and the small business sector in Guyana in helping people to help themselves, and as such serves as a Third World development model. Mr. Persaud is also Chairman of the first indigenous Private Sector Bank in Guyana, Demerara Bank Limited.

He is the recipient of the Golden Arrow of Achievement (AA) (1981), one of Guyana’s highest national awards, for his contribution to the development and expansion of the distilling industry in that South American nation, the Cacique Crown of Honor (CCH) (1983) for the development of new industries in Guyana, the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award

from India’s President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (2006) conferred on him for his outstanding contribution in the field of business. Other awards included the ‘Georgetown Chamber of Commerce Award’ for his dedicated service to the Business community; the Guyana Manufacturers’ Association Limited Lifetime Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Guyana Manufacturers’ Association & the Development of Industry. He was awarded a plaque from the Institute of Private Enterprise Development “for conceptualising, establishing and providing insightful leadership in the recreation and nurturing of entrepreneurship in Guyana through IPED since 1985” and a Plaque for Lecture in the Chancellor’s Distinguished lecture Series on ‘Private Enterprise Development in Guyana for the Global Economy.

Mr. Persaud was a Trustee of the Caribbean Latin American Action (CLAA) and former chairman of the Caribbean Council for Europe (CCE), Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce, Ltd (C.A.I.C.) and West Indies Rum & Spirits Producers’ Association (WIRSPA).

This outstanding Guyanese businessman takes a keen interest in the continued economic and cultural growth of Guyana and that of the underprivileged.

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His association with organizations such as the Cheddi Jagan Children’s Fund, the Cheshire Home, the University of Guyana 30th Anniversary Endowment Fund, the Indian Commemoration Trust and the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), are only a few of the many social organizations with which Yesu Persaud is affiliated.

He received the ‘Gandhi Organisation’ Plaque and was conferred the ‘India International Friendship Society’ – Glory of India Award and Certificate of Excellence, Inaugural Indo-Caribbean Male Lifetime Award from Caribbean Network Enterprises Inc. for his outstanding lifetime achievements and his contributions to Dharma.

In 2008, Yesu Persaud, an Associate Fellow of the Centre for some 12 years, received an honorary Doctorate from the University of Warwick. The University of Warwick has renamed its centre for Caribbean Studies The Yesu Persaud Centre for Caribbean Studies.

In 2009, Mr. Persaud received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Law Honoris Causa from the University of The West Indies, St Augustine Campus.

4x4 Off road adventure, driving in the jungle

The Call of the Wild Where Adventure Meets Nature

By Ian Craddock

At an area the size of Britain with 80% Rainforest and much of the rest open Savannahs; Guyana is an adventure enthusiast’s dream.

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Vaquero saddles, all hand made, airing in the savannah

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ou can drive 4x4 vehicles across the savannahs, trek through the rainforest and mountains, lasso cows from a horse on the ranches of the Rupununi, paddle dug out canoes through winding jungle rivers, abseil off rocky outcrops or pit your own skills and wit against the jungle and all that live in it on a survival course; where after training you get to live with next to nothing, on your own for several days – deep in the rainforest.

At the end of this there is always a creek to cool down in and a rum or cold beer to sip as the sun goes down on another venture day in Guyana.

To the south of the country on the border with Brazil you find the Rupununi Savannahs. Here some of the largest cattle ranches in the world used to exist and still today the blood of the cattle rancher coarses through many veins.

Point Ranch, Pirara, Manari, Saddle Mountain, Santa Cruz and Dadanawa are just a few of the

ranches still in existence today. Here ranching is done the way it has been for hundreds of years. No electricity, running water or fancy gadgets. The saddles are made from a local tree and leather, all hand made as are the lasso, bullwhips and much of the rest of the Vaqueros (cowboys) tools.

On a Vaquero adventure in dry season you can ride the horses (no experience is needed), round up the cows, crack the bullwhips to get them moving to the corral, lasso those to be branded or castrated, brand them (even try a hand at castrating if the desire grabs you!) and help out with the action in the corral. As well as the branding someone has to get the dry cow dung to burn so you can heat up the branding irons, the register to fill in with each branding detail, the next cow in line lasso’d and much more.

Often the ranch would slaughter a cow for

Black Piranha!

Bushmasters Survival group with UK celebrities Chris Ryan, Donal McIntyre and Joe Pesquale who were in Guyana filming Celebrity Alone in the wild, organized by Bushmasters.

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Learning to ride

Life in a survival shelter, all alone in the jungle!

their own use. Nothing is wasted. All the meat is cooked or tasso’d (sliced thin, salted and left to sun dry), the hide is stretched and left out to dry, the horns put up for a lasso practice target and even bones used to make tools for the vaquero.

Then of course there is the savannah of the ranch itself, often criss-crossed by clear water creeks, lined with tall Ite palms. (Taking a break in the creeks to let the horses drink and you to bathe are common). You’ll be out on horse back often, patrolling the range, keeping out the rustlers from Brazil and close to home, checking on the herd that is often split into groups and spread out into various grazing areas and just getting to know the area of the ranch. A SMALL ranch here is about 50 sq miles! Of course you’ll come across savannah animals often.

Giant anteaters are a regular sight, you’ll likely see them most days and from aback a horse it’s easy to get within feet of them. Then there are the savannah deer and if you’re close to the creeks there will be caiman, capybara, otters and in the jungle mountains howler monkeys, jaguars and much more.

Another awesome adventure in the Savannah is driving 4x4 off road vehicles. There is next to no pathed road in the Rupununi and driving across the savannah on old and very rough trails takes skill, patience and a fair amount of luck, but is a

challenge on a grand scale. Simple, robust and old vehicles are the best. Series III Landrovers or old Toyotas predominate. Anything electrical or with a fancy computer on board is going to break down quickly and stay broken. You need a tough old vehicle that keeps going and even if broken you can fix it on the trail. Broken leaf springs are replaced on the spot, flat tyres are plugged on the trail, a busted accelerator cable is fixed with some paracord and the foot gas becomes a hand pull accelerator instead.

4x4 crossing all obstacles in the jungle!

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Obviously if the vehicle doesn’t break, just driving the Rupununi trails is hard enough.

The vehicles are modified with snorkels, lifted suspension, mud terrain tyres and much more, but even they get stuck, often! You’ll have to put mud chains on for extra grip, or winch yourself out of a hole or even use the hi-lift jacks to get you up and out of a deep rut. It might take you all day to travel 30 miles, you might be knackered and covered in mud, head to toe – but you would have had a real adventure!

Team horseback riding across the savannah - Karanambu

A savannah adventure is unique. A day full of hard work from early in the morning, topped off with a cooling bathe in the creeks, cold beers, tall stories, the most wholesome, tasty food you will have had in ages – and loads of it, then a night sky, with rum in hand in which you can see the southern cross and north star at the same time, where the milky way stretches across the sky and with zero light pollution you feel like you see every star and then if you look carefully you can see the blinking lights from the solar wings of the space station too!

For the true ultimate challenge then Guyana has some of the best jungle in the world for you to find adventure in, year round.

On a jungle survival course the local hunters can show you how to make fire, build shelters, catch fish and clean and cook them, which plants you can use, how to find water from vines, set traps and how to shoot bow and arrow and go hunting for small mammals.

You’ll live the entire time in the forest, sleeping in hammocks and training all through the day and often at night where we’ll set night traps

and try spotting for snakes and Caiman and maybe catching a few for that classic photo!

You’ll get to see other jungle creatures up close too, as spending days and days in the forest and travelling deep into it is the best to spy some of these elusive creatures. Poison arrow frogs, tarantulas, macaws, eagles, monkeys,

4x4 Off road adventure, team photo EXPLORE GUYANA

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anaconda, capybara, caiman, piranha, jaguar, tapir, peccary, giant otters – they are all here.

Soon though, a week of training has passed and you’ll be taken another 20 miles into the forest, where there is no sign of human beings. No boats, planes overhead, roads, lights or even

satellites blinking in the sky that you can see.

As far as you know you’re the only human on the planet, on your own, with little more than a survival kit, machete and bow to live on. You have to survive for several days……..Can you cope?

Guyana is an adventure vacation dream and there’s more to come. Scuba diving in the clear creeks to see the anacondas and caiman up close, big abseils off the likes of Kaieteur Falls and awesome treks into untouched rainforest, lasting weeks and weeks in the spirit of the great old explorers!

If you’ve got an adventure in you, Guyana may be the place to let it out.

“The call of the wild“ beckons.

Hawk, Iwokrama

Poison Arrow Frog Dolphin - Crystal Springs

Howler Monkeys - Mahaicony

Bathing in the beautiful creeks of the savannah after a hard day’s adventure!

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Harpy Eagle

Forest Tarantula head

Jaguar - Iwokrama Forest

Fully kitted out for a jungle trek EXPLORE GUYANA

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Story Book

South America

By Michelle J Chan

As a child, Michelle Jana Chan heard bedtime tales from her father of the pumas and piranhas of Guyana. Then she got the chance to return with him to the land of his birth...

Anaconda - Iwokrama

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ow, the anaconda is the world’s biggest snake,” my dad would tell me, “and this one was the longest and fattest anyone had ever seen in Guyana. I twisted him around, tying him in knots, squeezing the life out of him...”

This is the Guyana of my bedtime stories and occasionally my nightmares. Before I went to sleep, my father would tell me tales about his homeland: how the harpy eagle could carry off children in its talons; how the piranha would shred the flesh from your bones; how the puma would pad into your bedroom, taking you off into the darkness of the jungle.

I would hear also of places called Diamond, Adventure and Roraima, and all-day journeys down mighty rivers called Essequibo, Demerara and Mazaruni. This is where Sir Walter Raleigh searched for the alleged city of gold called El Dorado and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle set his fantastical “Lost World”.

Although I had travelled widely, I had never been to the land of my father. “Guyana?” strangers would say to me. “Africa - right?” It always puzzled me why the only former British colony in the continent of South America was so off the map for the English.

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Cheddi Jagan Research Centre (Red House)

the second, the 20-mile-wide mouth of the Essequibo, by speedboat. In my dad’s youth, the crossings were made by infrequent ferries, which wove in and out of estuary islands the size of Barbados. “We used to take a whole day to get here,” he explained. We were there and back in an afternoon.

The country has certainly prospered but Suddie hasn’t changed a great deal since he was born in the 1940s - especially at the hospital. The openair waiting room was full of men on crutches and mothers with their newborns. A sign on the wall said: “Speak quietly. Quiet speech is a mark of refinement.”

Back in Georgetown, we went searching for the haunts of my father’s youth. We found the back garden where he fired at an iguana with his bow and arrow, and traumatised himself

Stabroek Market Clock Tower

Main Street Tree Lined Avenue, Georgetown

So I decided to take my dad - who hadn’t been back since 1979 - so he could prove to me he could wrestle an anaconda with his bare hands.

We landed in the capital, Georgetown, a dilapidated city of plantation-style houses and streets lined with flamboyant trees and frangipani. My father was seeing it all differently this time round. “I didn’t appreciate the architecture while I lived here, so I must have changed,” he said. The city is built with native hardwoods, and, although several large fires have destroyed huge areas in the past century, Georgetown still has an antiquated feel about it.

St. George’s Cathedral

The first day we drove to Suddie, where my father was born, a muddy riverbank town in the old plantation estates. To get there, we crossed two rivers: the first, the Demerara, over the fifth longest floating-bridge in the world and

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by hitting it. We saw the field where he nearly got trampled by stampeding cows. We walked past the house where he had lived with his grandmother, and from where they had to flee during street riots.

There was a hint of melancholy in our discoveries. Most of his old homes had vanished: some replaced with concrete offices, others torn down to leave a plot of scrub; but a few were still there, barely upright and in need of a whitewash. It was all rather wistful and we resolved to find some fresh, vivid experiences.

We fled the city southbound towards the forested interior, which was new territory for us both, and discovered a wilderness teeming with life.

I saw animals I had never even heard of, including a family of capybara, the world’s largest rodent, drinking at dusk on the banks of the Rupununi; the black caiman, South America’s bigger answer to the alligator; the svelte ocelot, which we found dead by the side of the road; and the peculiar matamata turtle, with its flattened craggy head extending a foot out of its knobbly shell.

The Bedford used for transporting visitors on Guided Tours

Guyana is one of the least explored countries in South America. I met only a handful of nonnatives: missionaries, journalists, NGO workers and a couple of birdwatchers.

It isn’t easy getting around the interior via a mixture of muddy rivers and brick-red laterite roads, which can morph into an airstrip by propping up a signpost giving warning of “LANDINGS.” There is little traffic: one vehicle every few hours, which is usually a mudsplattered Bedford truck loaded with miners or fuel.

Once, as we swerved around potholes and puddles in the pristine rainforest of Guiana Shield, we saw a Land Rover coming towards us.

In line with local ways, we slowed down and left passing room. Looking across inquisitively, my dad cried out: “That’s my cousin!” Our driver braked, blowing his horn. My dad jumped out of the car and the two of them - cousin Gordon and my dad, born on the same day, March 23, 1944 - saw each other for the first time in 47 years.

“You haven’t changed a bit,” my dad said.

“Neither have you,” Gordon replied.

I looked on sceptically, but was also amazed to discover I had cousins tucked away in the heart of the rainforest. This was just one of many reunions on our trip. Among the multicultural population of Indian, Black,

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Iwokrama River Lodge

Amerindian, Portuguese and Chinese, I found someone of every race connected to me. Our tour companions, Paul and Sylvia, birdwatchers from Cambridge, told me: “We’re beginning to think you’re related to everyone here.”

It did seem that way as we travelled the length of the country, from the coastline belt of rice fields and sugar plantations to the rainforest, through the foothills of the Pakaraima Mountains and into the southern savannah where cowboys herd cattle. Almost every cow carries a white egret, which devours insects stirred up by shuffling hooves.

We decided to stop at the million-acre rainforest reserve called Iwokrama. Gabriel, my guide, told me it rains twice here: “First when the skies open and then when the trees rain.”

The broad leaves catch the rainwater, 100 feet up, and release drops for an hour after the rainfall has stopped. Which means, by the time the second rain finishes, the first rain begins again, and you never dry out. The glossy green leaves shine and the glistening cobwebs are so thick they hang like white cotton hammocks.

We once managed to escape the second rain atop the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway. Here we teetered across suspension bridges a hundred feet above the forest floor, stopping at observation decks encircling giant cedars to see beyond the treetops towards families of red howler monkeys, blue-headed parrots and white-throated toucans.

We continued our journey along what we nicknamed Jaguar Alley, where two out

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of three tourists report sightings, but we were in the unlucky third. From here, the rainforest breaks up into scrub, fanning out into wide-open savannah with a smattering of Amerindian villages. We stayed in Surama, inhabited by Macushi Indians, where we met balata bleeders, who collect latex from balata trees; trappers, armed with bows-and-arrows; and “pork-knockers”, the local name for gold prospectors.

Conversation dwelt on their latest viper bite and how many times they had had malaria.

One guide, Seego, mentioned the anaconda, which he said would “wrap you, mash you and swallow you”. I looked across at my dad in wonder.

A few hours up the Rupununi River, we stopped

That’s the hallmark of a visit to Guyana. I felt like a pioneer, fumbling my way through virgin rainforest. We stood on the very edge of the precipice at Kaieteur, flirting with our fear. In the 25 years since my dad had been here, this was one thing that hadn’t changed at all.

Travels in the interior A well-trodden looped route has developed through Guyana’s interior, which you can do Raccoon

Manatee

at Karanambu Lodge to meet Diane McTurk, who is renowned for her work with orphaned giant river otters. I joined her for a swim in the muddy Rupununi and felt piranha fish nibble my calves. “Keep moving,” she told me. We never did see anaconda - much to my dad’s relief, I am sure - but we did spot black caiman, which Diane assured me only hunt at night.

The finale was Kaieteur Falls, 822ft high, which is nearly five times the height of Niagara. In the 1930s, Evelyn Waugh called it “one of the finest, most inaccessible, and least advertised natural wonders of the world”. Its colossal power is hypnotic and exhilarating. There are no safety rails, none of the trappings of mass tourism, so you feel as though you’re the first person to stumble upon it.

Emerald Boa

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in either direction, travelling one way overland and the other by light aircraft.

In Georgetown, explore St George’s Cathedral, Stabroek Market and the Botanical Gardens.

Along the coast, you can visit villages that were once part of sugar plantations but note Guyana does not have good beaches. Much of the coastline is mud and the Caribbean Sea is turned brown for 20 miles out.

Atta Lodge - Rupununi

Drive eight hours south to Iwokrama, where you can track jaguar and stay overnight in timber cabins. There is also Atta Rainforest Camp, which has easy access to the Canopy Walkway, but note it is simple hammock accommodation in open-sided huts.

Kaieteur Falls

It’s a two-hour drive to Surama, a self-sufficient Amerindian village inhabited by the Macushis, famed for the potency of their curare poison.

Stay in the new Eco Lodge’s thatched cabins.

Activities include bush walks and a visit to the local school.

A couple of hours through savannah brings you to Rock View Lodge, a haven of flowers and trees where you can relax by the pool and launder your muddy clothes.

Three hours upriver is Karanambu Lodge, where you can swim with giant river otters, go on safari looking for giant anteater, jabaroo storks and see the Victoria amazonica lilypad, which can take the weight of a child.

Kaieteur Falls is reached by chartered flight from Georgetown with stops at other waterfalls and eco resorts.

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Aracari Resort Grand Coastal Hotel

Jubilee Resorts

Hurakabra

Wonotobo Resort

Fair View

Atta Lodge Iwokrama Canopy

Karasabai

Adventure Guianas Villa & Courtyard

Surama Walkway Aranaputa Wowetta

Conservation International Concession

Rewa

Yupukari

Savannah Inn

Nappi

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4 1 8

3

DENOTES CITY HOTEL LOCATIONS Please refer to page 93 for details of Hotel listings 9

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STAL HOTEL

TO GRAND COA

7 2

MIDDLETON STREER

RAILWAY STREET

LAMAHA STREER

5

6

ANIRA STREET

11 LALUNI STREET

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Old Demerara Train

Trains & Railways In Guyana

By Godfrey Chin

My fascination with trains began at age 4 when I received, for Christmas 1941, a tin toy train set that was spring wound, before placing on a 24-inch diameter circular track, to enjoy its countless revolutions until my ‘neck got giddy’.

By scholarship class at age 11, the annual Sunday School August excursion was a geography lesson, as we rattled off the names of approaching stations, while the train traversed profuse vegetable gardens – lush rice and cane fields – plus verdant open pastures with grazing livestock. Each village stop, a school holiday delight with vendors/hucksters plying their fresh fruit, pastry and fried banga-mary fish, all in a frenzied hurry to complete sales, before the train moved on.

assembly at 8:30am. By this time the western flicks with the train robberies of Jesse James on the silver screen, together with the ‘studies of the Trans-America Railway being built in America fired my imagination. There is nothing more delightful than the sounds of the ‘choochoo’ train – the clanging and banging of carriages being connected – the conductor’s final summons ‘all aboard’ followed by the

By Secondary school, most of our school chums left their rural villages from 5 am and disgorged at the Carmichael St Terminal - where hundreds of lads and lasses in a menagerie of colourful ties and school uniforms, disembarked to hurry to their school

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monotonous chugging, the shrill whistles to clear the track, and the metal clanging crossing the bridges.

Steam locomotion was pioneered by Richard Trevithick and George Stevenson in the early nineteenth century - replacing ‘horse-drawn carriages’ and following the Tom Thumb steam train outracing a horse drawn cart – railways

have been the popular means of transportation since. With the introduction of wrought-iron rails and mounted flanged wheels on a 4 ft 8 inch gauge track – the first publicly subscribed railway line for passengers from Stockton to Darlington, England was opened in 1825.

