The Ofcial Tourist Guide of Guyana 2014

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
Adrian Pryce
Christine Gooding
Tessa Allen
Graphic Design:
Mensah Fox
Editorial Contributors:
Lokesh Singh Treina F. Butts
Pippa Jacks Ian Craddock
National Trust of Guyana Michael Devenish
Major General (retd) Joseph Singh Chevon Singh
Damian Fernandes Salvador De Caires
Alex Morritt Matt Hallett
Samantha James Philippe J R Kok
Monique Holting Rafael Ernst
Capt. Lloyd Marshall Dr Vindhya V Persaud
Carnegie School of Home Economics
Contributing Photography:
Mensah Fox Adrian Narine
Pippa Jacks Ofce of the President
National Trust of Guyana Michael Devenish and Friends
Major General (retd) Joseph Singh Rommel Niamatali
Duane De Freitas Chevon Singh
Guyana Tourism Authority Damien Fernandes
Ministry of Natural Resources Salvador de Caires
Andrea de Caires Paul Waldron
Andrew Snyder Ricardo Stannoss
Dr Racquel Thomas-Caesar Dr Vindhya V Persaud
On The Cover:
Hollywood Actor Channing Tatum
with Amerindian Group at
Surama Village
Cover Photo:
Ian Craddock
Copyright 2014. 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.
A D V E R T I S I N G
& M A R K E T I N G
S E R V I C E S L T D .
CONTENTS
EXPLORE GUYANA | 5
The Ofcial Tourist Guide of Guyana 2014
COME, RE-DISCOVER GUYANA
INTRODUCTION AND WELCOME
6 - President of Guyana Message
8 - THAG Welcome Message
11 - Minister of Tourism Message
12 - On the Prowl
20 - Adventure to Remember
MAPS
25 - Map of Guyana
26 - Map of Georgetown /
Architectural Treasures
EXPLORE GUYANA
29 - Colonial Homes of Georgetown
34 - Fishing in the Jungle Rivers
42 - The Wonderful Demerara River
50 - Riding the Rapids of the Raging Rivers
53 - Three Parks Initatves
57 - The Story of Buddy - The Blind Giant Oter
61 - Kaieteur Falls
63 - Mighty Kaieteur
64 - Unusual Images of the Jungle
66 - Berbice - The Ancient County
70 - Local Wisdom for Conservaton
75 - The Frog that may be lost
79 - 100 Years of Aviaton in Guyana
FUN & FOOD
85 - Deepavali
89 - Guyanese Recipes
ABOUT GUYANA
90 - Country Facts, Government,
Travelling & Money & Business
THAG TRAVELLER
94 - Accommodatons -
Georgetown & Environs
96 - Eco-Resorts, Interior
Lodges & Atractons
100 - THAG Member Services
103 - Calendar of Events
T
he Tourism and Hospitality Associaton 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 initally called the Tourism Associaton of
Guyana but evolved into Tourism and Hospitality
Associaton of Guyana in recogniton of the
magnitude of the industry. It is the umbrella
body of all tourism related restauranteurs,
tour operators, travel agents, hoteliers and
transportaton services, comunity based tourism
providers among others.

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

THAG is headed by an Executve Board comprising
of a President, Vice President, Treasurer and four
Commitee members.
The Secretariat is headed by an Executve
Director whose responsibility is the day to
day management of the Associaton. THAGs
permanent staf is the Executve Ofcer.

THAG, the Guyana Tourism Authority and the
Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce
have built a strong alliance to promote and
develop Guyanas many natural and cultural
atributes as a tourism destnaton.
Tourism & Hospitality Associaton of Guyana,
Private Sector Commission Building Waterloo
Street, Georgetown, Guyana.