12 year later in 1837, the first concept of a railway in British Guiana occurred when Government Officials met proprietors and representatives of the coastal estates to promote a line from Georgetown to Mahaica, which was agreed to in principle as the cost of transportation would be reduced. Immediate implementation was delayed as the Planters claimed heavy financial losses following the abolition of slavery 1838, and the Demerara Railway Company formed to initiate the project, raised two thirds of the shares in England and Holland. The Court of Policy passed the Bill in July 1846, and construction began in March, 1847. By August, that year the site at Lamaha and Main Streets in Georgetown was procured for the Terminal, with coal shed, water tanks, workshop and platforms ‘in the works’.

Three steam engines ( Mosquito, Sandfly and Firefly ) were procured from England and 15 months later, on 3 Nov. 1848, two daily trains were running from Georgetown to Plaisance, six miles away. The first Railway accident occurred on the opening day when one of the Directors was run over by the locomotive.

British Guiana was the first country to introduce the Railway system in South America.

Extensions to Buxton, Enmore, Belfield, Clonbrook, and St Helen were rapid in spite of a two year halt for financial reasons. $40 per acre was paid to landlords for land utilized by the railway and on 31 Aug 1864, the then Governor, Sir Francis Hicks opened the 22-miles stretch to Mahaica, which cost $318,890.

In 1890, the contract was awarded to extend the railway service to Rosignol, Berbice plus start the building of another from Vreed-en-Hoop to Tuschen on the West Coast, Demerara. By 1900, the extension to Rosignol was completed including bridges at Mahaica, Mahaicony and the Abary Creeks, plus ferry facilities to New Amsterdam. By 1914, the West Coast Service reached Parika on the Essequibo coast and in 1922, the Colonial Transport Department of Government ( later named the Transport and Harbours Dept ) assumed responsibility for the Railway services.

On 6 August 1895, two excursion trains collided at the Bel Air Station, killing four and injuring twenty-nine. Charles Mussenden, the driver of one of the locomotives, stuck to his post, throttling down to reduce the impact and died a hero, from injuries shortly after.

The Rosignol to Georgetown rail service was

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useful to haul live steer from the Rupununi to the Abbatoir ( near to the Georgetown Transport Terminal ) to provide the citizens with fresh beef. The Rupununi livestock was herded through the arduous cattle trail to the Berbice River where they were rested and fattened, and brought by steamer to Rosignol.

In 1948, slaughtered meat was flown in from the Rupununi by BG Airways, and the cattle rail-cars were no longer needed, reducing the railway income, and creating a deficit in operation expenses.

In 1942, the US Seabees, building Atkinson Air Field during WWII, were the first to transport meat carcasses from the Rupununi for their own consumption, and possibly, their troops in the North African / Sicilian Campaign.

The first inland railway commenced on 11 Dec 1893 when Government contracted with Sprostons to build an 18 miles light meter gauge rail from Wismar on the Demerara River to Rockstone on the Essequibo River, and granting a loan of $200,000 interest-free for twenty years. The opening of this service on 25 Feb 1897, marked a milestone in the progress of interior development in the country.

Together with John Dalgeish-Patterson and his sawmill business at Christianburg, the Wismar/ Chrisianburg/McKenzie area became a thriving Mining township when George Bain Mckenzie

started bauxite mining at Akyma, 1916.

Street Railways were introduced by Georgetown Tramways Company in 1890 when the Canadian Demerara Electric bought out the old Georgetown mule-drawn tramways.

Lady Gormanston, the Governor’s wife turned on the first electric lights in Georgetown on 17 Jan,1891, and electric trams started on 25 Feb 1901. Tramcars were discontinued in 1930, and this was most likely due to the cost of reinstalling the lines following the laying of the sewerage system in the City which started in 1923.

The Coastline Railway was de- commissioned in 1970, ending the glorious saga of Railways, as Guyana became a Republic. The 32 miles service line from Matthews Ridge to Port Kaituma also became defunct as mining and logging operations in the area ceased. At Linden (originally McKenzie), the heavy duty locomotives, which took employees to the mines and transported the rich bauxite ore to the factories, were also abandoned and replaced by road truck loads.

In 1913, Governor Sir Walter Egerton spent two months in the Rupununi area, covering 1100

miles – 875 by boat and 225 miles overland.

On his return to the coastline, he penned his famous dispatch to the Secretary of State, advocating the construction of a railway to our southern frontier. In August 2011, a similar line connecting Georgetown to Lethem to Brazil is being mooted by Government.

Will this come to pass in my lifetime? Thank heavens, I have since replaced my tin toy train, 70 years later with a small electric train set in my den to keep that ‘choo-choo’ sound alive in my sunset years.

Bob the Parrot with Joey Stephens, H.E Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo and Brian Lilly

A Parrot’s Tale

by Bob the Parrot

I

will never forget when I got the invitation to visit Guyana; actually, Joey Stevens got the invitation, but he handles all my personal correspondence. I was excited and yet a bit leery about visiting a country of which I knew nothing. I began to get excited when I read the itinerary that the Tourism and Hospitality Association had put together, especially with the thought about meeting some new friends (parrots) along the rivers and rain forests that we would be visiting. I had no idea what lay ahead as we boarded the airplane in the United States, but what follows are some thoughts and experiences that I can remember through a journal that I kept of our wonderful trip.

taking photos while Joey, Brian, and Bob ate snacks. After a short flight, we arrived at Ogle Airport International, and were transported to the Cara Lodge Hotel for check in. The Cara Lodge Hotel was great, and Joey and I loved it at first sight! It had so much charm, and I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting WSEE Team with Dian McTurk

Saturday, July 10, 2010 We arrived at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport in Georgetown, Guyana. Accompanying me on the trip were Joey Stevens, the Caribbean Weatherman, Brian Lilly, owner of Lilly Broadcasting, and Bob Musulich, our cameraman/advertising specialist. We were met by an official delegation and were introduced to the working media in the VIP lounge. I remember answering questions and

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Georgetown. I remember Joey got very excited when he learned he would be staying in the very same room that Rolling Stones Mick Jagger stayed in. I don’t think he slept all night!

That first night we were taken to Mojos Night Club. When we arrived, I was greeted by a

Bob the Parrot, WSEE team and Surama Cultural Group

seven or eight foot parrot and was told that this was in my honor. I must admit, a small tear came to my eye that night. That was special.

Sunday, July 11, 2010 Our day started with a small tour around Georgetown, Guyana’s capital city, and I was

very impressed with the mixture of old and new architecture. I found Georgetown to be a city with what I call a “good vibe”. That afternoon we visited the Georgetown Club, which is rich in history, to watch the World Cup coverage. The Netherlands were playing Spain for the Cup. I rooted for Spain because I thought they had nicer uniforms!

WSEE Team on the Rupununi river

Monday, July 12. 2010 We got an early start and went by vehicle ( I sat in the front) across the Demerara River on the world’s largest pontoon bridge. It was during this drive that I learned of the Dutch who had settled here early on. I was also taken to a great place called Fort Island where I again learned of the early Dutch influences on the area. By now, we had left land and were traveling by boat.

We stopped for lunch at Hurakabra Resort and met the wonderful owners, Kit and Gem, whom I discovered are big fans! After lunch and a tour, we continued by boat to one of my favorite places on the tour, the Baganara Island Resort. The staff there were exceptional, and I really enjoyed the surroundings. I was very excited when I was told we were going to visit Parrot Island by boat where many birds come to roost. I did not see any relatives, but I made some friendships that will last forever.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 After breakfast, we departed Baganara Island on a charter flight with Guyana Air to one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen

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Bob and WSEE team arriving at Iwokrama Rainforest Centre

Joey on the Canopy Walkway in the Iwokrama Forest

Villager of Surama with hunting arrows

called Kaieteur Falls, which sits in the heart of Guyana on the Potaro River, a tributary of the Essequibo. It is truly one of the world’s natural wonders. The falls drops 822 feet or five times the height of Niagara Falls! Upon leaving the falls, we flew to the Iwokrama River Lodge and

Research Centre where we stayed overnight.

There had been some flooding of the river, so the water was up to the door of my cabin! (I had to share one with Joey.) We had a great dinner and learned about all the research being done there. It is a unique place!

Bob and Joey Interviewing Members of the Surama Cultural Group

Wednesday, July 14, 2010 This was an interesting day. We began by traveling by jeep along a trail that was noted for jaguar sightings. I admit I was a little scared, but we did not see any which was all right by me. Along the way we stopped at the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway, which lets you actually view the forest at 35M above the forest floor. Joey was a little frightened, but I was able to guide him through it. Sometimes he can be such a baby! We continued our journey to the Amerindian Village of Surama. The village of Surama is situated in a small savannah, deep in the rain forest surrounded by forest clad hills.

On our arrival, we received a warm welcome from the local people and the village counselor.

We were treated to some traditional dances with dancers in traditional costumes. I really enjoyed it except when I learned that the head dress was made of macaw feathers! I am not sure, but I think I recognized a few ancestors on those heads! After our visit, we took a 4 x 4 to another beautiful place called the Rock View Lodge at Annai. It is located where the savannah meets the forest-covered foothills of the Pakaraima Mountains. The owner of the lodge, Colin Edwards, made us feel comfortable and truly provided us with a terrific experience.

This is another place that I would recommend

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Victoria Amazonica Lily

if you are looking for a place to stay in Guyana.

Thursday, July 15, 2010 We were up early and on the river again. I enjoyed traveling on the rivers in Guyana because I got a different view of the land and the great beauty that Guyana has to offer.

On our boat trip on the Rupununi River, we saw many amazing sights including the giant Victoria Regis water lily. I asked Brian if they were named after his family. I thought I heard him mumble, “Goofy bird!” Our river travels eventually brought us to Karanambu Ranch, the

home of Diane McTurk, who is widely known for her work in rehabilitating orphaned, giant river otters to the wild.

She was just fascinating, and you could see she really loved the otters in her care. She is truly a treasure to Guyana.

Friday, July 16, 2010 After an early breakfast (I ate one of Joey’s pancakes when he wasn’t looking), we took a flight back to Georgetown on Air Guyana. I was amazed that the planes loaded and took off on

Joey Interviewing Diane at Karanambu Ranch with her otters in tow

runways that were nothing more than dirt, and they did this with precise accuracy. On the way back, we stopped at Lethem and took a walking tour of Takatu Bridge which connects Guyana and Brazil.

It was interesting to see the building and development on the Guyana side of the river. It was obvious that there is developing interaction and commerce between the two countries.

That night in Georgetown we had dinner at the New Thriving Restaurant which is the biggest and most beautiful Chinese restaurant I have ever seen. ( I passed on the roast duck!)

Saturday, July 17, 2010 Our last day was quite busy but very exciting in Georgetown. We again toured the city which is alive and vibrant with many sights to see and experience. That night we had a farewell reception and night of jazz at the Sidewalk Cafe.

Joey and I thrilled the crowd with a rendition of our favorite “Hot, Hot, Hot!” They loved it, and so did we! Our final stop was at the Sea Wall which is a gathering spot to socialize and relax on Saturday and Sunday. Here we had a chance to meet so many nice people, take pictures, and just talk. It was a great experience!

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Joey at Kaieteur Falls

Sunday, July 18, 2010 We were on our way home and back to work.

EPILOGUE: Joey Stevens and I are seen by millions of people each day on CBS and One Caribbean Weather.

We have traveled extensively throughout the Caribbean. Our trip to Guyana was truly one of the highlights of our travels. The people we met were some of the nicest and kindest people we have met anywhere. The sights we saw were breathtaking, and the combination of water and air travel was exhilarating! Guyana has so much to offer. We will always remember our visit. Should you plan a trip to Guyana? You bet! See ya on TV! Bob the Parrot

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A Day Tour to

Kaieteur & Orinduik Falls A Trip of a Lifetime

A visit to Guyana is not complete if you have not visited and experienced the world famous Kaieteur Falls – a true wonder of Nature. It is without question the premier tourist attraction in Guyana.

Located in Guyana’s interior region, there is an annual increase in the number of visitors making the trip or pilgrimage to see Kaieteur in all of his royal splendor.

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ocal tour operators have regular day tours by air from Ogle International Airport to Kaieteur Falls. Most tours are packaged with a trip to Kaieteur Falls and then on to Orinduik Falls on the Guyana / Brazil border. Depending on the number of persons in the party you can fly in an Britten Norman Islander ( ten seater) or larger aircraft.

Kaieteur Visitor Centre

The trip would start at Ogle Airport where the passengers are assembled and given a safety briefing on the trip and the do’s and don’ts. Most tour operators would provide a package lunch as part of the tour. It is recommended that you take a supply of bottled water and additional snack foods if you so wish. In addition you may wish to carry some insect repellant. Ensure that you dressed with sneakers for walking and your swimwear to enjoy Orinduik Falls. Do not forget to take your camera or camcorder to capture those memorable moments.

After takeoff the flight heads directly over the coastline with a great view of the famous Seawall, Atlantic Ocean and the capital city of Georgetown before crossing the Demerara River and continuing across West Demerara towards the Essequibo region. In flight you will get a great view of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, expansive sugar and rice cultivation and a plethora of coastal and riverain settlements before crossing the vast open and dense forested regions towards the mighty Essequibo river – the largest of Guyana’s rivers. As you cross the Essequibo River you will see the many islands in the river – some being cultivated with rice and others being the location of some of Guyana’s more attractive eco-resorts.

Golden Frog

As you continue further inland across the dense forest cover you will get a view of the now closed Omai Gold Mines before you get your first glimpse of Kaieteur in the distance. Some pilots may fly across the face of the Falls allowing for a spectacular view before landing at the Airstrip at the top of the Falls.

On arrival you are met by one of the well trained Tour Guides who will then take you on a guided tour of the Kaieteur Falls and National Park.

You will have an opportunity to view the Falls from several vantage points, starting from the furthest away point making your way to the top of the falls. Along the way your guide will tell you more about the various flora and fauna inhabiting the area.

Cock of the Rock

Kaieteur Falls is undoubtedly the crown jewel of Guyana’s interior. With a sheer drop of 741 ft and a total height of 822 ft, it is twice as high as Victoria Falls and 5 times higher than Niagara Falls.

Air Guyana Cessna with Tourist at Kaieteur Top

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Tourist enjoying Orinduik Falls

Amerindian legend has it that Kai, one of the great Patamona chiefs committed self-sacrifice by paddling his canoe over the falls to appease Makonaima, the great spirit, in order to save his tribe from the savage Caribisi tribe. This folklore has served as the basis for the legend of Kaieteur which is world renowned.

Orinduik Falls

Up until the 1800s Kaieteur was known only to the Amerindians. The first European to see Kaieteur Falls was a geologist named Barrington Browne during a visit to the area in 1870. A recount of his travels and discovery of the Falls paved the way for many subsequent visits by other early European visitors and the designation as a protected area.

In 1929, The British Colonial Administration designated an area of the Potaro River, including the Kaieteur Falls as a National Park.

The Park, covering a 45 square mile area was established principally for the preservation of the natural scenery, and the fauna and flora of the area and at that time, was one of the first protected areas established in South America.

However, in 1972, the Park was down sized to 4.5 square miles. This apparently was done under pressure to open up the area, rich in gold and diamonds to mining claims. However, these

mining activities began to take their toll on the wider Kaieteur environment and during the 1990’s with increased mining activities and the adoption of better technologies in the industry instances of discoloration of Kaieteurs’ water were being observed. In an effort to protect the Kaieteur Falls and the many water catchment areas of the wider area, the Park boundaries were extended in 1999 by an Act of Parliament.

Today, the Kaieteur National Park covers an area of 224 square miles, approximately 62 700 ha.

Flower Orinduik Falls

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The splendour of Kaieteur Falls has often overshadowed the other attributes of the wider area which is situated within the middle Mazaruni region, a highland region of Guyana known for its forest covered mountains, rivers, waterfalls and rapids. The geographical features of the wider area support a unique habitat with a mix of dense tropical forests and open savannahs.

Kaieteur National Park is home to a host of rare and endangered species as well as unique landscapes and forest types. Most notable are those which occupy the immediate environs of the fall, the rarely seen Cock-of-the Rock (Rupicola rupicola), and the Golden Frog (Colostethus beebei) which spends it entire life within the Giant Tank Bromeliads (Brocchinia micrantha). Under the vast shelf of rock on the face of the fall lives flocks of white chinned and white collared swifts (Cypseloides Cryptus).

These can be seen during the late afternoons.

After your awe inspiring experience to Kaieteur it is now time to continue the journey further inland to visit the more gentle and friendly Orinduik Falls. On the way you will fly across vast forested and mountainous regions seeing a landscape dotted with numerous rivers and waterfalls along the way until you land at the Orinduik Airstrip. There you will likely have lunch and then trek to the nearby falls which consist of a series of step like areas where you

Pineapple plant at Orinduik Falls

can find ample spaces to swim in the crystal clear flowing water or stand under the waters falling from the higher levels. What a refreshing experience.

Before you know it – the time has come to head back to Ogle Airport. What a day it has been that you have been able to travel across Guyana from coastline to hinterland and engage King Kaieteur in full splendour and then indulge in the soothing waters of Orinduik Falls.

Having had such a fabulous time be sure to share the good news with your friends and family and do come again. You are sure to get a Royal Welcome from Kaieteur.

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Some tours even offer a stopover at Baganara Island Resort or Arrowpoint Nature Resort For the more adventurous you can do the more exhilarating and challenging trip overland to Kaieteur Falls. This tour will take several days and offers a different view and experience where you will get the opportunity to truly engage nature in its pristine state and include the possible sighting of large cats and other exotic fauna inhabiting the rainforest.

To do a Day Tour to Kaieteur and Orinduik Falls or an overland trip see the list of THAG Member Tour Operators in the THAG Members Listings in this Magazine.

Travellers awaiting Pontoon at Kurupukari crossing, Essequibo river

Travelling Overland Georgetown to Lethem

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ike many of my friends, I grew up in Guyana but never saw much of it besides its capital, Georgetown, towns such as Linden and Bartica and a few outlying villages along the East and West Banks and Coasts. Any sightseeing along the way was a bonus.

It was only after I had migrated to the UK that I realised how much of Guyana’s natural beauty I had missed out on.

Damning as this might sound, to be fair, all that I had to work with before were the reminisces of my father and grandparents, about the good old days when they would walk for

By Ruth-Anne Lynch

miles through the jungle trails and paddled along creeks narrowly avoiding disaster, but they rarely enthused about any beautiful waterfalls or scenery they passed along the way. Furthermore, most sensible folk went out of their way to avoid contact with dangerous natural wildlife unless they absolutely had to.

Nowadays, sustainable rainforests and ecotourism are all the rage and visitors arrive kitted out with the latest binoculars, digital camera and video technology and a determination to photograph and to be photographed with anything that moved.

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To put things into context this was not a vacation for me. I had been commissioned

by Rough Guides to carry out travel research in Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana, for the second edition of their publication “South America on a Budget”. Intrigued by my project, four UK-based friends decided to tag along: my Jamaican cousin, Sandra; Keith, a Virgin Airlines pilot: Layton, a keen Scottish zoologist and my official photographer, Teri Kuet, from Hong Kong. We were supposed to be following the ‘budget’ options’ brief so we eschewed the more costly but quicker option of a 80-minute flight from Ogle to Annai and a 90-minute 4WD drive to Iwokrama, for the 11-hour overnight

robust constitution (and I mean robust!), it is advisable to fly to the Rupununi. Further, the Georgetown to Lethem Road can flood and become impassable, particularly during the rainy season. Nevertheless, for those who would prefer to travel by bus, make sure you pack your passport, books, water, snacks, a neck rest, wet wipes and antibacterial hand gel!

IWOKRAMA RAINFOREST

Intraserv Bus on the launch at Kurupukari

The Iwokrama River Lodge and Research Centre, situated on the west bank of the Essequibo river is surrounded by a 400 square-kilometre rainforest, which is home to the Mukushi people (Amerindians) as well as many species of birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, insects and plant life.

Iwokrama is the perfect place to chill out, commune with nature and enjoy some stunning vistas. The comfortable cabins benefit from 24-hour solar-powered electricity, fans, mesh and mosquito nets. Friendly staff and visiting biologists and botanists provide interesting insights into Iwokrama’s eco-tourism and sustainable development activities. Luckily, I met an ardent Dutch conservationist who passed on the name of an invaluable contact for my onward travels in Suriname.

Humming Bird at bird feeder

trip along the Georgetown to Lethem Road, on an Intraserv Bus, driven by a Lewis Hamilton wannabe!

We planned to spend one night at each of the four locations on our wish list, the Iwokrama River Lodge, Canopy Walkway, Surama Village and Rock View Lodge (Annai) before making our way back to Georgetown. Taking the bus made sense as it was cheaper and we would travel overnight before arriving in time for breakfast at Iwokrama the next morning.

metal and burnt rubber all the way through!

Now, I like adventure as much as the next person, but I value my creature comforts, constitution and life a great deal more. So my advice to potential travellers is that unless you are on a strict budget, with time on your hands, a strong sense of adventure and a

Iwokrama, whose patron, HRH The Prince of Wales has a trail named after him, offers a range of activities including guided treks through the forest, climbing Turtle Mountain, jaguar and caiman spotting expeditions and bird watching. We didn’t have time to do these activities but did take a boat trip upriver to visit the nearby Amerindian settlement of Fair View.

At low tide, there is also the opportunity to see the ancient petroglyphs, stunning works of Amerindian art hewn into rocks, estimated to be over 6,000 years old. We also visited a Butterfly Farm, situated about three kilometers from the Lodge. The farm is home to various species of beautiful butterflies native to the Iwokrama Rainforest and North Rupununi Savannahs, but sadly, with a lifespan of between two to eight weeks.

Cabins at Iwokarama Rainforest Reserve

It soon became obvious that none of us were quite prepared for the thrills and spills of the ensuing bus journey. The journey from Georgetown to Linden took place on a relatively smooth asphalt road, but from Linden onwards the asphalt ended and it became a laterite dirt capped road, filled with humps, bumps and enormous potholes. Not that this deterred our driver, who simply pressed his pedal to the EXPLORE GUYANA

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Amerindian Children at Fairview

CANOPY WALKWAY The following day we packed our bags and continued down the bumpy dirt road in a 4WD for about 90 minutes, heading for the Canopy Walkway. The Walkway is made up of a series of aluminium suspension bridges constructed some 30 metres high, amidst the treetops. Its four observation platforms afforded glorious opportunities for us to spot monkeys, birds and other forest dwellers within the mid and upper forest canopy.

Cottage at Surama Village

village of Surama, about 45 minutes away, stopping along the way to take pictures of the local birdlife.

Surama Village is a small Amerindian settlement spread out over a patch of savannah land, about six kilometres from the main road. It is ringed by forest and hills and offers breath-taking views of the distant Pakaraima mountain range.

Its 300-strong Makushi population live in a close knit community and still observe many of the traditional practices of their forefathers.

The uphill trek to the Walkway will leave you out of breath but is well worth the effort for the view from the top, which cannot help but inspire great ‘Kodak’ moments. The bridges, which are a tad wobbly, are actually very solid, with ropes to hang on to as you walk from one platform to another and you will feel a sense as achievement as you walk high above the treetops.

The wooden, octagonal-shaped, thatched benabs or eco-lodges have nets, electricity and en-suite facilities and kerosene lamps are provided after lights out. At night, you can leave the windows open and fall asleep to the sounds of the local nightlife. The benabs are surprisingly spacious inside and the windows afford amazing views of the surrounding forest and mountain range.

However, if you don’t have a head for heights, I suggest you relax in the breezy communal sitting room or one of the comfortable lodges situated in the nearby Atta Rainforest Camp.

Camp staff also offer guided forest walks and impart interesting information on the habits and tendencies of the resident plant and wildlife.

Visitors can choose to stay in a benab or hammock, or to camp on the grounds. Like the other locations, Surama offers boat trips, guided

walks, camping at the nearby Burro Burro River and wildlife spotting trips. On the other hand, you can simply chill out in a hammock with a book.

We ate dinner in the nearby community building with two cricket-mad British couples, who were clearly enjoying their strange but exciting Rupununi adventures. Stuffed to the hilt, we sojourned upstairs to investigate the bar and snooze in the hammocks!

Frankly, it would have been much more relaxing if we had spent at least two nights in each location because, just as we settled down, it was time to pack up and move on. Hence, by the time we arrived at Rock View, our final stop and less than an hour’s drive from Surama, we were exhausted!

ROCK VIEW LODGE Rock View Lodge is fabulous, situated as it is in the midst of savannah land. Once you enter the grounds, you are surrounded by flowering shrubs, palm trees and at least fifty different

You will meet interesting people during your travels and one such arrived at the Camp for lunch, a very fit young fellow who was cycling his way around South America on the most intriguing biking contraption. We exchanged emails and he continued on his endurancetesting trip along the bumpy dirt road to the capital, Georgetown.

SURAMA After a restful night at Canopy Walkway we continued along the road to Lethem to the

Pool at Rock View Lodge

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View of Pakaraima Mountains from Surama Cabin

species of fruit trees, making it a haven for the local birdlife, including buff necked ibises, hawks, vultures and cute little humming birds.

There is also a pool and a netball court on site as well as a motley assortment of wildlife including labba, turtles and parrots.

After all our arduous road travel and forest trekking, we simply abandoned our luggage, grabbed a drink and hightailed it to the inviting rock garden-styled swimming pool.

Colin Edwards, the owner of Rock View is very particular about the property’s appearance and facilities on offer. He is very friendly and will join his guests at mealtimes, when every subject under the sun can be discussed loudly, with much wit and lots of uproarious laughter.

Rock View promotes agro-tourism and you can tour its large, organic vegetable garden and marvel at the size and quality of the vegetables.

Rock View meals are supplemented by its home grown produce and the kitchen churns out delicious jellies, jams, peanut butter and cashew nut butter, which are also available for purchase.

Resigned to their faith, the boys headed back the next day, but my cousin and I could not face the return bus trip that day and opted to stay another night.

Labba at Rock View Lodge

yard but we could not beg, steal or borrow a plane ticket out of there was just painful! To add insult to injury, the two British couples that we had met in Surama, sauntered in, all set for their flight back to Georgetown to see the cricket!

Ruth relaxing at Rock View

Unfortunately, as this was a one-night stay, we soon had to start thinking about the dreaded bus journey back to Georgetown. That Annai airstrip was practically in Rock View’s front

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On the day of our departure, Colin transported us to the nearby Oasis Service Centre from where we would pick up the Intraserv Bus for the journey back to Georgetown. Besides being delayed by an overturned lorry along the way, we made it back in one piece.

A trip to the Rupununi and the Rupununi Savannahs is definitely to be recommended but how you get there will certainly determine whether your experiences leave you shaken as well as stirred!

Surama Village

The People of the

Thorny Sea

By John Gimlette

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Out in the long-lost savannahs of southern Guyana, JOHN GIMLETTE meets a curious people, whose ancestors have been popping up in English literature for over 400 years he village of Surama is the wrong side of a forest several hundred miles wide.

Even by South American standards, this forest is overwhelming. It’s so dense that flying over it feels like a journey through a long green night.

New creatures are always turning up here, and, if trucks and planes get lost, they often vanish forever. The rivers are either huge and spectacularly violent – like the Essequibo – or

dark and carnivorous. There’s only one road through, and one place to stay, at Iwokrama.

It’s a moment of riverside gentility, before plunging back into the forest.

Of course, Surama is only the wrong side of the forest to those who need the outside world. The villagers don’t. Here, spreading out southwards, they have their own world – a great, golden grassland the size of Scotland.

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Walled in at the far end by some of the oldest mountains on Earth, there’s no-where quite like it. The lilies are five feet wide, and sandpaper grows on trees. Even the animals feel curiously Jurassic. Here are the world’s largest ants, otters and anteaters, and its biggest fish – the arapaima (a bearded monster as big as a horse).

Unsurprisingly, the Rupununi Savannah (as it’s called) remained unknown to Europeans until

Canopy Walkway, Iwokrama

Anteater on the Savannah

the eighteenth century. Raleigh probably got closest in 1594. He’d heard it was inhabited by men with no heads, and that it was the home of El Dorado (Sir Walter’s travelogue may even have inspired Shakespeare, who mentions ‘Guiana’ in Henry IV). It would take a whole generation of explorers – from Waterton to Schomburgk – to set the record straight: although the people of the Rupununi are amongst the most intriguing on the planet, they’ve got good heads and no gold.

Buff Necked Ibis at Rockview

I began in Surama, among the Macushi tribe.

They and their village were almost exactly as Evelyn Waugh had described them in 1933, except that now they had their own eco-lodge.

Although this had wide, breezy views across the forest, I opted to stay with a family.

In some ways, it seemed an idyllic life. The Allicocks lived on a beautiful hill, in a house made of leaves. Paula had a tattooed face, and Daniel was a hunter. There was no water, no

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Turtles at Rock View Lodge

electricity and we washed out in the long grass.

Every mealtime, a huge family gathered, and ate whatever Daniel had caught. Each night, nine of us slept in the hut, and everyone told stories until they fell asleep. These felt like ordinary lives except stripped of clutter: no chairs, no floors, no cash, and no concept of time.

By day, we pottered round the forest, identifying cures for everything from ringworm (aromata) to diabetes (wild mango). Daniel also had a little farm in a clearing that he’d burnt. There, he made me a seven-foot bow, with five arrows, to take back to London. ‘Whenever you use them,’ he said, ‘you’ll think of us.’

As I moved on through the Rupununi, I began to realise that life for the Amerindians wasn’t always this sweet. Petroglyphs, hacked into the granite over 5,000 years ago, seemed to speak of monsters and hunger. Even now

Fox

the soil is unworkable, and jaguars kill all the horses. Worse, it’s a world infested with magic.

There are supernatural boulders, giant worms, mischievous sprites, and trees that turn you grey. ‘And eight years ago,’ one Macushi told me, ‘my brother was drowned by a ghost.’

Out on the savannahs, nature rules. It’s a beautiful, half-finished land, rimmed with mountains like purple teeth, and dappled in brilliant birds. In the rainy season, it turns to glue, and then the water recedes and once again it’s a sea of thorns and bony lagoons. To Waugh, it was perfection, like a punishment from heaven. In his fear of being stuck here forever, he dreamed up a masterpiece, “A Handful of Dust”.

Other outsiders, however, have stayed on.

Most are ranchers of Scottish or Polish descent.

Perhaps the best-known are the McTurks of

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Karanambu. They’ve been looking after almost every visitor to the Rupununi since 1927, including Attenborough and Durrell. These days, Karanambu feels like an old Macushi stately home, with its great thatched halls, and collections of war clubs, and antique trucks put out to grass.

The present owner, Diane McTurk, is herself something of a Rupununi institution. ‘I was born here in 1932,’ she told me, ‘A wild child.’

Apart from a few, glamorous years in London, it’s been a wild life ever since. Now, Diane seems to know everyone, and is on first name terms with the fauna. Over the years, there have always been various orphaned creatures living at Karanambu, including over 40 giant otters. During my stay, it was the turn of a racoon called Bandit, who, during dinner, would clamber through the rafters, chasing off the bats.

Scorpion - Iwokrama Rainforest Reserve

Of course, it’s not just ranchers who’ve settled.

Here in the Rupununi, I also met a Lebanese pilot, several ‘African’ coastlanders, an Indian beauty queen, and a Chinaman who’d taken a vow of poverty. What they shared was a sense of reckless wonder. It was as if the Rupununi was still an undiscovered land – or a lover of great passion and uncertain loyalty.

Karanambu Ranch

Some settlers had, like the McTurks, opened up to guests. In Annai, I stayed with the Welshman who’d put the road through the jungle in 1989.

Since then, Colin Edwards has never stopped building, and now has Rock View. It was a lush, incongruous resort, neither Wales nor truly Rupununi. It had orchards, a swimming pool, a dozen immaculate rooms, a pet tapir, a crashed helicopter, and a bar that sold bras and machetes.

Even more exotic was Caiman House. It was

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Aerial View of Rock View Lodge

originally built by an American scientist so he could study the alligators down on the river.

Although he’d long since gone, his team of catchers had stayed (and, every night, we all went out, to noose another monster and wrestle it onto the beach). Caiman House meanwhile had been transformed. On the outside, it looked like Fort Apache but, on the inside, it was pure ‘Macushi Chic’ (brilliant red weavings, baskets, skulls and four-poster beds). This must be a first: an alligator-lover’s boutique hotel.

Sixty miles further west, I came to Lethem, the Rupununi’s only town.

Lethem only has four momentous days a year, and that’s for the rodeo at Easter. The rest of time, it’s just a town adrift in an ocean of grass.

The roads are made of dirt, and the little houses have a temporary feel as if the real Lethem has yet to be unpacked. If there were ever gardens, they’ve long been churned up, in an orgy of pigs and trucks.

For all that, I enjoyed it. Brazil was only just across the river, and – like all good frontier towns – Lethem could be both wildly exuberant and determinedly prim. Out on the street, most people seemed to be either missionaries or cowboys. Everywhere there were notices, saying ‘No Indecent Language’, and yet people were free with the rum, and drove like fighter pilots (often both at once). Meanwhile, the supermarket was called Savannah Stores, and was stocked with everything you’d need for a life in the grass: saltfish, cast nets, catapults and grog.

But Lethem was not merely the Rupununi’s capital: it marked the end of the North Savannahs and the beginning of the South.

From now on, this was the territory of the Wapisianas – and not the Macushis – and would be nominally Catholic instead of vaguely Anglican. There was only one more obstacle to skirt, a massive ridge of jungle (called the Kanukus). Beyond that, the landscape would look like the North Savannahs – except bigger,

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wilder and even more remote. From now on, the road would be merely a track, which every now and then, plunged through a creek.

Unsurprisingly, it took Europeans a long time to find their way down here. One who did was a Scot called HBC Melville. In 1890, he arrived, built several ranches, sired a dynasty of little Melvilles (by two wives, both Wapisianas) and then retired to Twickenham. Waugh’s travels here were richly infested with Melvilles, and by 1969 there were so many of them that some declared independence. But, the Rupununi Republic only lasted a day, before the army arrived, and chased the rebels into Brazil.

I spent my last two days on Melville’s original ranch, Dadanawa. At 1,700 square miles, it’s the biggest ranch on the continent, and an unforgettable adventure. It makes the Wild West seem fluffy in comparison. Of course, there were the same big rivers, mountains, and stampedes – but the Rupununi can also be brutally exotic. Almost every night the

Tourists on Annai Airstrip

Vacqueros

cattle were attacked by jaguars. Meanwhile watching a round-up was like witnessing an extraordinarily violent sport in which no-one – miraculously – gets hurt.

Wild Hog in flight

Everyone here lives an extraordinary life. My hosts, the de Freitas, slept (like me) in a sort of cricket pavilion on stilts, overlooking the Kanukus. The cowboys, on the other hand, were Indians – Wapisianas – and slept in barracks. They all carried long knives like swords, and rode brilliantly, barefoot and often bareback. The youngest, I discovered, was 12, and sang as he rode.

Perhaps none of this should surprise me. This, after all, was Guyana: a garden built by God, inhabited by survivors, and lived to the full.

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The Mangrove Reserve Community and Nature in Harmony

By David Martins Planting Mangrove Seedlings

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uyana is a big country – the entire island of Barbados can fit in one of our rivers – so nature trips can take days, but there is now a half-day tour of several East Coast villages where visitors encounter our Guyanese heritage, a thriving mangrove forest, a wetland teeming with fish and birdlife, and a towering sugar estate house, in the company of our charming village people. And that’s only part of the story in the Golden Grove/ Belfield Mangrove Reserve – 20 minutes from Georgetown.

The tours run in the daytime from 7am to 6pm

(reserve your time) and they all begin at Golden Grove, a former plantation, where 150 years ago the concept of wind energy was already in use in the sugar mill there. A roadside highlight in the next village, Nabaclis, is “Parliament” – a massive 150-year-old tamarind tree so named because it is a social meeting place for residents.

Guyana is known for its rambling wooden structures, with the graceful and distinctive Demerara shutters, and one of these, the sprawling 3-storey plantation house at the Village of Cove and John is our next stop.

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Dominating 5 acres of land covered with the biggest mango trees you’ve ever seen in the midst of a herbal garden , the house reflects an early grandeur in its hewn greenheart beams, pine floors and antique cast iron pillars.

Supporting the building’s front gallery are pillars made from bricks brought to Guyana as ballast for sailing ships in colonial days. The estate house now serves as the Visitor Centre for the Mangrove Reserve, with displays telling the mangrove story in detail and a beautifully hand painted mural of the coastline depicting the coastal forests and rich birdlife found there.

The Victoria Women’s Group offers mangrove

honey, breadfruit chips, and spicy pepper sauces attractively packaged and reasonably priced at the center. These homegrown village products are free of preservatives and full of natural flavor. The group’s artisans also make hand-woven place mats and coasters made from East Coast sawgrass.

From the breezy Visitor Centre, the tour moves east to Victoria Village, the first village bought by former slaves following Emancipation in 1838, and you can pause at the original hut where slaves collected their weekly pay packages. It’s now a busy village shop, and vendors outside offer fresh coconut water. The tour turns briefly toward the sea, and then curves westward where you catch sight of one of the many kokers (a Dutch word meaning “sluice”) that dot the Guyana landscape. Shortly after, on the left, are the beautiful temples of the local ashram where Hindu followers come to worship.

You are now in the heart of the Golden Grove/ Belfield Mangrove Reserve – the first community-owned and managed mangrove reserve in Guyana. Visitors are guided along a trail, fringing the sea, with all the mangrove species – black, white, red and buttonwood – found within the first 100ft stretch. It’s a fascinating sight: hundreds of fully grown mangrove trees, many of them over 20 feet tall, making a dense forest that developed, completely on its own, on the swampy foreshore, and now serving as a barrier to the Atlantic tides in the area. On the other side of the trail is a wide wetland area teeming with scarlet ibis, snowy egrets and pelicans; it has become a popular bird-watching stop . A unique part of the wetland is a shallow pond teeming with fish (tilapia, hassar, patwa, and sunfish), ideal for recreational fishing. If you’re in luck, you will see local fishermen beating the water to chase the fish into their nets.

Along the trail in this area, tour guides point out the array of medicinal plants, used by Guyanese for generations. Growing wild along the path are “black sage” – a brew from the leaves helps to combat hypertension and diabetes, and the rigid stems of the plant make a toothbrush substitute. Also there is “sweet sage” used to treat colds, “ belly ache bush” that combats gum disease, and a brew from the “tulsi” plant that works to relieve flatulence. The leaves of the “noni” plant are used to alleviate pain, and its fruit builds up the immune system. There is also a plant, “carrion crow bush”, the brew of which, according to folklore, is used to terminate pregnancy.

In the middle of the wetland is a small island of lush black mangrove where bee keepers

Colonial Plantation house now Mangrove Visitor Centre Mangrove Heritage Tour guides in front of lake with Ashram in background

Cane juice stand Tilapia fishing in wetland

operate. The nectar from the black mangrove blossom produces delectable golden-coloured honey; you can purchase some at the end of the tour from Victoria bee-keepers Carlotta and Colin deJesus.

natural world and our Guyanese culture, this 3-hour tour is the ticket.