Tel: 011 592 225 0807 / 592 225 0817
Email: info@exploreguyana.org
thag.secretariat@gmail.com
www.exploreguyana.org
About the Tourism and
Hospitality Associaton of
Guyana (THAG)
GUYANA
Come, Re-Discover
I
am pleased to be associated with this the 2014 edition of
Explore Guyana magazine, a publication that continues
to make an invaluable contribution to the promotion of
Guyana as a tourist destination. This high class publication,
produced by professionals committed to the highest standards
of excellence is loaded with important information and features
about Guyanas ever- improving tourism product.
I am pleased to note that this years magazine focuses on
my countrys nature- based and adventure tourism product.
Blessed with stupendous natural beauty and home to
extensive virgin rainforests, some of the worlds rarest species
of flora, and many extinct fauna, Guyana offers an experience
of adventure and fun, one that is quite different from the
traditional sun, sea and sand that is the traditional fare of other
destinations in the Caribbean.
Tourists are now increasingly demanding new, exotic and
adventure-filled experiences. Guyana, given its natural
attributes and its geographic location on the doorstep to some
of the major economies in South America and close to the
islands of the Caribbean Sea, can provide that memorable
experience that is unique, special, educational, adventurous
and fun-filled.
It is my hope that as you meander through the pages of this
magazine that your interest will be tickled and your appetite for
a different kind of tourist experience will be wetted so that when
you plan your next vacation you will seriously consider Guyana,
a country brimming with confidence, inviting, hospitable, and
with delights and adventure awaiting your arrival.
I invite you to come and experience for yourselves the
unforgettable natural wonders of Guyana, and to have a
season of fun and adventure, the likes of which you have
never experienced nor will you ever regret.
H.E Donald Ramotar
President
Republic of Guyana
H.E Donald Ramotar
President
Republic of Guyana
EXPLORE GUYANA | 6
EXPLORE GUYANA | 8
Visit, Enjoy, Experience
GUYANA
Re-Discover
Andrea de Caires
Commitee Member
Treina F. Buts
Executve Director
Nicole Correia
Vice President
Mitra Ramkumar
Treasurer
Colin Edwards
Commitee Member
Ann Hamilton
Commitee Member
Kit Nascimento
President
Jacqueline Allicock
Chairman Amerindian
Afairs
A warm welcome to Explore Guyana 2014!
This is my first year as President of THAG. It is a privilege to have been elected and I very much look forward to
our working together to build and promote Guyana as a wonderful and very special tourist destination. On behalf
of THAG, I am especially pleased to extend a warm welcome to all current and prospective visitors to Guyana. I
thank you for choosing Guyana, the third largest country in South America and the only English Speaking country
on the Continent.
Come and share with us the warmth of our hospitality, the wonders of Kaieteur Falls, our unique biodiversity, our
huge variety of birds, our diverse culture and cuisine. In many ways, Guyana serves as the lungs and the laboratory
to the world. We look forward to 2014 with anticipation as more and more visitors discover Guyana. We are pleased
to welcome Fly Jamaica and continue to welcome Caribbean Airlines and Suriname Airways to our friendly skies. In
2014, when our new airport is completed and the Marriott Hotel in place, we look forward to additional new airlines
coming on board.
The hosting of the Rupununi Music and Arts Festival planned for 14-16th February, this year, could not have been
better timed. Begin making your travel arrangements and bookings now. Make November a month to remember as
the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club hosts yet another exciting weekend of events and the industry celebrates
Tourism Awareness Month.
We hosted in September last year, the Inaugural Nereids Yacht Rally from Chaguaramas in Trinidad & Tobago
and the first Rally destined for our magnificent Essequibo River at the Hurakabra River Resort. We look forward to
hosting a bigger and better 2014 Rally.
I wish to thank our existing members, previous executives and partners for all their tireless efforts and their
contributions to this publication over the years. I welcome new members of the industry to join us, to support the
initiatives of THAG and strengthen our voice on behalf of the sector. I believe that the strength of any organisation is
in its membership. As your new President, I know that it is fundamental to our success that the membership be fully
consulted and actively involved in our governance and in our decisions.