As the tour winds back to the Visitor Centre, you can stop at Ingrid’s roadside stand for some local snacks and Guyana’s legendary fresh cane juice.

For large groups, the Buxton Pride Steel Orchestra can be engaged to play folk songs.

If you’re looking for a short intensive look at our

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Cost: Two person US$20 each; four persons US$15 each; 8 or more $10 each.

For bookings or information: Colin or Corletta deJesus 617-0131; 617-0219

PEOPLE OF GUYANA

A Guyanese Patriot

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Capt. Gerry Gouveia

aptain Gerry Gouveia is a pioneer, pilot, philanthropist, a hero and a family guy but most of all a Guyanese patriot. An entrepreneur who could be compared with the rag to riches fairy tales. In his case, his achievements are not through miracles, but rather through dedication, creativity, guts and unrelenting perseverance. The character of this Retired Army Major was fashioned in the cauldron of high ideals of transcending political independence and pursuing real nationbuilding. Much of his character was carved out by two institutions that symbolized the ideals of that period- first, the Guyana National Service becoming an education and martial arts instructor. His contemporary outlook as was then shaped by the military, which he says has been influenced by outstanding leadership qualities like that of the retired Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Major General Norman McLean. Captain Gouveia’s say “discipline and dedication are no less important in the pursuit of a business than they are in the pursuit of soldiering.”

a ground handling, airline catering service and aviation security agency at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Arrowpoint a nature resort in Guyana’s rainforest. Roraima Crew Lounge and the Roraima Executive Lounge also at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

Captain Gouveia looks the part of a successful businessman, though discourses of his own businesses are invariably expanded to embrace his own national interest through his role in the private sector generating more jobs, promoting nature based tourism, creating an enhanced environment for foreign investment and reuniting the country’s politicians to work together for the good of Guyana.

Captain Gouveia ‘s first goal in his career was to pursue studies in psychology however, he was Captain Gouveia and Family

His patriotism thrives in his dreams for Guyana validated by his own personal achievements both as one of Guyana’s best known jungle pilots and currently as owner and Chief Executive Officer of the Roraima Group of Companies, an integrated network of travel and tourism service entities that provide international airlines ticket bookings, a domestic passenger and cargo airline, hotels ,restaurants and bars, EXPLORE GUYANA

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offered a scholarship to study microbiology in Romania but this eventually fell through and he then received a Government scholarship to be trained as a pilot and as an aviation safety and security expert taking him to the Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, the National Defense University in Washington DC, the George Washington University in Virginia and the National Transport safety Board Academy in Washington.

While today Captain Gouveia is a successful and accomplished businessman he firmly believes that becoming an entrepreneur means developing a pattern and a formula for success with much perseverance. He recalls his struggle to the top despite many adversities along the way, on September 18th, 1994 narrowly escaping with his life when during a medivac

While a seemingly endless appetite for public life, Captain Gouveia has also been recently appointed a member of the Indigenous People’s Commission of Guyana and is the current Chairman of the Guyana Prisons Sentence Management Board. While currently serving as the Barbados’ Honorary Consul in Guyana allowing him to expand his entrepreneurial skills to find the time to promote Barbadian business interests in Guyana and vice versa.

Captain Gouveia the aircraft pilot

night flight his aircraft crashed through the forest canopy to the jungle floor below. Badly injured he waited for 15 hours that night to be rescued. The twisted wreckage of this aircraft lies rotting on a trail about three miles from his nature resort. Again another misfortune had befallen him when in 1996 a group of Colombians had hijacked one of his aircraft leaving his business quite vulnerable financially.

Listening to these challenges drew two fundamental questions for Captain Gouveia: what then was his greatest fear and how did he manage his fear. And the other when these challenging times face him what stops him from throwing in the towel and giving up his business. Impressed with his honesty but firm and confident response his biggest fear being the possibility that his company may encounter the worst case scenario according to his business plan; sensitivity analysis and not being able to recover from it financially.

Throwing in the towel and giving up he says is “never an option of an entrepreneur”. So like a true solider, instead of daunting his motivation for success, it made him stronger and more determined to attain his goals.

Captain Gouveia also contributed his success to his determined staff that is chosen based on attitude, in his own words “Attitude is just as important as education.” This dynamic entrepreneur is the most vocal advocate of the private sector in Guyana, he engages the political authorities in all issues affecting his country. He is the immediate past Chairman of the Private Sector Commission advocating and persuading the Diaspora in the business community to bring their investments to their home country. His passion and spirit has contributed to a thriving private sector and he was well supported by the Head of State – President Bharat Jagdeo and many other private sector activists. His role as a private sector leader has made him arguably the business

community’s leading spokesmen on a broad range of pressing and sometimes controversial issues such as tax reform, Bureauratic redtape, barriers to foreign investment, targeting of business premises by violent criminals and many others.

Overtime, he has held an array of leadership postions- Vice President of the Aircraft Owners Association, President of the Guyana Association of Travel Agents, President of the Caribbean Association of Travel Agents and five times President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana, two terms president of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, Director of Aviation Search and Rescue, Board member of the Central Housing and Planning Authority; Vice Chairman of the Guyana Tourism Authority, Vice Chairman of the Guyana Canoe Federation, Board member of the Guyana Investment Council and Governor on the school board of Home Economics. He also is a Commissioner on the Law and order Commission and a member of a high level committee on Crime and security chaired by the Minister of Home affairs.

Captain Gouveia receiving award

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When raising the issue of family Captain Gouveia expressed that his ambition and dreams of becoming an entrepreneur was not without sacrifices for his family and their desires. Captain Gouveia is married to Guyana’s first female commercial pilot to fly as a Captain in the jungles of Guyana and business partner who is the mother of his two sons, Gerry and Kevin who now reside in Canada. When asked about the expansion and future plans for his company he quickly responds that there is a succession plan where his sons are currently training as pilots and are students at York University in Toronto, Canada preparing them for the management of Roraima Airways.

Captain Gouveia has balanced his life as an entrepreneur and as a public figure through his passion for mountain biking and power boating in the rivers of Guyana. He is also the holder of a black belt in Karate and Judo. His advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is one that he has lived his own life by “living your life with a social conscience and committing your business to operate with a high level of corporate social responsibility. But more importantly do something that is your passion, be disciplined and live modestly in the early stages of your business development this will guarantee your continuous success as an entrepreneur.”

For his dedication and commitment to the development of his beloved country he was awarded the Arrow of Achievement (A.A) in 2011.

PEOPLE OF GUYANA

Karanambu’s

Diane McTurk Otter Delight

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Diane receiving the Medal of Service from then President Cheddi Jagan.

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iane McTurk, 5th generation Guyanese, is the visionary behind both the Karanambu Trust and the Karanambu Lodge. She was born at Karanambu soon after her pioneer father, Tiny McTurk, established a Balata station and cattle ranch there. Tiny was also a naturalist and Diane learned to appreciate the region’s extraordinary flora and fauna at an early age. After attending the Wychwood School in Oxford, England, she moved to London to work in the hospitality business for the Savoy Group.

In 1966, Diane returned to Guyana to celebrate the country’s independence. She subsequently became the Press Officer for the Guyana Sugar Producers Association. She moved back to England briefly and worked in corporate public relations before returning to her Rupununi roots in 1976. Like all cattle ranches in the area at the time, Karanambu had suffered from a series of misfortunes: epidemics of disease had decimated the herds, and there were difficulties protecting the cattle from rustlers. As a result, Diane looked for alternate way to make a living.

Karanambu had always been well known for its wildlife and spectacular fishing, and had always been a welcome rest stop for visitors and friends. So, in 1983, Diane formally opened her home to eco-tourists. This last year, 28 years later, Karanambu was named, ”One of the Top Five Destinations in all of South America” by Outside Magazine.

Diane has also always offered refuge to injured or orphaned wildlife. Sadly, the animal that appeared most often was one of the most endangered: the Giant River Otter. By necessity, Diane became a world expert on the care and rehabilitation of this species. She has raised over 50 orphaned otter cubs, returning most of them to the wild for a chance at freedom.

But her love and devotion to the wildlife is not limited to the Giant River Otters. She has cared for Giant Anteaters, Tapir, Capybara and even a very dangerous Jabiru Stork, whose beak is a serious weapon.

Karanambu Ranch

In 1996, Diane received the Medal of Service from the then President Cheddi Jagan.

In 1997, Diane with the support of her family, established the Karanambu Trust as a private charity devoted to preserving the 125 square miles of wetlands which is Karanambu. Word of Diane’s legendary hospitality and Karanambu’s biodiversity, especially for birdwatchers has drawn a constant stream of guests. A boat trip out on the river and into one of the many surrounding ponds and lakes in the cool of the afternoon is something that few forget. And do not forget Diane’s notorious Rum Punch!

Diane McTurk - A pioneer in wildlife care - A pioneer in tourism - A pioneer in conservation.

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Diane and her Otter

PEOPLE OF GUYANA

Rohan Kanhai A Legendary Guyanese and West Indian Batsman

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or many Guyanese who followed his career from the mid-1950s to the mid1970s, he was the closest thing we had to a non-political national hero. For cricket enthusiasts the world over, he was one of the most thrilling, inventive and accomplished batsmen of his generation. Sunil Gavaskar, India’s original Little Master before the phenomenon also known as Sachin Tendulkar, named his son, Rohan, in honour of “the greatest batsman” he had ever seen. Thirty-five years since his retirement from international cricket, he is still regarded by those who had the privilege and joy of seeing him bat as one of the all-time greats.

Rohan Bholalall Kanhai – for a long time he was mistakenly and mysteriously called Baboolall,

or more popularly ‘de Baboo’ – recently turned 75. He is a contender for the imaginary title of Guyana’s Greatest Cricketer. But this is not another fantasy exercise to try to anoint any one of these living heroes as such. Rather, it is a tribute to a special man, who through a happy coincidence of genius, temperament and circumstance, helped to entrench Guyana on the cricketing map and served notice of an emerging nation brimming with talent and selfconfidence.

The record will show that Rohan Kanhai first played for West Indies against England at Edgbaston in May 1957. He opened the batting and kept wicket, scoring 42 and 1 and taking one catch. In truth, he did not do much to distinguish himself in his maiden series. But this

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was just the calm before the storm and, in the words of CLR James, the greatest of all writers on West Indies cricket, “the future batsman was there to be discerned.”

Rohan Kanhai did not score a century until his 13th Test against India, one-and-a-half years later, when he hit his highest Test score of 256 at Calcutta. Fourteen more centuries were to follow and by the time he played his 79th and last Test in 1974, he had scored 6,227 runs at an average of 47.53. But mere statistics do not tell the story of Rohan Kanhai.

Discovered and nurtured by the legendary Clyde Walcott, after he had been recruited to develop cricket on the sugar estates, at a time of colonial disgruntlement and political

“I speak of Rohan Kanhai, of course, whom of all the sportsmen in all the many sports I have watched in my life I judge to have possessed the most compelling genius of them all.

“When Kanhai came out to bat there was that sudden, expectant, almost fearful, silence that tells you that you are in the presence of some extraordinary phenomenon. Of course you could look forward to his technical brilliance.

Was there ever a more perfect square cover drive? And has anyone in the history of the game made a thing of such great technical beauty out of a simple forward defensive stroke? ferment, Rohan Kanhai was very much a man of his times, who managed to transcend his humble origins and the history of Guyana, to become one of the most universally admired and best loved of West Indian batsmen.

Indeed, for CLR James, Rohan Kanhai was not only one of the most remarkable and individual of contemporary batsmen, but also represented in his batting, “a unique pointer of the West Indian quest for identity, for ways of expressing our potential bursting at every seam.” James, that most astute of social historians, was, quite simply, fascinated by Rohan Kanhai, and his seminal essay “Kanhai, A Study in Confidence” should be compulsory reading for all serious students of West Indian nationhood and the West Indian psyche and all aspiring batsmen.

In trying to capture “the deep and indeed awed respect” of Learie Constantine – another cricket legend and authentic West Indian hero – for Rohan Kanhai and what he meant by saying that Kanhai had a tendency to go “crazy” at times,

this is how James relates the conversation: “Some batsmen play brilliantly sometimes and at ordinary times they go ahead as usual. That one,” nodding at Kanhai, “is different from all of them. On certain days, before he goes into the wicket he makes up his mind to let them have it. And once he is that way nothing on earth can stop him. Some of his colleagues in the pavilion who have played with him for years see strokes that they have never seen before; from him or anybody else. He carries on that way for 60 or 70 or 100 runs and then he comes back with a great innings behind him.”

Many will recall Ian McDonald’s story of love at first sight, of his being so enraptured by Rohan Kanhai’s batting – his timing, his elegance, his artistry – that he felt compelled to write immediately to his father to tell of this new prodigy from the cane fields of British Guiana.

Even now, more than five decades later, he still waxes lyrical about the man who he maintains has to be included in “any list of the greatest West Indian batsmen”:

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“And, more than just technical accomplishment, there was the craft and art of Kanhai’s batting – no mighty hammer blows or crude destruction of a bowler, simply the sweetest exercise of the art of batting in the world.”

And our Sunday scribe harks back to James and Constantine when he writes: “You could feel it charge the air around him as he walked to the wicket. I do not know quite how to describe it. It was something that kept the heart beating hard with a special sort of excited fear all through a Kanhai innings as if something marvellous or terrible or even sacred was about to happen. I have thought a lot about it. I think it is something to do with the vulnerability, the near madness, there is in all real genius.”

There really is nothing more to add except to wish this Guyanese icon many happy years ahead. Bat on, Maestro, bat on…(Reprinted from STABROEK NEWS)

Easter & Kites In Guyana

By Godfrey Chin

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rving Berlin’s Easter Parade conjures up one of the many glorious annual holidays celebrated in Guyana, in which kite flying is the major attraction. Steeped in rich religious folklore and cultural traditions from the ‘melting pot of our six races’, the Easter Holidays sandwiched between four non-working days Good Friday to Easter Monday with Easter kite flying is a kaleidoscope of epicurean fun and frolic, to match anywhere in the world.

Good Friday, yesteryear was a ‘taboo’ day where the religious inclined, must attend High Mass in their Sunday ‘Best’ – give more generously to their church’s collection plate, and the Family’s ‘Thanksgiving’ meal, on that day, must be no

meat whatever. A loud Metagee or Coocoo with fish was the favourite dish, chased with a local brew of Ginger Beer, Mauby, Swank or Fly . The old folks would prohibit any members of their household from venturing outside the home with concocted tales designed to ignite the latent superstition in us, with conjured up vicious attacks of ‘jumbees, ol Higue, and massacuraman. My mom annually preached about the group of seven brothers and friends, who went fishing on Good Friday and never returned home. I am yet in my painstaking research of Guyana’s history to find any evidence of her Mark Twain ‘tall story’.

Guyana celebrates Easter without the trappings

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of Easter Bunny Rabbits or Egg Hunts but the long weekend outdoor fun bringing folks of different class, race or creed together fulfilling magnanimously the ‘purpose of the sacrifice on the cross’.

Good Friday was a good day for ‘show-off’ fathers to make kites for the entire household, but this ceremony is no longer necessary as kites are readily available from roadside vendors.

Imported plastic ‘do it yourself’ assembly kites is a ‘cop out’ – permitting the households head, a well deserved lazy day for dominoes, surfing the internet, plus a ‘surreptitious drink’ under the table.

Yesteryear the rigmarole of making kites for the family was an Easter rite of challenges – collecting glamma cherry for adhesive – light box wood for kite frames – Barbados, tissue, and brown shop paper to cover intricate paper patterns. With the kite completed, additional challenges included the preparation of the ‘bolla’ string, enough kite tail with ‘bedding scraps to keep the kites from pitching, and the loop to control your aerial display. Even preparations of pastry and goodies, etc for that Easter Monday kite flying family picnic are now ‘dodo chores’ as ‘carry out quik-serv pizza and chicken take away in boxes, are the norm eliminating kitchen wares to be washed. The downside is ‘nuff nuff plastic’ throwaways for disposal.

In the modern today – Good Friday is a good day for travel overland to the profuse holiday excitement at our resort attractions. In Lethem, the Rupununi Rodeo is a festival of bronco busting – horse racing – steer roping – catching the greasy pig – wild cow milking - all delightful fun for participants and spectators’.

Other activities include climbing and hiking to Kumu and Moco Moco Falls – trekking to the foothills of the Kanuku Mountains, and visits across the Brazilian border to Bon Fim. At Bartica, the Regatta features a variety of water sports and competitions including power boat racing, jet skiing, canoe racing, climbing the greasy pole plus beach parties, a beauty

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pageant and street parade. The Splashmin’s Water Parks and Lake Mainstay are holiday delights as is the 6 mile No 63 Beach on the Corentyne coast. Nature lovers, bird watchers, outdoor adventurers enjoy breathtaking visits to Kaieteur Falls and Iwokrama that satisfies any pioneer spirit.

The Inner Wheel Club, comprising wives and widows of Rotarians will stage their 27th Annual Easter Hat Show in the Promenade Gardens for Easter 2012.

Easter Saturday which was previously a public holiday is ideal for shopping and sightseeing tours around the city visiting Stabroek Market,

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St George’s Cathedral, the City Hall, the Botanic and Promenade Gardens.

The annual Easter kite flying tradition in Guyana is a rite as fulfilling as our ‘pepperpot, black cake and garlic pork at Christmas or the ‘abeer’ water at Pagwah.

Kite flying for each individual encompasses a full lifetime – from your first ‘kankawa’ kite at four – your challenging singing engine at youthful seventeen – your responsibilities as parents and finally your retirement languish in the sunset years as grandparents.

The kites we chose to fly in our lifetime reflect our individual character and creativity as evinced in the wide variety available from singing engines, stars and box kites, etc.

When we fly kites we perpetrate and carry on century old traditions of foreign dynasties such as China, India and Japan, etc.

We conquer nature’s aerodynamics by controlling a heavier than air object with a string tether, and match space age conquests of today’s astronauts.

We enjoy family picnics in the glorious outdoor where class, race, creed and religion take the backstage.

And of course we pay homage to a ‘risen’ Christ on the third day, in reverence and worship of the supreme being who paid the ultimate price for mankind.

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A Taste of Home

Eating at Easter

By Cynthia Nelson

W

hen I think of Easter and food three things come to mind – fish, vegetarian food and fasting. In fact, I rarely focus on the feast at Easter, my mind tends to zero in on the period leading up to Easter.

As with most households, the person that cooks rules the kitchen and dictates what the rest of us must eat; not what we want to eat but what they want to eat and what they think we must be eating. That is how it was in my home when growing up.

My mother believed that during Lent – the period of time observed by Christians leading up to Easter – food should be controlled. Her choices and decisions indicated, at least to me, that eating meat was an indulgence to be controlled. Thus we ate hardly any meat or poultry during Lent. Four days a week we ate fish, twice a week we ate vegetarian food and on Fridays we fasted. Of course, there are so many varieties of fish in Guyana, eating fish was not necessarily a deprivation. Nevertheless, it felt like it was. Strange how that works.

Perhaps my mom felt like it was a deprivation too, because the lunch table at the Easter feast was replete with delicious meat dishes. There was ham, baked chicken, roast pork, mutton curry, duck curry and that was just on the meat side. Pies, savoury and sweet, at least two rice dishes, salads, I tell you, de lady went all out!

So here is one of my favourite Lenten dishes together with tips on preparing one of my favourite Easter dishes.

At Lent I always enjoyed the Butterfish in Butter Sauce. Sop this up with some crusty bread or eat it like we did with boiled and sliced ground provision.