Together, THAG and the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Tourism and the Guyana Tourism Authority,
have expanded our drive to increase the promotion of Guyana as both a Caribbean and South American destination.
We look to our government to partner us and invest in our development but it is our private sector who invest in our
tourism product and for us to grow and prosper, it must be private sector driven and public sector regulated.
To all of our visitors a hearty welcome. We look forward to hosting you and to your coming again and again.
See you soon!!
Kit Nascimento
President, Tourism & Hospitality
Association of Guyana
GUYANA
I
f you are looking for one of a kind destination full of adventure, hospitality and unique
experiences, then Guyana is the place to come!!!
A truly memorable, unforgettable and out of the ordinary experience awaits you in this is a paradise
for nature lovers, bird enthusiasts, adventure seekers and the eco- tourists; with this in mind,
a series of exciting and diverse cultural events have been held in 2013, providing the perfect
opportunity for thousands of visitors and locals to experience Guyanas unique blend of customs
and activities.
With Guyanas wealth of world class natural tourism attractions including vast trails of wilderness,
rainforests, river systems, mountains, an abundance of natural resources and a variety of historic
sites, the countrys tourism product continues to grow and attract significant interest from investors
and visitors alike.
Over the past year, the Tourism Ministry and the Guyana Tourism Authority have succeeded in
ensuring that the destinations tourism product is showcased through increased marketing and
heightened participation in international trade shows; as representatives proceed to sell Guyana
as a birding, yachting, and eco tourism destination.
The thrust to brand and promote Guyana has lead to increased international recognition; the
destination has been featured in several international publications including Fortune 500, Caribbean
Airlines In flight Magazine Bamazon- the History Channel, Gold Rush Discovery Channel and a
team from Blue Paw out of Germany recently concluded filming Big 5 Series in Guyana.

Acknowledging the benefits and importance of this sector to Guyana and the region as a whole;
the Government continues to invest in infrastructural developments- the Marriott Hotel, the
Expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and the Ogle International Airport, to maintain
International destination awareness through the attendance at key trade shows, and to continue to
be featured in films, documentaries and publications.
With these and other developments taking hold, it is clear the Tourism Sector in Guyana is on the
precipice of take off and we are well poised to welcome even more visitors to the destination.
Various initiatives which have been vigorously promoted have also helped contribute towards an
increase in tourist arrivals into Guyana from around 99,000 in 2001 to over in 176, 642 in 2012- an
almost 80% increase in ten years.
In an effort to make Guyana an even more competitive destination and to widen the countrys
appeal , outside of the Guyanese Diaspora , destination branding has accelerated , there has
been more focused improvements to the transport infrastructure for greater connectivity and more
airlifts, reduce travel time/ travel cost, there has been extended marketing efforts to improve our
market position, increased and improve tourist facilities, improved standards within the industry
(both service and product), and increase funding to institutions that support tourism development.
We continue to improve our competitive edge in the sector to ensure a quality tourism product
is offered to our many new and returning guests to the destination, this will undoubtedly result in
better customer satisfaction and the sustainable development of the sector.
Further, we remain committed to Public Private Partnership through our continued support of
publications such as the Explore Guyana Magazine, aimed at promoting Guyana as the premier
destination of choice.
I take this opportunity to invite to you visit and re visit the destination with your family and friends to
experience an unforgettable journey that is Destination Guyana
Hon. Mohamed Irfaan Ali
Minister of Tourism,
Industry and Commerce (ag.)
Come, Re-Discover
11 | EXPLORE GUYANA
12 | EXPLORE GUYANA
On the
Prowl
Story by Pippa Jacks, Managing Editor, TTG.
Guyana is in South America but has more in common with
the Caribbean, and is the CTOs poster-child for sustainable
tourism. Pippa Jacks goes in search of jaguars in this little-
visited country.