Roast pork is always an Easter crowd pleaser and you don’t have to over-dress it in order for it to shine. Salt and pepper is all one needs with a great cut of meat cooked the way you like it. Here, I used a packet of regular all-purpose seasoning. Enjoy!

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Butterfish in Butter Sauce Yield: Serves 2

2.

Add the thyme, hot pepper and season with salt. Continue to sauté for 1 minute. Meanwhile, season fish with salt and pepper and set aside.

3.

Pour water into pan with sautéed onions, stir and bring to a boil. As soon as the pan comes to a boil, add the fish.

4.

Turn the heat to high and let cook for 15 – 17 minutes spooning the sauce intermittently over the fish, basting it. (If using fish fillets, the cooking time will be reduced by half).

5.

Add the remaining tablespoon of butter to the pan, reduce the heat to low and let the butter melt completely; baste the fish again with the sauce. Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary.

6.

Toss in green onions, remove pan from heat and serve as you please.

INGREDIENTS 1 tablespoon canola or vegetable oil 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided 1 cup thinly sliced onions 3 sprigs fresh thyme 1 clove garlic, crushed Thinly sliced hot pepper, to taste Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste 2 whole butterfish, scaled, washed and pat dry. Cut into halves 2 cups room temperature water 1 green onion, thinly sliced (white and green parts)

DIRECTIONS 1.

Add the oil and 1 tablespoon butter to a large pan and place on medium heat. When the butter is melted and the froth subsides, add the onions and sauté until translucent.

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Recipes provided by Cynthia Nelson. For more Guyana Recipes by Cynthia Nelson Visit: www.tasteslikehome.org

Yield: 12 – 14 Ingredients For dough:

Cross Buns

1 tablespoon active dry yeast (or instant) ½ cup granulated sugar 1 + ½ cups warm whole milk (110 – 115 degrees F) 4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon ground cloves ¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt (1/4 teaspoon table salt) 1/3 cup currants For glaze: 3 tablespoons granulated sugar 2 tablespoons water ½ cup icing sugar ¼ cup whole milk Directions 1. Add sugar to bowl along with milk and stir to dissolve sugar. Toss in yeast and give a little stir (be sure to wipe off any yeast stuck on the spoon), cover and leave to proof for 10 minutes in a warm place.

2. Add flour to bowl along with ground cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and salt and stir to mix thoroughly; toss in raisins and stir to mix.

3. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour in the

yeast-milk mixture and mix to form dough. Once formed, knead the dough for 2 minutes, place in oiled bowl, cover and put in a warm place to rise for 1 ½ hours or until more than doubled in size.

4. Punch down risen dough and knead for 2 minutes and then cut dough into 12 - 14 equal pieces. Form each piece of dough into a ball and place in oiled baking dish. Cover and let rise for 1 hour.

5. Preheat oven to 375° F with the rack in the middle 20 minutes before the 1 hour of rising is complete.

6. Add the 3 tablespoons sugar and 2 tablespoons water to small bowl and stir to dissolve sugar.

7. Brush risen dough with sugar water and transfer dish to the oven.

Bake for 12 minutes; brush with sugar water and bake for another 12 minutes. Brush again with sugar water and bake for 3 minutes 8. Remove dish from oven, place on wire rack and brush a few times with sugar water and leave to cool in the dish for 10 – 12 minutes 9. Use your spatula to pry the buns from the pan and transfer to wire rack then place the wire rack on to a baking sheet/tray and let continue to cool to room temperature.

10. Meanwhile, add icing sugar and milk to a bowl and whisk to dissolve. Using a tablespoon drizzle the glaze all over the buns – on the top, and letting it spill over to the sides. Let buns continue to cool until you are ready to serve them.

NOTES Instead of glazing the buns, you can opt to make the icing cross by mixing the icing sugar with 1 tablespoon of milk and then drizzle the mixture across and lengthways of the buns

About Guyana Country Facts EMERGENCY NUMBERS

longs are recommended for the evening along with mosquito repellent to safeguard against mosquito bites.

Police: 911, 564 Police: Emergency Response Unit: 225-6411 Fire: 912 Ambulance: 913

HEALTH There is a risk of malaria in certain parts of the interior. Consult your doctor for the required precautions if you intend to travel there.

Georgetown and coastal areas are Malaria-Free. Georgetown has one public and several private hospitals, these include:

TIME ZONE GMT - 04:00

1.

Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (592) 227 8210-2, 227 8204-7, 227 8241-7

2.

St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital Parade Street, Kingston (592) 227 2072-5

3.

Georgetown Medical Centre Inc., Prashad Hospital Thomas Street (592) 226 7214-9

4.

Davis Memorial Hospital, D’Urban Backlands (592) 227 2041-3

5.

Dr. Balwant Singh’s Hospital, East Street South Cummingsburg (592) 226-5783 226-4279 227-1087 227- 0539

6.

Medical Arts Centre Thomas Street (592) 225-7402

7.

Diamond Diagnostic Centre Diamond Public Road(592) 265-4681-5

LOCATION Guyana is located North East of South America and only English speaking country. Between 1o & 9o North Latitude and 57o & 61o West Longitude, bordering Venezuela to the West, Brazil to the South, Suriname to the East.

GEOGRAPHY Guyana is the third-smallest country in South America after Suriname and Uruguay; it has four distinct geographical areas: the Low Coastal Plain; the Hilly Sand and Clay Belt; the High Land Region and the Interior Savannahs. The area is 214,970 sq.km.

Approximately 75% of the land area is still intact forest, and 2.5% is cultivated. The coastline is 1 metre to 1.5 metres below sea level at high tide necessitating elaborate systems of drainage canal.

8.

Bartica Hospital (592) 455 2339, 455 2846

The most valuable mineral deposits are bauxite, gold, and diamonds.

The main rivers are the Demerara, Berbice, Corentyne and Essequibo.

9.

Fort Wellington Hospital West Coast, Berbice (592) 232 0304

CLIMATE

10. Lethem Hospital (592) 772 2206, 772 2006

Guyana is a tropical destination that is pleasant and warm for most of the year, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to mid August, November to January). Mean temperature of 27 ° C and the average temperature range from 24 ° C to 31 ° C. Rainfall is approximately 2,300mm a year in Georgetown.

11. Linden Hospital Complex (592) 444 6127

CLOTHING Lightweight, causal clothing can be worn throughout the year. However

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12. New Amsterdam Hospital - Tel: (592) 333-2381, 333-2591 Municipal Hospitals and Health Care Centres exist within rural and outer lying communities with medivac services available in cases of emergency.

Further information can be obtained from the Ministry of Health on Telephone Numbers: (592) 226 7338 or (592) 226 1366.

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INTERNET For most customers, internet service is available nationally through independent providers. Service is also available in most hotels and at many internet cafés which have been established across the country.

Some hotels and restaurants provide WI-FI at no charge to patrons using their laptops. The major Internet Service Providers in Guyana are: • Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Co. (www.gtt.co.gy) • Guyana .net (www.guyana.net.gy) • Inter Net Works (www.networksgy.com) • E-Networks (www.ewirelessgy.com) • Atlantic Wireless Networks (www.awngy.com) • Nexlink Communications (www.nexlinkonline.com) The informative home pages of these service providers have useful links to other sites. The sustainable development programme site, www.sdnp.org.gy. has links to several NGOs, conservation groups, and international organizations as well.

MEDIA There are four daily papers: • Stabroek News - www.stabroeknews.com • Guyana Chronicle – www.guyanachronicle.com • Kaieteur News – www.kaieteurnews.com • Guyana Times Newspaper - http://65.175.77.34/guyanatimes/ epapermain.aspx There are over 20 TV stations and one government operated radio station

PLACES TO WORSHIP The predominant religious groups are Christians, Hindus and Muslims.

Each is well represented with its own churches, temples, mosques.

They are found across the country where the major landmarks featuring traditional architecture may be seen.

POPULATION LANGUAGE The official language is English, often spoken with a Caribbean Creole flavour. Guyana is also the only English speaking country in South America.

Guyana’s population is approximately 751,223 (Census 2002) of whom 90% live along the coastal strip and banks of major rivers.

About Guyana GOVERNMENT Guyana became independent from Britain in 1966 and a “Cooperative Republic in 1970, when a non executive President replaced the Governor-General. A new constitution in 1980 gave the President wide executive powers. The Cabinet is headed by the President, and there is a 65-member National Assembly elected by proportional representation.

CANADA, OTTAWA High Commission of Guyana H.E Harry Narine Nawbatt High Commissioner 151 Slater St., Suite 305, Ottawa, K1P 5H3, Canada Tel: 613 - 235 – 7240, 235 -7249 Fax: 613 -235 -1447 E-mail: guyanahcott@rogers.com

INDIA High Commission of the Republic of Guyana H. E. Jairam Ronald Gajraj High Commissioner F-8/22 Vasant Vihar, New Delhi - 110057 , India Tel: 91 11 4166 9717-8 Fax: 91 11 4166 9714 E-mail: hcommguy.del@gmail.com

Guyana’s Missions Overseas BELGIUM Embassy of the Republic of Guyana H.E Dr. Patrick Ignatius Gomes Ambassador 12 Avenue du Bresil,1000 Brussels, Belgium Tel: 322 - 675 - 6216 Fax: 322 - 672 - 5598 E-mail: embassy9.guyana@skynet.be

CANADA, TORONTO Consulate General of the Republic of Guyana Mrs. Satyawattie Sawh Acting Honorary Consul General 505 Consumers Road, Suite 206 Willowdale, Ontario M2J 4V8, Canada Tel: 416- 494-6040, 494-6059, 494-2679 , Fax: 416 - 494-1530 E-mail: info@guyanaconsulate.com

KUWAIT Embassy of the Republic of Guyana H. E. Dr. Odeen Ishmael, C.C.H. Ambassador Costa del Sul, Al-Shaeb Al-Bahre Al-Khaleg Al-Arabe, 4141, Hawalle 32072, Kuwait Tel: 001 965 183 0083

BRAZIL Embassy of the Republic of Guyana H. E. Kellawan Lall Ambassador SHIS Q I05 Conjunto 19 Cassa 24 Lago Sul CEP 71615 – 190, Brasilia DF, Brazil Tel: 55-61-3248–0874, 3248–0875 Fax: 55-61-3248–0886 E-mail: embguyana@embguyana.org.br

CHINA Embassy of the Republic of Guyana H.E. Professor David Dabydeen Ambassador No. 1 Xiu Shui Dong Jie, Jian Guo Men Wai, Beijing, China Tel: 8610 - 6532 - 1601 Fax: 8610 - 6532 - 5741 E-mail: guyemb@public3.bta.net.cn

LONDON, U.K. High Commission of the Republic of Guyana H. E. Laleshwar K. N. Singh, C.C.H. High Commissioner 3 Palace Court, Bayswater Road, London, W2 4LP, England Tel: 44 - 207 - 229 – 7684 /792-1178 Fax: 44 - 207 - 727 - 9809 E-mail: ghc.1@ic24.net / laleshwarsingh@hotmail.com Website: www.guyanahc.com

Consulate of Guyana in Boa Vista Brazil Mrs. Daphne Leila Jackson-King Consul General Rua Coronel Mota 629 Centro CEP 69.301-120 Roraima, Brazil Tel: 001-55-95-3224-6105 (Office) Email:daphne5525@hotmail.com

CUBA Embassy of the Republic of Guyana H. E. Mitradevi Ali Ambassador Calle 18, No. 506 Entre 5ta y 7ma , Miramar , Havana Cuba .

Tel: 537 - 204 - 2094 Fax: 537 - 204 - 2867 E-mail: embguyana@enet.cu

SURINAME Embassy of the Republic of Guyana H.E. Merlin Udho Ambassador Henckarron Straat No. 82 P.O Box 785, Paramaribo ,Suriname Tel: 597 - 477 – 895, 472 - 509 Fax: 597- 472 - 679 E-mail: guyembassy@sr.net

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NICKERIE, SURINAME Consulate General for the Republic of Guyana Mr. Arlington Bancroft - Consul General Gouverneur Straat & West Kanaal Straat #10 Nickerie, Suriname Tel: 597-211-019 Fax: 597-212-080 E-mail: guyconsulnick@sr.net UNITED NATIONS PERMANENT MISSION OF GUYANA Mr. George Talbot Charge d’ Affaires a.i.

801 Second Avenue, Suite 501 (Fifth Floor), New York, New York 10017, USA Tel: 212 – 573 – 5828-9 Fax: 212 -573 - 6225 E-mail: guyana@un.int USA, NEW YORK Consulate General for the Republic of Guyana Mr. Brentnold Evans - Consul General 370 7th Avenue, Room 402, New York, New York 10001, USA Tel: 212 - 947 – 5115-6, 947 – 5110-9 Fax: 212 - 947 - 5163 E-mail: guyanaconsulate@hotmail.com USA, WASHINGTON Embassy of the Republic of Guyana H.E. Bayney Karran Ambassador 2490 Tracy Place, N. W. Washington, D.C. 20008, USA Tel: 202 - 265 - 3834, 265 – 6900 Fax: 202 - 232 -1297 E-mail: guyanaembassydc@verizon.net VENEZUELA Embassy of the Republic of Guyana H.E. Geoffrey Da Silva Ambassador Quinta Roraima Avenida El Paseo, Prados del Este Caracas, Venezuela Tel: 58 - 212 - 977 – 1158, 975 - 3687 Fax: 212 - 976 – 3765 E-mail: embaguy@cantv.net

LIST OF GUYANA’S HONORARY CONSULS ABROAD ANTIGUA & BARBUDA Honorary Consulate of Guyana Mr. Robert Edwin Reis Honorary Consul First Avenue, Lower Gambles P.O. Box 1159, St. John’s Antigua W.I. Tel: 268 562-5314 /5 Fax: 268 562 5316 Mobile: 268 727 1368 Email: rreislpkanu@candw.ag BELIZE Honorary Consulate of Guyana Mr. Lutchman Sooknandan Honorary Consul 3 Barrack Road, Belize City, Belize Tel: 501 223 2469 (Office), Fax: 501 223 5164 (Office) Email: lsooknan@btl.net BOTSWANA Honorary Consulate of Guyana Mr. Terrence H. Pariaug - Honorary Consul Plot 5679 Broadhurst Industrial Estates P.O. Box 1478, Gaborone, Botswana Tel: 267 391 2655 Fax: 267 390 2916 Email: tpariaug@yahoo.com BRAZIL Consulate of Guyana in Rio de Janeiro Mr. Paulo Gomes Dos Santos Honorary Consul Rua Lauro Muller 116 Group 2604, Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro 22290-160, Brazil Tel: 001-55-21-2542-9595 Email: Cel_paulo@hotmail.com CYPRUS Honorary Consulate of Guyana Mr. Athos Stylianou - Honorary Consul Limassol Avenue No. 2 Office No. 39, Laxia 2220, Nicosia, Cyprus Tel: 357 224 6800 (Office) Fax: 357 242 5375 (Office) Email: g.e.consult@cytanet.com.cy DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Honorary Consulate of Guyana Mr. Dario Lama - Honorary Consul J.F. Kennedy Avenue, Bonanza Building Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Tel: 809 565 5531 ext. 213, 809 567 5023 (Office), 809 399 7161 Fax: 809 566 1087 / 567 7159 Email: dario.lama@codetel.net.do

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GREECE Honorary Consulate of Guyana Mr. Nabil E. Bahu - Honorary Consul Erithrou Stavrou 3 & Makka, 1 Ambelokipi, GR-11526, 4th Floor, Athens, Greece, P.O. Box 16037 Athens - GR 11503, Greece Tel: 210 958 5064-65 (Office) Fax: 210 951 7355 Email: nadahallak@hotmail.com GRENADA Honorary Consulate of Guyana Mr. Deodat Singh - Honorary Consul P.O.Box 252, Mt. Parnassus, St. George’s, Grenada Tel: 473 440 2031 / 535 1589 Fax: 473 440 4129 E-mail: deosingh@caribsurf.com JAMAICA Honorary Consulate of Guyana Ms. Indera Persaud - Honorary Consul 7th Floor, 30-36 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5, Jamaica Tel: 876 960 3996 (Office) Fax: 876 929 4028 E mail: inderasawh@yahoo.com JORDAN Honorary Consulate of Guyana Mr. Rudain Tawfiq Kawar - Honorary Consul 24 Sharif Abdul Hamid Sharaf St. Shmeisani – Amman, P.O. Box 222 – Amman 11118, Jordan Tel: 962 6 560 9500 / 568 8424 / 589 9511 Fax: 962 6 560 4664 E mail: rudain@kawar.com.jo / rual@kawar.com.jo LEBANON Honorary Consulate of Guyana Mr. George Matta - Honorary Consul Selim Bustros Street, 1st Floor, Khoury & Merheb Building , Achrafieh, Beirut, Lebanon Tel: 961 1 202 220, 1 200 689, 3 444 300 Fax: 961 1 336 711 Email: gmatta@dm.net.lb MIAMI, USA Honorary Consulate of Guyana Mr. Ramzan Roshanah Ali - Honorary Consul 795 NW 72 nd St, Miami, Florida 33150 Tel: 786 235 0431 Fax: 305 693 9313 E-mail: guyanaconsulate@aol.com or Furniturkingdom@aol.com

MOSCOW, RUSSIA Honorary Consulate of Guyana Mr. Oleg Viktorovich Krivonogov Honorary Consul 13/1 Nikoloyamskaya Str, Moscow 109240, Russia Tel: 001 7 495 728 4910 Fax: 001 7 495 728 4912 E-mail: oksanans@rusal.ru PERU Honorary Consulate of Guyana Mr. Jorge A. Alarcon Revilla Honorary Consul Av. Jose Pardo 231 Piso 4 Miraflores, Lima 18, Peru Tel: 511 447 6688 , 511 9999 3331 Fax: 511 445 5339 Email: esalarcon@terra.com.per or esalarcon2@hotmail.com

TEXAS, USA Honorary Consulate of Guyana Ms. Terry Reis - Honorary Consul 1810 Woodland Park Drive Houston Texas 77077 Tel: 281 497 4466 Fax: 281 497 4476 Email: Treis70374@aol.com

CUBA H.E. Raul Gortázar Marrero Ambassador Embassy of the Republic of Cuba 40 High Street, Kingston, Georgetown Tel: 592 225 1883, 226-8842 Fax: 592-226-1824 Email: embguyana@networksgy.com

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO Honorary Consulate of Guyana Mr. Ernie Ross - Honorary Consul 16 Grey Street, St. Clair, Port-of-Spain Tel: 868 622 2913, 868 628 2616 Fax No: 868 622 1779 E-mail: ernieross1@msn.com

INDIA H.E. Subit Kumar Mandal High Commissioner Indian High Commission 307 Church Street, Georgetown Tel: 592 226 3996; 226 8965; 226 3240 Fax: 592 225 7012 Email: hoc.georgetown@mea.gov.in

AMBASSADORS & HIGH COMMISSIONS REPRESENTED IN GUYANA

SOUTH AFRICA Mr. Kojo Parris - Honorary Consul No. 15, 7th Avenue, Houghton Johannesburg, South Africa Tel: 27 771 4000, 27 83 278 5456 Fax: 27 86 660 4716 Email: kojo@theirazugroup.com www.socialprivateentrepreneur.com

SURINAME H. E. Manorma Soeknandan Ambassador Embassy of the Republic of Suriname and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps 171 Peter Rose & Crown Streets Queenstown, Georgetown Tel: 592 226 7844; 225 2631; 225 2846 Fax: 592 225 0759 Email: surnmemb@gol.net.gy

SOUTH KOREA Consulate of Guyana Dr. Wan Hee Kim - Honorary Consul Trico International Ltd. Rm. 201, Hyunjin Building 226-29, Yunnam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 121-865 Republic of Korea Tel: 82-2-784-7202 Fax: 82-2-784-9073 Email: whkim@tricoint.co.kr Website: www.tricoint.co.kr

BRAZIL H.E. Luiz Gilberto Seixas de Andrade Ambassador Embassy of the Federative Republic of Brazil 308 Church Street, Georgetown Tel: 592 225 7970; 226 9693 Fax: 592 226 9063 Email: bragetown@solution.2000.net guibrem@solutions2000.net

ST. KITTS & NEVIS Mr. Stanford Conway New Pond’s Site, Basseterre, St. Kitts Tel: 869 665 9591 Email: stanford_conway2001@yahoo.com stanford@sknvibes.com ST. LUCIA Honorary Consulate of Guyana Mr. Lokesh Singh - Honorary Consul P.O. Box 2003, Gros Islet, St. Lucia Tel: 758 453 1149 Fax: 758 453 1290 Email: lokesh@amsstlucia.com

MEXICO H.E. Fernando Sandoval Flores Ambassador Embassy of United Mexican States 44 Brickdam, Georgetown Tel: 592 226-3987-90 Fax: 592 226-3722 Email: mexicoembassy@gmail.com RUSSIA H.E. Pavel A Sergiev - Ambassador Embassy of the Russian Federation Public Road, Kitty, Georgetown Tel: 592 227 1738: 226 9773 Fax: 592 227 2975 Email: reing@networks.gy.com UNITED KINGDOM (U.K) H.E. Andrew Ayre - High Commissioner British High Commission 44 Main Street, Georgetown Tel: 592 226 5881-4 Fax: 592 225 3555 Email: bhcgeo@networks.gy.com

CANADA H.E. David Devine High Commissioner Canadian High Commission High & Young Street, Kingston, Georgetown Tel: 592 227 2081-2 Fax: 592 225 8380 Email: grgtn@international.gc.ca

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA H.E. D. Brent Hardt - Ambassador Embassy of the United States of America Young & Duke Sts, Kingston, Georgetown Tel: 592 226 3938; 225 7960; 225 4900 Fax: 592 2270240; 592 225 8497 Email: usembassy@hotmail.com

CHINA H.E. Yu Wenzhe Ambassador Embassy of the People’s Republic of China Track ‘B’, Mandela Avenue, Georgetown Tel: 592 227 1651; 227 1652 Fax: 592 225 9228; 226 4308 Email: prcemb@networks.gy.com or chinaguyana@yahoo.com

VENEZUELA H.E. Dario Morandy Ambassador Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela 296 Thomas Street, Georgetown Tel: 592 226 1543; 226 6749; 226 9041 Fax: 592 225 3241 Email: embveguy@gol.net.gy

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LIST OF HONORARY CONSULS FOR FOREIGN COUNTRIES RESIDENT IN GUYANA AUSTRIA Mr. Berend Ter Welle - Honorary Consul 106 Laluni & New Garden Sts, Queenstown, P.O.Box 10903, Georgetown Tel: 592 225-5882 E-mail: ben@solutions2000.net BARBADOS Honorary Consulate of Barbados Capt. Gerald Gouveia - Honorary Consul R8 Eping Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown Tel: 592 227-7311 Fax: 592 225-9646 E-mail: ggouveia7@hotmail.com BELGIUM Honorary Consulate of Belgium Mr. Keith Evelyn - Honorary Consul c/o Hand-in-Hand 1-4 Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown Tel: 592 226 – 8115, 227 - 2302 Fax: 592 225 - 1865 CHILE Honorary Consulate of Chile Mr. Yesu Persaud, CCH - Honorary Consul C/o Demerara Distillers Limited 44 B High Street, Kingston, Georgetown Tel: 592 226-1315 Fax: 592 225-8686 E-mail: ypersuad@Demrum.com CZECH REPUBLIC Honorary Consulate of the Czech Republic Mr. Lex Barker - Honorary Consul BB1 Nelson Mandela Ave., N.E. La Penitence, Georgetown Tel: 592 226-5422 Fax: 592 225-6028 E-mail: lexnbarker@aol.com DENMARK Honorary Consulate of Denmark Mr. Robin M.S. Stoby, S.C. - Honorary Consul c/o Hughes, Fields and Stoby Chambers 62 Hadfield & Cross Streets, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown Tel: 592 225-8914 , 226-4978 Fax: 592 225-7996 E-mail: hsslaw@guyanalaw.net JAPAN Honorary Consulate General of Japan Mr. Hans Barrow, M.S. Honorary Consul General Insurance Brokers Guyana Limited 125 Carmichael Street, Georgetown Tel: 592 226-7261 /2, 227-0960 Fax: 592 225-3187 E-mail: insbrok@guyana.net.gy

MALAYSIA Honorary Consulate of Malaysia Mr. Vickram Oditt, A.A. - Honorary Consul 32-33 Jacananda Avenue, Bel Air Park Greater Georgetown Tel: 592 226-3416 Fax: 592 227-8711 E-mail: vickram@ewirelessgy.com THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS Honorary Consulate of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Dr. Peter De Groot - Honorary Consul c/o Fairfield Rice Inc. 24 Water Street, Georgetown Tel: 592 225-9311 -4 Fax: 592 227-1032 E-mail: drdegroot@jf-ltd.com THE FRENCH REPUBLIC ( FRANCE ) Honorary Consulate of France Mr. Pierre Saint Arroman Honorary Consul General Lot 7 2nd Avenue & Sheriff Street Subryanville, Georgetown Tel: 592 227-5435 , 226-2828 Fax: 592 226-9883 E-mail: consulfr@networksgy.com or pierre@Ipconnexions.net FINLAND & ITALY Honorary Consulate of Finland & Italy Mr. Richard Fields, S.C. - Honorary Consul C/o Hughes, Fields and Stoby Chambers 62 Hadfield & Cross Streets Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown Tel: 592 226-4978 , 225-8914 Fax: 592 225-7996 E-mail: rfields@guyana.net.gy GERMANY Mr. Christopher Fernandes Honorary Consul c/o John Fernandes Limited 24 Water Street, Georgetown Tel: 592 226-3241-2 Fax: 592 227-0725 INDONESIA Mr. Sheik Shakur Niamatali Honorary Consul 99 Laluni Street, Queenstown, Georgetown Tel: 592 226-8556, 225-7507, 227-0381 Fax: 592 225-7348 E-mail: variety.eborabo@networksgy.com IRELAND Honorary Consulate of Ireland Dr. Deen Sharma - Honorary Consul 10 Bel Air Springs, Georgetown Tel/Fax: 592 226-9339 E-mail: deensh@guyana.net.gy EXPLORE GUYANA

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JAMAICA Mr. Eton Chester Honorary Consul C/o Citizens Bank Inc. 201 Camp Street, Georgetown Tel: 592 226-1705-9, 227-6175, 226-1727 Fax: 592 225-7363, 227-8251 E-mail: citizens@guyana.net.gy or citizensmd@yahoo.com NORWAY Honorary Consulate of Norway Mr. Lance Carberry Honorary Consul 214 Bamboo Drive, Meadow Brook Gardens, Georgetown Tel: 592 226-7531 E-mail: elancar2000@hotmail.com PAKISTAN Honorary Consulate of Pakistan Mr. Abdool Sattaur Gafoor, C.C.H. Honorary Consul Gafsons Industries Ltd Lot 1-2 Area X, Plantation Houston East Bank Demerara Tel: 592 227-5886 -7 Fax: 592 226-7897 E-mail : nil@guyana.net.gy SWEDEN Honorary Consulate of Sweden Mr. Clifford B. Reis, C.C.H. Honorary Consul c/o Banks DIH Limited P. O. Box 10194, Georgetown Tel: 592 225-4107 Fax: 592 226-6523 E-mail: georgetownsweden@banksdih.com REPUBLIC OF KOREA Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Korea Mr. Brian James Honorary Consul C/o Auto Supplies Company Ltd 306 Peter Rose St., Queenstown, Georgetown Tel: 592 223-9852 Fax: 592 225-3869 E-mail: asco@networksgy.com

INFORMATIVE SITES ON GUYANA Travel and Tourism: • Guyana Tourism Authority- www. guyana-tourism.com • Tourism & Hospitality Association of Guyana- www.exploreguyana.org • Iwokrama International Centre – www.iwokrama.org • Kaieteur Park and Fallswww.kaieteurpark.gov.gy

Investing in Guyana: • Guyana Office for Investment www.goinvest.gov.gy • Guyana Lands & Surveys www.lands.gov.gy • Private Sector Commissionwww.psc.org.gy • Georgetown Chambers of Commercewww.georgetownchamberofcommerce. org • Guyana Manufacturer’s & Services Association - www.gma.org.gy

Non Governmental Organizations (Conservation): • • • •

Conservation International Guyana www.conservation.org World Wildlife Fund ( Guyana) www.wwfguianas.org/ Iwokrama International Centre www.iwokrama.org Kaieteur Park and Falls www.kaieteurpark.gov.gy

About Guyana TRAVELLING

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS What you need to know before you travel • All visitors to Guyana are required to have a valid passport to enter and depart Guyana.

• All visitors to Guyana should ensure that their passports have at least six months of remaining validity. Those arriving by air require an onward plane ticket.

Visa Exempt Nationals • Visas are necessary for all visitors except nationals of the following countries : Commonwealth Countries, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and United States of America.

• The maximum duration of stay any visitor will be granted by Guyana Immigration, will not exceed thirty days.

Non Exempt Nationals • All visitors to Guyana who require a visa for travel should visit the Ministry of Home Affairs website: http:// www.moha.gov.gy/ prior to making their travel arrangements. All details

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regarding the Visa Application Process might be found on the Homepage of the Website under the subheading Immigration Services.

Applicants are encouraged to apply three (3) weeks to (1) one month in advance of travel.

The process period is one (1) week however this varies depending upon the nature of the case A letter notifying the applicant of the visa being granted will be sent to their address provided in the application.

Visitors must have in their possession the original/ or copy of the document stating the visa has been granted to show to Immigration upon arrival at Cheddi Jagan International Airport -Timehri.

Payment for the visa might be made to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Guyana or upon arrival at Cheddi Jagan International Airport – Timehri.

Visitors who wish to extend their stay must contact the Ministry of Home Affairs in advance of the date he/she is expected to depart Guyana. The Ministry of Home Affairs is located at 60 Brickdam Street, Georgetown.

Guyana. The Central Office of Immigration, where the extension is granted, located on Camp Street, 92 |

EXPLORE GUYANA

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Georgetown, must also note the extension in the visitor’s passport.

Travelers for purposes other than tourism should check with the Ministry of Home Affairs for information about requirements for work permits and extended stays.

For further information, visitors are encouraged to contact the Head of Immigration Support Service, Ministry of Home Affairs, Guyana on Tel : (592 ) 223 7867 or contact the Guyana Foreign Office nearest to you .

TRANSPORTATION DRIVING IN GUYANA Traffic drives on the left. Seat belts are necessary by Law. If travelling to Guyana and wish to rent a vehicle during your stay, please enquire with the Customs Officer at the Airport, upon arrival into Guyana.

The permit will be immediately issued to you provided you have your international driver’s licence with you. So be sure to remember to walk with it. The permit is issued free of charge.

TRAVEL VIA TAXIS FROM THE CHEDDI JAGAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT-TIMEHRI

to Suriname via the crossing at Moleson Creek.

Tourists should ONLY use the official taxi services registered to operate at CJIA. They can be identified by their uniforms (Crème Shirt-Jackets, Black Pants and ID Badges. Fares are listed at the Airport and are fixed).

A toll is charged for the Berbice bridge based on vehicle capacity. Passengers are also charged a fee for crossing with the Canawaima ferry at Moleson Creek when travelling to Nickerie, Suriname.

If a decision is made to use one of the other taxis, please agree upon the fare for the trip into Georgetown before entering the vehicle. Fares charged from Airport to Georgetown rate between US$20.00 and US$25.00.

TAXIS AND BUSES Georgetown is well served with taxis, operating throughout the city and to and from other urban centres.

Before embarking, do enquire of the rates for travel to destination of interest.

Use only recognized yellow taxis bearing the logos of respective taxi services.

Alternatively, do seek the guidance of the front desk staff in your selection of those that are already contracted to the facility.

There are also ultra –cheap minibus running around town and along the coast, or to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and Linden. Check and confirm the fares before entering the vehicle.

Transportation around the city is provided by privately owned mini buses which operate in allocated zones for which there is a well-regulated fare structure. This arrangement extends to all mini bus routes throughout the country. Taxis afford freer movement around the city.

Travel around Georgetown by Bus: Short stops within the limits of the city are approximately G$60.00 and longer stops G$80.00.

Commuters to West Demerara have a choice of road transport via the Demerara Harbour Bridge or by the Demerara River Ferry from the Stabroek Stelling to Vreeden-Hoop which is obliquely opposite each other.

The highway which begins on the West Coast of Demerara is heavily trafficked since it provides a link to Parika on the East Bank of Essequibo River which has become an important centre of economic activity in the Essequibo region. For example, speed boats or other types of transportation can be hired to take passengers as far as Bartica or other hinterland resorts and back in a single day.

TRAVEL TO GUYANA’S INTERIOR Travel arrangements may be made with local busing service, jeeps, chartered planes and speedboats. A guide is advisable for longer distance travel to the interior.

DOMESTIC AIR SERVICE Air transportation is readily available for traveling to several parts of the hinterland, whether for business or for pleasure.

Several local airlines depart from Ogle Aerodome on the East Coast of Demerara and from Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri. Information on their availability and movement is easily obtainable from their office and from tour operators. Private charter companies operate flight into the interior from soon to be completed Ogle International Airport.

Travelling by taxi for short distances: approximately G$300- $GY400.00; longer drops G$500.00- ?? as these prices will vary from location to location. Rented cars are also available.

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RIVER BOATS & FERRIES

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With the opening of the Berbice bridge between East and West Berbice, travelling time is lessened for commuters from Georgetown to Berbice and onward travel

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Air Services Ltd: Tele (592) 2224357/222-4368, Fax (592) 222 6739, Website www.aslgy.com Roraima Airways Charters : Tel (592) 222 2337, Fax ( 592) 222 4033, Website www.roraimaairways.com Trans Guyana Airways: Tele (592) 222-2525/2861, Fax (592) 222 5462, Website www.transguyana.net Wings Aviation Guyana: Tele (592) 222-6513, Fax(592) 222 5361, , Website www.airguyana.biz EXPLORE GUYANA

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INTERNATIONAL & REGIONAL CARRIERS Guyana’s international airport, named after the late president, Cheddi Jagan is located at Timehri, 25 miles south of Georgetown.

Flights from Europe are routed through Antigua, Barbados, or Trinidad. There are direct flights from Miami, New York, Toronto, Brazil, and Suriname.

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Caribbean Airlines Ltd Tele: 1-800-538-2992 www.caribbean-airlines.com LIAT Tele: (592)227-8281/ 1-888-538-2992 www.liatairline.com Delta Airlines Tele: (592)225-7800 www.delta.com Red Jet www.flyredjet.com/en

CAMBIOS These are licensed currency exchange houses. Most cambios are open from 8am to 5pm, and on Saturdays from 8am to 12pm, sometimes to 2pm. keep your cambio receipts, you will need to produce them in order to change Guyanese dollars on departure.

MONEY & BUSINESS GUIDE Listing of the main Commercial Banks operating in Guyana includes: 1. Bank of Baroda 10 Ave. of the Republic, Robbstown, Georgetown • Tel: (592)226 4005/6, 226 9105 2. Bank of Nova Scotia 104 Carmichael Street, North Cummingsburg, Georgetown (Branches in Bartica, New Amsterdam and Parika) Tel: (592) 225 9222, Fax (592) 225 7985 3. Citizens Bank 201 Camp Street, Lacytown, Georgetown Tel: (592) 226 1705/6, 226 1708/9, Fax (592)226 1719, 227 8251 4. Demerara Bank Camp Street, Georgetown Tel: (592) 225 0610/9 5. Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry 47 Water Street, Robbstown, Georgetown (Branches in Vreeden-Hoop, Parika, Essequibo and

Corriverton) Tel: (592) 226 8430/9, (592) 227 1612 6. New Building Society 1 Ave. of the Republic, Georgetown (Branches in Linden, Berbice, Corentyne, Rosignol, Rose Hall and Essequibo) Tel: (592) 226 4060, 226 4068, 227 4444, Fax (592) 225 0832 7. Republic Bank Guyana Ltd 38 Water Street, Robbstown, Georgetown, Tel: 226 4091/ 5, 226 1691/6, Fax (592 227 2921) ATM Machines are accessible to persons with ATM Debit Cards. Persons in possession of international CIRRUS credit cards that is Master Card and Visa Card might utilise the ATMs at Scotia Bank for cash advances when in Guyana.

Further assistance might be offered at the counter if unable to do so.

BANKING HOURS 08:00 and 14: 00 hrs on Monday to Thursday and 08:00 and 14: 30 on Friday BUSINESS ATTIRE Men wear long or short sleeved shirts, a Jacket is optional. Shirt and tie attire is common in most offices. Females are expected to dress conservatively.

CURRENCY The Guyana dollar is the only legal tender accepted in this country. It is a floating currency and the value fluctuates in accordance with the changes in the value of the US$. Visitors may exchange their currencies at banks, cambios and most hotels. The rate of the dollar fluctuates and the exchange is approximately US$1 – GY$202.00. Major credits cards and traveller’s cheques are generally accepted at many resorts, hotels, gift shops, restaurants and tour operators.

TAXES DEPARTURE TAX There is an exit tax of G$2,500.00 plus a security charge of G$1,500 (being a total of G$4,000). This is paid at the airport at the GRA booth. (The US dollar equivalent for this exit tax may vary with exchange fluctuations.) Please note that this is payable in GY$ or foreign currency.

VALUED ADDED TAX Valued Added Tax (VAT) is charged to a value of 16% on most items save those that are 0-Rated or VAT exempt.

ECONOMY The agricultural sector accounts for half the national GDP, producing sugar and rice for export, with extensive timber operations and a range of other products, from coffee to fish and fruits, and fresh vegetables well –respected brands of rum. Gold, bauxite and diamonds are mined.

About Guyana MONEY & BUSINESS

GUYANA STOCK EXCHANGE

GASCI is a “self-regulatory Organization” which was formed for the purpose of developing a Stock Market in Guyana. It is the result of earlier work undertaken by the Adam Smith Institute funded by the UK Department.

Gasci was incorporated on June 1st, 2001 Trading commenced on June 30th, 2003. The Stock Exchange was formally launched on September 25th, 2003. Its members consist of the four securities companies registerd to trade on the Stock Exchange viz. Beharry Stockbrokers Ltd., Guyana America Merchant Bank Inc., Hand-in-Hand Trust Corporation Inc. and Trust Company (Guyana) Ltd. It is governed by a board of six directors. Trading currently takes place on Mondays and on Wednesdays when Monday is a holiday. Trading starts at 10:00am.

CREDIT CARDS

Guyana Association of Travel Agents

Wm Fogarty Building, 34-37 Water St., Georgetown Tel: 227 7225 • Fax: 225 2513 Email:jimbacchus@inetguyana.net

Guyana Manufacturers & Services Association

157 Waterloo Street, Georgetown • Tel: 223-7405/6 Email:gma_guyana@yahoo.com • www.gma.org.gy

Guyana Rice Millers’ and Exporters’ Development Association

216 Lamaha St, Georgetown • Tel: 225 5353

Guyana Rice Producers’ Association

104 Regent St, Georgetown • Tel: 223 7248

Guyana Tourism Authority

Major credits cards and traveller’s cheques are accepted by most hotels, restaurants, car rental agencies and tour operators.

International VISA, Mastercard, Maestro and Cirrus credit and debit cards can be used to obtain cash from Scotiabank in Branch during banking hours or at ABMs. A similar service is also available at the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) at their branches and at select ATM locations.

National Exhibition Centre, Sophia, Georgetown Tel: 219-0094-6 • Fax: 219 0093 Email: info@guyana-tourism.com Website: www.guyana-tourism.com

BUSINESS CONTACTS & ORGANISATIONS

Linden Chamber of Industry and Commerce

Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development

12 Chapel Street, New Amsterdam, Berbice • Tel: 333 3324

Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry

157 Waterloo St, Georgetown • Tel: 225 7170, 226, 4603, Fax: (592) 227 0725, P.O.Box # 10730 Email: goolsarrancagi@gol.net.gy, ramchancagi@gol.net.gy

Forest Products Association of Guyana

157 Waterloo St. Georgetown, Tel: (592) 226 9848, 226 2821 Fax: (592) 226 2832 Email: fpasect@guyana.net.gy

Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry 156 Waterloo St, Georgetown • Tel: 225 5846 Email:gtchambe@netwrksgy.com www.geochamberofcommerce.org

GO-INVEST(Guyana Office for Investment) 190 Camp & Church Sts, Georgetown Tel: 225 0658/227 0653 • Fax: 225 0655 Website: www.sdnp.org.gy/goinvest E-mail: goinvest@goinvest.gov.gy

Institute of Private Enterprise Development

253 South Road, Bourda, Georgetown • Tel: 225 8949 Email:iped@solutions2000.net 84 Riverside Drive, Watooka, Linden • Tel: 444 2901

Ministry of Tourism Industry & Commerce 229 South St., Lacytown, Georgetown Tel: 226 2505 • Fax: 225 9310

CARICOM - The Caribbean Community Secretariat Turkeyen East Coast Demerara Tel: (592) 222 0001-75 Fax: (592) 222 0172 Email: piu@caricom.org, caricompublicinfo@gmail.com

Private Sector Commission

Umbrella organization for more private sector business and employer’s organizations.

More major companies are also members.

157 Waterloo St, Georgetown Tel: 225 0977 • Fax: 225 0978 E-mail: pscentre2@yahoo.com, office@psc.org.gy Website: psc.org.gy

Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG)

157 Waterloo St, Georgetown Tel: 225 0807 • Fax: 225 0817 E-mail: info@exploreguyana.org / thag.secretariat@gmail.com

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EXPLORE GUYANA

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ACCOMMODATIONS

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Georgetown and Environs The Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana is a private sector-

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led organization dedicated to lobbying, marketing and advocating for sustainable tourism development by fostering professionalism and quality service, providing benefits to members, representing membership interests and collaborating with Government to influence tourism policies.

Tel:225 0807, 225-0817 Email: info@exploreguyana.org

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All of these properties are members of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana, and offer the quality of service we know will meet your satisfaction.

Princess Hotel and Casino

10 Providence, East Bank Demerara

Tel; (592) 265-7001-30 Fax; (592)265-7002 petal@princesshotelguyana.com Website: www.worldofprincess.com

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Ariantze Hotel 176 Middle Street, Cummingsburg, Georgetown Tel: (592)226-5363/ 225-0634/ 225-4644 Fax: (592)227-0210 Email: ariantze@networksgy.com Website: www.ariantzesidewalk.com “Delightfully charming decor and our friendly, personalised service make a stay at Ariantze Hotel a pleasantly memorable experience in fine Guyanese Hospitality.

Our boutique heritage hotel gives real meaning to the saying “Good things come wrapped in small packages!” Free continental breakfast and high speed wireless internet access, in-house restaurant with mouth-watering daily lunch buffet. Intimate dining, an appetizing menu and impeccable service are found in the Bourbon Restaurant. Scintillating musical entertainment to enjoy at the Sidewalk Cafe & Jazz Club.

Amenities Free high speed wireless internet access. All rooms are air conditioned with mini bar, coffee makers, TV and DVD players.

Restaurant and Jazz Club on location. Computer access for guests, 24 hour security and free movie night every Tuesday

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89-90 Pike Street, Campbellsville, Georgetown Tel: (592)226-1133/ 227-0989 Fax: (592)231-7001 Email: brandsville@gol.net.gy Website: www.brandsville.net Relax! You’re at Brandsville-located just short distance from the seawalls which boards the Atlantic Ocean and a corner away from the American School. Set among a quiet neighborhood, three blocks offers 32 executives type rooms and suites to suit your needs. Inclusive of Jacuzzi, self catering facilities and customer amenities and wired and wireless networks.

Cara Lodge 249 Quamina Street. P.O.Box 10833, Georgetown.

Tel: (592)225-5301-5 Fax: (592)225-5310 Email: caralodge@carahotels.com Website: www.carahotels.com

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Herdmanston Lodge 65 Peter Rose & Anira Street, Queenstown, Georgetown.

Tel: (592)225-0808/ 0811 Fax: (592)231-7904 Email: stay@herdmanstonlodge.com Website: www.herdmantsonlodge.com

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Kanuku Suites

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New Tropicana Hotel

Cara Suites 176 Middle Street , Georgetown , Guyana, South America Tel: 226-1612, 226-1684 Fax: 226-1541 E-mail: carasuites@carahotels.com Website: www.carahotels.com Located in the heart the diplomatic and business district Georgetown, with an excellent range of facilities including our Bistro 176 Bar and restaurant and complimentary high speed access. The finest in corporate executive accommodation

1 & 2 Area M Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara Tel: (592)220-1091/ 220-1288/ 220-2046 Fax: (592)220-1498 Email: reservationa@grandcoastal.com , ceo@grandcoastal.com Website: www.grandcoastal.com The Grand Coastal Hotel - International Outlook with a local flavour, offer excellent Services and friendly staff . Located in a safe and secure environment off souvenir shores only 7 kilometers from Georgetown, just a few minutes walking distance from the Atlantic Ocean.

An intimate heritage hotel in Guyana, Herdmanston prides itself in excellent guest service. One of only a few hotels in Guyana that has maintained Guyana’s distinctive colonial architecture Herdmanston is perched within extensive lawns and garden which is home to some of the gentle flora and fauna of central Georgetown. Located in residential Queenstown, just 5 minutes from central Georgetown, a close walk to the National Park and the sea walls our small hotel size allows us to offer to our guests a very personalized service for both accommodation, meetings and intimate events. Come, stay with us, our hallmark....... Fantastic Service.

Guyana’s first Heritage House Hotel, Victorian tradition with all the comfort and service of a modern Hotel in a relaxed atmosphere.

Our Bottle Restaurant is recognized as the best in Georgetown and we offer full conference and banqueting facilities, complimentary high speed internet access and mini gym.

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Grand Coastal Hotel

Amenities Restaurant, Courtyard, Conference Centre, Pool, Gym, Bar, Cable TV, Laundry, Telephone, High Speed Wireless Internet Access, Reliable Taxi Service & Catering

Brandsville Apartments

Amenities Swimming Pool, Hot & Cold water, Internet access wired & wireless, Gym, Restaurant & Bar.

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Tel: (592)226-4001/ 225-2780 Fax: (592)227-4588 Email: reservations@kanukusuites.com Website: www.kanukusuites.com

177 Waterloo Street, South Cummings burg Georgetown Tel: (592) 227 5701 Mobile: (592) 686-3437 Email: barbqbacchus@hotmail.com Website: http://www.newtropicanahotel.com/ Built in 1950s, the new Tropicana Hotel is located in the centre of Georgetown, just few paces away from St. George’s Cathedral, the famous Promenade Gardens, and the Parade Ground.

The new Tropicana is comfortable and safe. The Lonely Planet Guides has been quoted as saying the Tropicana has offered “the best value for backpackers’ accommodation in Georgetown for many years now.” On the ground floor of the facility, there is a 24hr snackette and a bar. Our friendly staff will take care of you anytime.

Palace De Leon Hospitality Inc. 71 Croal St. Stabroek, Georgetown Tel; (592)226-5278/227-7019/226-6374 Email: leonlesruth@yahoo.com

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The Princess Hotel Guyana is located a mere 25-minute drive from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, boasts of 200 spacious and elegantly decorated presidential suites, VIP/ Executive suites, double and single occupancy rooms. Our international casino, the Princess Casino Guyana opens at 12:00 noon until 4am daily.

Suites Hotel 11 Radisson 83 Laluni Street, Queenstown, Georgetown.

Tel: (592)226-2145/ 227-4983 Fax: 592)227-5037 Email: info@guyanahotel.com Website: www.guyanahotel.com

Residence Inn 12 Roraima R8 Eping Avenue, Bel Air Park Georgetown.

Tel: (592)225-9647-8/225-9650, Fax: (592)225-9646 Email: rriops@hotmail.com Website: www.roraimaairawys.com Roraima Residence Inn, the first Boutique Hotel in Guyana, offers you an atmosphere of elegant ambience, where cleanliness and friendliness exceed your expectations. The Hotel is located in a gated Compound within the Residential Community of Bel Air Park, within walking proximity to the Botanical Gardens, the Bourda Cricket and Football Ground, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut and Popeye’s Seafood Restaurant.

Duke Lodge 13 Roraima 94-95 Duke Street, Kingston, Georgetown Tel: (592) 231 7220, 227 2213 Fax: (592) 227 3816 Email: roraimadukelodge@hotmail.com Website: www.roraimaairways.com Situated at 94-95 Duke Street, Kingston opposite the American Embassy and neighbouring to the Office of the Empowerment and Court of Appeal is an old-fashioned colonial architectural house, called the Duke Lodge. This beautiful antique type Guest House is just 5 minutes away from all the busy bustle of the busiest city’s streets of Central Georgetown, and a mere 45 minutes away from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

Duke Lodge is one of those splendid wooden buildings that form part of the architectural heritage of the capital, being utilized as a tasteful hospitality, entertainment and conference facility.

DENOTES CITY HOTEL LOCATIONS ON MAP Please refer to Page 24 & 25 for Georgetown City Map

ACCOMMODATIONS Eco-Resorts, Interior Lodges & Attractions internet guided tours: include nature treks and boat tours

I personally hate the word handicapped people who need a little

extra assistance or families with small children are welcomed, they present no problems.

The staff is always willing to go the extra mile to ensure the guests comfort and enjoyment of their time here.

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View Lodge 10 Rock Annai, North Rupununi, Region 9 Email: info@rockviewlodge.com/colin@rockviewlodge.com Website: www.rockviewlodge.com Ideally located in an Amerindian Community affording good access to the Iwokrama Forest Reserve, Surama Village and Karanambu.

Well furnished self-contained suites surrounded by savannahs,

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mountains, rainforest and rivers, and a family atmosphere with excellent ranch house, regional cooking and swimming pool.

Amenities Airstrip, guided tours, excursions, working ranch and farm, landscaped gardens, comfort and a swimming pool

14 15 13 The Rupununi Eco Hotel and Resort 1 Tel: (592) 227 4265, 653 4564, 692-6951 2 3

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In the mighty Essequibo river is this wonderful little paradise with

Lot 118 Lethem Rupununi

187 acres of lush green foliage and colourful tropical flowers. Five

Tel: (592) 772 2124, 641 3734

miles South of Bartica, it is the gateway to the unspoilt rainforest

Email; orihotel@yahoo.com

of Guyana and the junction where the great Essequibo and Mazaruni Rivers meet. The Resort has a seventeen room capacity

Savannah Inn

and a modern conference facility that can accommodate up to 60

Lethem, Region 9

persons. You could enjoy a 20-minute flight directly to the island

Tel: (592) 772-2035

from Georgetown or a picturesque trip of a one-hour drive along the

Email: ramsaran4al@yahoo.com, lindakhan4@yahoo.com

coast and one hour by boat

Website: www.savannahguyana.com

Amenities

In the most strategic, convenient and tranquil location

We offer a variety of other outdoor activities including canoeing,

Savannah Inn can be found at Lethem. A home away from home

fishing, water skiing, kayaking, volleyball, table tennis, pools,

with comfortable air conditioned and self contained rooms and

and pedal boats or simply sunbathing and swimming. We offer a

cabins, spacious dining area, huge green shed overlooking the

number of off island tours i.e. Marshall Falls, Parrot Island, kayaking

Kanukus where you can relax, have a cool drink in peace and

expeditions and more

Atta Rainforest Lodge (CATS)

Email: timberhead@soultions2000.net/ geb@solutions2000.net

168 Century Palm Gdns,

Address: 176 Middle Street, North Cummingsburg, Georgetown

Durban Backlands, Lodge

Tel: (592) 226 2085, 227-7698

Tel: 225-3557/ 624-8694/640-4497

Fax: (592) 226 2085

Fax: 226-0240

Email: info@wilderness-explorers.com

Email: gems@hurakabra.com/gems@gol.net.gy

Skype: tonywildex

‘A secret waiting to be discovered. A tranquil tropical oasis .Wake up

Website: www.iwokramacanopywalkway.com

to chirping birds and beautiful sunrises. A picture of calmness and

Atta Rainforest Lodge is situated approximately 500 meters

serenity. The Resort features the beautifully appointed Mango Tree

from the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway. The Lodge is completely

Villa and the cozy Bamboo cottage on the water front set against a

surrounded by tropical rainforest which offers a complete

backdrop of tropical forest, bamboo groves and mango trees.’

immersion in the rainforest experience. Iwokrama Canopy

Amenities

Walkway is a series of suspension bridges and decks up to 30

Overnighting, catering and self-catering, aquatic sports-skiing, nee-

meters in height and 154 meters in length. It gives visitors a

boarding,kayaking. Jungle walk, birding, wild-life spotting

new view of the mid and upper canopy of the forest and allows wildlife to be relatively free from human intrusion.

Amenities

Website: www.timberheadguyana.com Located on the Pokeroro Creek in the Amerindian Reservation of Santa Mission. Day and evening jungle walks and canoeing, birding watching, swimming, sports.

12

8

situated in a semi circle. They are Wonotobo Falls, Frenchman Falls and Blue Crane Falls .

Activities at Wonotobo include Nature Walks, water Sports, Hikes along forest trails, bird watching, beach camping and lot more.

Accommodation includes a (17) seventeen room Guest House on the beach with all the modern convenience and (2) two cabins at the top of the hill overlooking the Wonotobo Falls. Other facilities include a conference hall, a restaurant and bar. At The Wonotobo Resort, there is never a dull moment .

13

R8 Eping Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown.

Email: iwokrama-general@iwokrama.org

Tel: 261-9286/ 225-9647-8

Website: www.iwokrama.org

Fax: 225-9646 Email: ral@roraimaairways.com Website: www.roraimaairways.com

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9

Karanambu Lodge Karanambu North Rupununi Guyana or

Arrowpoint Nature Resort is named after the many Arrow

A102 Issano Place, East Bel Air Park

Trees found in the area, which is used by the Amerindians to

Georgetown, Guyana

make their arrows for hunting. One of the finer examples of

Tel: 226-5180. Fax: 226-2085

Guyana’s eco-tourism product, Arrowpoint coexists with its

Email: karanambu.lodge@gmail.com/mcturk@networksgy.com

interior setting without ruffling the natural environment. The

Website: www.karanambu.com

Resort itself is set against the backdrop of the Rainforest which

Enjoy Karanambu Rum punch, while being treated to true Rupununi

is a haven for birdwatchers and nature lover since there is an

hospitality by Ms. Diane McTurk, a living legend. Swim with giant

abundance of wildlife including 350 species of birds.

river otters, search the savannas for the Giant Anteater, sundowners over El Dorado, watch the Victoria Amazonica lily open, Hear the

Baganara Island Resort

stories, come share in the Magic of Karanambu

Essequibo River Guyana /Ogle Aerodrome, Ogle, East Coast

Amenities

Demerara , Pegasus Hotel, Seawall Road Kingston

Bed with netting turn down, same day laundry service, local bar,

Tel: 222-8050/222-8050/222-8055 Peg off: 225-4483-4 US off:

Juice and local soda always available, battery recharging, wireless

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EXPLORE GUYANA

C/o Wilderness Explorers, Cara Suites Tel: (592) 226 2085, 227-7698 Fax: (592) 226 2085 Email: info@wilderness-explorers.com Skype: wildernessguyana/tonywildex Website: www,wildernessexplorers.com

14

FUN PARKS AND RESORTS Jubilee Resort Dakara Creek, Timheri C/O 106-107 Lamaha & Carmichael Street Georgetown Tel: 225-48915/ 626-4263/ 691-7313

Office: 77 High Street, Kingston, G/Town, South America.

Fax: 225-9199

Wowetta Eco- Lodge Address: 176 Middle Street, North Cummingsburg, Georgetown

Iwokrama Eco Lodge

Arrowpoint Nature Resort

Tel: 339-2430/ 339-2741

Wonotobo boasts three (3) awesome and magnificent waterfalls,

Fax: 226-5340 Email: reservations@jubileeresort.com

Tel: 225-3557/225-7144

5

Wonotobo Resort

Email: ganbros@yahoo.com/cortoursinc@yahoo.com

Facility Location: Upper Essequibo River, Potaro -Siparuni

Overnight facilities, Day visits, bird watching, etc.

Fax: 339-2742

River Resort 7 Hurakabra Essequibo River

C/o Wilderness Explorers, Cara Suites

8-10 Providence, East Bank Demerara Fax: 225-0459

Email: bookbaganara@baganara.com

Ori Hotels

Timberhead Rainforest Resort Tel: 233-5023

(310) 929-7460 Website: www.baganara.com

tranquility. Your comfort and pleasure is our business.

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16

Website: www.jubileeresort.com Restaurant and Bar, , swim Shoppe, Hammock and Benabs, swimming pool and trained lifeguards.

15

Splashmin’s Resort Eco Adventure Tours Facility: Madewini Creek, Linden Soesdyke Highway Office: 48 High & Hadfield Sts., Werk-en Rust Georgetown Tel: 223-7301 - 4 Email: info@splashmins.com Website: www.splashmins.com We are a magnificent taste of what Guyana has to offer all in one place. This breathtaking resort offers luxury vacations in tranquil villas, a manmade lake for an array of aqua sports and sporting facilities for fun under the sun, bars, restaurant and conference and banquet halls. Get in touch with nature on the other half of this resort where relaxing in hammocks, camping and outdoor cooking is all done on 25acres of lush green landscaped Eco grounds.

Amenities Conference Room, Bar, Restaurant, Banquet Hall with private bars,

water rides and swimming facilities, wetland and eco tours, football, cricket and basketball facilities, BBQ and outdoor

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cooking facilities, camping facilities.

Rewa Village

savannah and up Surama Mountain, reveal a multitude of

C/o Wilderness Explorers, Cara Suites

birds and fantastic vistas. The guides have lived their entire

Address: 176 Middle Street, North Cummingsburg,

lives in the rainforest, and have an incredible understanding

Georgetown

of nature and how to utilize its resources.

Tel: (592) 226 2085, 227-7698

COMMUNITIES

Eco Lodge, Nappi Village 16 Maipaima C/o Wilderness Explorers, Cara Suites

Eco Basin Tours 20 Aranaputa C/o Wilderness Explorers, Cara Suites

Fax: (592) 226 2085 Email: info@wilderness-explorers.com

Address: 176 Middle Street, North Cummingsburg,

Skype: wildernessguyana/tonywildex

Address: 176 Middle Street,

Georgetown

Website: www,wildernessexplorers.com

North Cummingsburg, Georgetown

Tel: (592) 226 2085, 227-7698

Rewa village is located where the Rewa village is located

Tel: (592) 226 2085, 227-7698

Fax: (592) 226 2085

where the Rewa River runs into the Rupunni River and the

Fax: (592) 226 2085

Email: info@wilderness-explorers.com

surrounding area Is rainforest, mountains oxbow lakes. The

Email: info@wilderness-explorers.com

Skype: wildernessguyana/tonywildex

community of approximately 220 persons is predominantly

Skype: wildernessguyana/tonywildex

Website: www,wildernessexplorers.com

Macushi with a few families of the Wapishiana and Patamona

Website: www,wildernessexplorers.com

Maipaima EcoLodge is nestled amidst the towering

Tribes. The Rewa Lodge is situated on the bank of the Rewa

The best peanut butter you could ever think about. This is

rainforests in the Kanuku foothills of central Guyana. A

River with tables and benches along the river bank offer a

all natural and tasty made by the women of the Aranputa

community-run project of Nappi Village, the EcoLodge is a

relaxing

Processors Friendly Society.

secluded gem that warmly welcomes a select few visitors

grassed clearing in the rainforest houses three benabs. The

each year.

largest is the kitchen and dining area. Accommodation is in

Accommodation is offered in one of two thatch benabs,

two benabs each with two bedrooms and a large patio with

each of which encloses two guest rooms with attached

hammocks for relaxing. Three bathrooms with flush toilet,

bathrooms. A central benab provides a common dining area

shower and basin are just a few meters from the bedroom.

as well as a wide verandah ideal for spotting birds, monkeys, and other passing wildlife.

Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB) 17 North C/o Wilderness Explorers, Cara Suites

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two bedrooms location to enjoy the river. The

VACATION RESORTS

Resort 21 Aracari 160 Versailles West Bank Demerara, Guyana Tel: (592) 264 2947-49, 264 3311 Fax: (592) 264 2949

Surama Eco-lodge, Surama

Email : info@aracariresort.com

Rupununi Region 9

Website: www.aracariresort.com

C/o Wilderness Explorers, Cara Suites Address:

176

Middle

Street,

North

Tele No: 264-2947 Cummingsburg,

The Aracari resort of Guyana offers a full line of hospitality

Address: 176 Middle Street,

Georgetown

services. This 150,000 square foot resort features 36

North Cummingsburg, Georgetown

Tel: (592) 226 2085, 227-7698

magnificent one-bedroom apartments, a fine dining and Fast

Tel: (592) 226 2085, 227-7698

Fax: (592) 226 2085

Food Restaurant and bar, an internet café, a fitness gym, an

Fax: (592) 226 2085

Email: info@wilderness-explorers.com

incredibly exciting pool, poolside entertainment and a line of

Email: info@wilderness-explorers.com

Skype: wildernessguyana/tonywildex

warm and hospitable staff.

Skype: wildernessguyana/tonywildex

Website: www.wildernessexplorers.com

Website: www,wildernessexplorers.com

This isolated and idyllic location offers an escape from the concrete jungle to a serene and peaceful existence with nature. Dawn hikes, led by Surama guide across the

THAG TRAVELLER

THAG MEMBER SERVICES

All of these tourist services are members of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana, and offer the quality of service we know will meet your satisfaction.

ADVERTISING & PUBLISHING COMPANIES Advertising & Marketing Services 213 Camp Street P.O.Box 582, Georgetown Tel: 225-5384. Fax: 225-5383 Email: info@amsguyana.com Website: www.amsstlucia.com Publisher of Explore Guyana Tourist Magazine, the Tourist Map, Business Guyana, Horizons, Fast Lane and other Publications..

AIR SERVICES DOMESTIC CHARTER & CARGO Air Services Ltd Ogle Aerodrome, E.C. Demerara Tel: 222-4368, 222-4357 Fax: 222-6739 Email: res@aslgy.com Website: www.aslgy.com Offering air charter and scheduled domestic services to Guyana’s interior and tourist attractions

Roraima Airways Charters Ogle Aerodrome. Ogle E.C Demerara Tel: 222-2337 Fax: 222-4033 Email: ral@roraimaairways.com Website: www.roraimaairways.com Our Domestic Schedule Flights offer you convenient Departure and Arrival Times.

Our Aircraft are available for Domestic & International Charters. Over 20 Years Experience! Proven fast and efficient! We are capable of airlifting patients from the hinterland to Georgetown (Ogle) or from Georgetown to Trinidad, Barbados or Miami.

Our Senior Pilots are instrument rated and are routinely called upon to coordinate and render assistance in highly technical search and rescue operations.

Trans Guyana Airways Ogle Aerodrome, East Bank Demerara Tel: 222-2525/2861.

Fax: 222-5462 Email: commercial@transguyana.net Website: www.transguyana.net We provide Air Transportation Services EXPLORE GUYANA

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throughout Guyana, through our scheduled and charter Services including international scheduled services to Suriname.

As a third generation family owned business, Trans Guyana Airways remain on the forefront of Aviation Development in Guyana. With a fleet of eight aircraft, and the most qualified group of pilots in Guyana and you can be sure we have your safety and comfort foremost on our minds Wings Aviation Ltd. Ogle Aerodrome, Ogle, East Coast Demerara Tel: 222-6513, 226-9098. Fax: 226-9098/ 222-5361 Email: info@airguyana.net/ wingjet2@networksgy.com Website: www.airguyana.biz Offering Air Charter Services to over 40 destinations including Kaieteur and Orinduik.

AIRLINES Caribbean Airlines Regent & Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown 1 800 744 2225,

BARS AND NIGHTCLUBS Jerries 177 Waterloo Street, South Cummingsburg Tel: (592) 227 5701 Mobile: (592) 686-3437 Email: barbqbacchus@hotmail.com Website: http://www.newtropicanahotel.com/ Sidewalk Café & Jazz Club 176 Middle Street, Cummingsburg, Georgetown Tel: (592)226-5363/ 225-0634/ 225-4644 Fax: (592)227-0210 Email: ariantze@networksgy.com Website: www.ariantzesidewalk.com The Rock Bar – Roraima Residence Inn R 8 Eping Avenue, Bel Air Park Georgetown.

Tel: (592)225-9647-8/225-9650, Fax: (592)225-9646 Email: rriops@hotmail.com Website: www.roraimaairawys.com

Website: www.iwokrama.org The Iwokrama Rainforest is a vast wilderness of one million acres. This protected area was s established in 1996 as the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development. Iwokrama is a protected area with a difference - the full involvement of people, Iwokrama is exceptional among conservation organisations because it joins with local people in every aspect of its work. from research to business, Iwokrama ensures local economic and social benefits from forest use and conservation. the forest is in the homeland of the Mukushi people, who have lived here and used the forest for thousands of years.

TOURISM CONSULTANTS

National Parks Commission Thomas Road, Thomas Lands, Georgetown Tel: (592)225-8016/(592)226-7974. Fax: (592)223-5379 Email: natpark@networksgy.com Website: www.kaieteur.gov.gy

Adventure Guianas Mickel Plaza, 53 Pere Street, Kitty, G/Town, Guyana, SA Tel: 227-4713 Fax: 225-9646 Email: info@adventureguianas.com Website:www.adventureguianas.com Adventure Guianas specializes in nature and adventure tourism and offers travel itineraries to all parts of Guyana, cross border tours to Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil and Venezuela. Our knowledge and experience allows us to customize tours to suit your itinerary, interest and budget. Our Guides are, primarily, from the indigenous tribes, whom as custodians inspire their respective communities to develop and sustain our tourism product “ Guyana Naturally”

COMPANIES & ORGANISATIONS RESTAURANTS Demerara Distillers Limited Diamond Estate , East Bank Demerara Tel: 265-5019 Demerara has had a wonderful renowned reputation for over three centuries of producing sugar and superb rum by combining unique production methods at its most favourable climatic conditions .

Demerara Distillers Limited is now the sole distiller of the full range of outstanding El Dorado Demerara Rums. At the distillery, the traditional Wooden Pot Stills and the only Wooden Coffey Still in the Industry today work around the clock, alongside the modern Continuous Stills to produce a wide range of superb rums. The unique blends of El Dorado Rums produced today, impress even the toughest critics as is evident by the multiplicity of international awards that have been won by these products. We invite you to take a tour of the Diamond Distillery, Warehouse Facility and the Demerara Heritage Rum Centre. For Ticketing and reservations call (592) 265 5019.

Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company Ltd 79 Brickdam, Stabroek, G/Town Tel: 225-1515 Fax: 231-7637 Website: www.gtt.co.gy/www.cellinkgy.com Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation CIDA Building, 77 High St., Kingston, Georgetown Tel: (592)225-1504/7144. Fax: (592)225-9199 Email: iwokrama-general@iwokrama.org

Bistro 176 - Cara Suites 176 Middle Street , Georgetown , Guyana, South America Tel: 226-1612, 226-1684 Fax: 226-1541 E-mail: carasuites@carahotels.com Website: www.carahotels.com Bottle Bar & Restaurant - Cara Lodge 249 Quamina Street. P.O.Box 10833, Georgetown.

Tel: (592)225-5301-5 Fax: (592)225-5310 Email: caralodge@carahotels.com Website: www.carahotels.com Café Tepuy – Roraima Residence Inn R 8 Eping Avenue, Bel Air Park Georgetown.

Tel: (592)225-9647-8/225-9650, Fax: (592)225-9646 Email: rriops@hotmail.com Website: www.roraimaairawys.com Sidewalk Café & Jazz Club 176 Middle Street, Cummingsburg, Georgetown Tel: (592)226-5363/ 225-0634/ 225-4644 Fax: (592)227-0210 Email: ariantze@networksgy.com Website: www.ariantzesidewalk.com Savannah Inn Restaurant & Bar Lethem, Region 9 Tel: (592) 772-2035 Email: ramsaran4al@yahoo.com, lindakhan4@yahoo.com Website: www.savannahguyana.com

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EXPLORE GUYANA

Public Communication Consultants Ltd. 168 Century Palm Gdns Durban Backlands, G/town Tel: 225-3557, 226-0240, 640-4497 Fax: 226-0240 Email: kitnasc@gmail.com Website: www.hurakabragy.com Consultant for Yachts and cruisers to Guyana. Arranges clearance for their arrivals and departures. Hurakabra River Resort provides moorings. Port Master for Ocean Cruising lub.

TOUR OPERATORS

Air Guyana Tours Ogle Aerodrome, Ogle, East Coast Demerara Tel: 222-6513, 226-9098. Fax: 2269098/222-5361 Email: info@airguyana.net/ wingjet2@networksgy.com Website: www.airguyana.biz Bushmasters Inc 40 Beverly Hills Drive, Lethem, Guyana, South America Email: amazon@bushmasters.co.uk Website: www.bushmasters.co.uk Contours Inc. Tel: 339-2430/ 339-2741 Fax: 339-2742 Email: ganbros@yahoo.com/ cortoursinc@yahoo.com Offers exceptional and exciting trips to many sites along the Corentyne River.

The adventure of a lifetime begins at Crabwood Creek Sea shore , which lies about five (5) kilometers from

Corriverton, one of the three (3) towns in Berbice. Here you board one of our specially built tourist boats fully equipped with cover for your comfort and safety. We offer tips to Orealla, Cow Falls, and Wontobo, which is our ultimate destination.

Evergreen Adventures Pegasus Hotel Lobby, Seawall Road Kingston Head Office :Ogle Aerodrome, Ogle, East Coast Demerara Tel: 222-8050/222-8050/222-8055 Peg off: 225-4483-4 US off: (310) 929-7460 Email: reservations@ evergreenadventuresgy.com Website: evergreenadventuresgy.com Evergreen Adventures is a versatile and professional Tour Operator that specializes in nature and adventure Tourism, We offer exciting tours throughout Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and North Brazil.

Visit our Tour pages on our website and discover Northern south America. we will take care of you along the way. Our package tours can be tailored to fit your needs Hurakabra Tours 168 Century Palm Gdns. Durban Backlands, Lodge, G/Town Tel:225-3557, 649-4497 Fax: 226-0240 Email: gemmadhoo@gmail.com Website: www.hurakabragy.com Specializes in day tours and overnight packages to the Essequibo River and Hurakabra River Resort. Trips to Kaieteur and Orinduik Falls, other interior locations and Resorts. Can package your complete itinerary for extended holiday in Guyana.

Amenities Professional tour guides, safe and comfortable boats with experienced captaina ,comfortable coaches for road transportation. A wide range of aquatic activities. Indoor and outdoor games, jungle walks, climbing rapids, bird watching, wild life spotting Old Fort Tours and Resort 91 Middle Street, South C/burg, G/town Tel: 225-1035, 225-1037 Email: oldforttours_resort@hotmail.com Website: www.angcam.com Discover the wonders of the Essequibo River. Experience the adrenalin rush as you traverse the Marshall Rapids. Enjoy nature walks and the cascading waterfall at Baracara. Get a chance to see the Forts and the Court of Policy now called the Museum.

Outdoor Expeditions Tel: 223-5177, 660-6981 Email: info@outdoorexpeditionsgy.com Custom designed cultural and natural history experiences for individuals and small groups.

Roraima Tours R 8 Eping Avenue, Bel Air Park Georgetown.

Tel: (592)225-9648 Fax: (592)225-9646 Email: ral@roraimaairways.com Website: www.roraimaairawys.com Discover the lost paradise with Roraima Tours – the only tour operator that allows clients to experience Guyanese hospitality and professionalism while utilizing a complete tour package with the Roraima brand.

Savannah Inn Tours Lethem, Region 9 Tel: (592) 772-2035 Email: ramsaran4al@yahoo.com, lindakhan4@yahoo.com Website: www.savannahguyana.com We organise tours to any place in the Rupununi and Brazil. Our bilingual staff can take you through to Boa Vista. Your comfort and pleasure is our business.

Timberhead Tropical Adventures Ltd. 8-10 Providence, East Bank Demerara Tel: 223-5179/223-5023 Email: timberhead@solutions2000.net/ geb@solutions2000.net Website: www.timberheadguyana.com Wilderness Explorers Cara Suites, 176 Middle St., Georgetown Tel: 227-7698.

Fax: 226-2085 Email: info@wilderness-explorers.com Website: www.wilderness-explorers.com Skype: wildernessguyana or tonywildex Wilderness Explorers has been offering quality nature and adventure experiences since 1994. Whether you want soft adventure or an arduous expedition to untouched places, let us help you make it a reality. At Wilderness Explorers we have a passion for Guyana and our region and a desire to make every trip an adventure to remember. Our dedicated team is there to make sure your trip is the best it can be.

For a wide choice of trips refer to our website or contact us.

Amenities variety of day and overnight trips, we can custom design a trip to suit your needs, budget and particular interests. We combine trips with Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname, Brazil, Venezuela, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, Dominica, and St. Lucia.

TRAVEL AGENCY

Roraima International Travel Agency R8 Eping Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown Tel: 225-9648/225-6950 Fax: 225-9646 As an IATA Authorized Agent, Roraima International Travel Agency is a full-service IATA destination management company representing all major airlines with onward connections to the US, Canada, Europe and South America including Liat, Caribbean Airlines, Delta Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Air Canada, Blue Wing, Copa Airlines and much more.

About the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG)

T

he Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) was established in January 1991 by a number of persons working in the industry and is a member of the Private Sector Commission.

It was initially called the Tourism Association of Guyana but evolved into Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana in recognition of the magnitude of the industry. It is the umbrella body of all tourism related restauranteurs, tour operators, travel agents, craft owners, jewelers, and transportation services, among others.

THAG has pursued partnership with the Government of Guyana in development and expansion of various aspects of the tourism industry; generic marketing, training and development; positioning individual members locally, regionally and internationally to operate with the highest standards in the industry.

THAG is headed by an Executive Board comprising of a President, Vice President, Treasurer and two Committee members. The Secretariat is headed by an Executive Director who is responsible for the day to day management of the association, sits on the Boards of various committees, organizes and participates in trade shows locally and overseas. THAG’s permanent staff also includes an Administrative Officer and Administrative and Marketing Assistant.

THAG and the Government of Guyana, the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and the Guyana Tourism Authority, have built a strong alliance to promote and develop Guyana’s many natural and cultural attributes as a tourism destination.

Tourism & Hospitality Association of Guyana, Private Sector Commission Building Waterloo Street, Georgetown, Guyana. Tel: 011 592 225 0807. Fax: 011 592 225 0817 Email: thag@networksgy.com

www.exploreguyana.org

Angellina’s Travel Agency 1995 Parika Highway, East Bank Essequibo EXPLORE GUYANA

Tel: 260-4536/7 Fax: 260-4536 Email: angellinastravel@hotmail.com Website: www.angcam.com

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Events2012 calendar of

Special Events & Public Holidays

May 5 - Indian Arrival Day (National Holiday)

May 26 - Independence Day (National Holiday)

December 31, 2011 - Kashif & Shanghai Football Finals

January 1, 2012 - New Year’s Day Nationwide February - Steel Pan Competition - Children’s Costume Parade - Masquerade Competition - Chinese New Year - Calypso Finals Nationwide - Flag Raising Ceremony February 23 - Mashramani

March - International Motor Racing

*March 6th to May 7th 2012 - WICB Regional 4 Day Tournament, Region-wide

March 8 - Phagwah

March/April - Pakaraima Safari Cross-Country

*March 14th to April 23rd 2012 Digicel Series – West Indies v Australia

March 23-25 - Roraima Airways Inc : Annual Wedding Expo – Bridal Festival, Roraima Duke Lodge April 2-4 - Caribbean Tourism Organisation- 13th Sustainable Tourism Conference, Georgetown

April 6-9 - Easter Weekend Celebrations, Nationwide - Bartica Easter Regatta, Bartica - Rupununi Rodeo, Rupununi

April - Linden Town Day

May 1 - Labour Day (National Holiday)

May - Moruca Expo, Moruca

May 31- June 5 - Environmental Awareness Week, Nationwide

June 5 - Environmental Day

June 16 - Enmore Martyrs’ Day (Day of Commemoration) (National Holiday)

*June 23rd to August 2nd 2012 - Digicel Series – West Indies v New Zealand

July - Caricom Day (First Monday) - Berbice Expo - Madhia Expo - El Dorado Heritage Month August 1 - Emancipation Day. (Day of Commemoration/National Holiday) August - JamZone Week of Events - Bartica Summer Regatta - Lake Mainstay Regatta August 19 Eid Ul Fitr August(3rd Week) - Mining Week

August 28 Porkknocker’s Day

September 1-30 - Amerindian Awareness Month

September - Amerindian Pageant - GUYEXPO - The Guyana/Brazil Cultural Festival, Lethem

- GTT Jingle Competition

October 1- 31 Agriculture Awareness Month October - Car & Bike Show - National Trust Heritage Week - Rockstone Fish Festival* - Canje Nite, Berbice - Essequibo Nite, Anna Regina , Essequibo Coast

October 26 - Eid Ul Azha

November 1-30 - Tourism Awareness Month

Friday, November 16 to Friday November 23 South Rupununi Safari (SRS)

November - Ministry of Tourism Christmas Tree Light up - International Motor Racing - New Amsterdam Town Day - Main Street Lighting Up (Courts) - Rupununi Day - Guyana Open Golf Tournament November 13 - Diwali (Festival of Lights)

November 24 & 25 - Rupununi Expo

December 24 - Christmas Eve

December 25 - Christmas Day

December 26 - Boxing Day

December 26 - Main Big Lime

December 31 - Old Year’s Day

Share the excitement when in Guyana

Annually Guyanese celebrate a number of special occasions based on its rich cultural heritage and diverse ethnic population. Many of these activities are celebrated across Guyana or staged in specific parts of the country. Be sure to plan your vacation to visit Guyana whether it be to celebrate Mashramani our local carnival, Phagwah the Hindu Spring festival, motor racing or all the thrills of International Cricket, the nation’s number one sport. *Dates subject to change. Please visit our website www.exploreguyana.org for confirmed dates.

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EXPLORE GUYANA