Howler Monkey
13 | EXPLORE GUYANA
A
s the sun begins to peep over
the forest canopy, the rainforest
orchestra strikes up for its morning
concert. Cicadas supply the strings with
their synthesized buzz, while a woodpecker
plays percussion on a tree trunk. Distant
birdsong sounds like a recorder; a caracara
bird shrieks like a firework before it explodes
and theres the constant, penny-whistle call
of the screaming piha bird.
Im sharing this viewing platform 33 metres
above the rainforest floor with just two other
people, so I feel like the birds are giving me
a private performance.
Iwokrama Rainforest Reserve is described
as the green heart of Guyana, and covers
a million acres of pristine rainforest. The
raised canopy walkway on which Im sitting
allows me a better view of some of the
countrys 800 bird species and 7,000 plants
and if Im lucky I may catch a glimpse of
an elusive jaguar.
The reserve was created in 1996 as a gift
to the international community, so research
could be carried out into sustainable forestry
White Hawk holding a Fire Snake
EXPLORE GUYANA | 15
and climate change, and enabling the
indigenous Makushi people to earn money
from tourism instead of mining. There
are only a handful of places to stay in the
rainforest and surrounding savannah, and
the lodges and camps have been carefully
crafted to offer different experiences,
so as not to compete with one another.
After a jaguar-less stay at Atta Lodge, we
drive further into the reserve to Iwokrama
River Lodge and Centre for Rainforest
Conservation where I get a chance to chat
to the resident scientist about her research.
My home for the night is a simple wooden
chalet with a hammock out on the porch,
from where I can stare out onto the mighty
Essequibo River. After dinner, we go out by
boat in search of nocturnal wildlife, and spy
Sankhar, the friendly six-foot caiman, as
well as several snakes.
On a morning hike to the top of Turtle
Mountain, theres still no sign of a jaguar, but
we do encounter a group of cheeky howler
monkeys, who pee on us from above and
throw sticks to make us move on.
On a 6am river trip, we see a group of red
howler monkeys, beautiful blue and gold
macaws, and a terrifyingly large harpy
eagle with a wing span of up to six feet
which can take animals as big as a sloth
out of a tree.
Big attractions The harpy eagle is just
one of Guyanas many natural giants. Its
as if, left undisturbed by man, wildlife has
gone into turbo-evolution here. There is
the giant river otter, the giant anteater, the
worlds biggest lily and the worlds largest
A Black Caiman On the Prowl
16 | EXPLORE GUYANA
constricting snake, the anaconda. And of
course theres the legendary jaguar, which
is the largest cat in the Americas. But even
the BBC documentary team, which came to
film Lost Land of The Jaguar here in 2008,
only caught one jaguar on camera, so I try
not to get my hopes up.
With such incredible biodiversity, its no
surprise that Guyana is popular with wildlife
enthusiasts. Lodges and camps also offer
activities like horse-riding, canoeing, sport-
fishing and jungle survival courses.
Such small-scale tourism (only around
2,500 annual tourists from the UK) with
internal flights in tiny planes makes Guyana
a reassuringly expensive destination. But
those who can afford it are treated to some
of the most diverse and untouched wildlife
in the world, and have the rare privilege of
barely bumping into any other tourists.
On a day trip from the capital city of
Georgetown to the magnificent Kaieteur
Falls, I was one of only a handful of visitors
that day hard to believe when you think
of the droves of tourists at other famous
waterfall sitesbin the world.
Pottering around Georgetown too, clients
are unlikely to come across many other
holidaymakers. Churches, mosques and
Hindu shrines sit side by side, hinting at how
this resource-rich country was conquered
by the Dutch and then the British.
More than 90% of the population live in a
narrow coastal strip, and, as an English-
speaking country, these people feel more in
common with the Caribbean than with Latin
America.
Sustainable future Guyana is also the
member destination to which the Caribbean
Tourism Organisation looks for best
practice in low-impact, nature-centric and
community-focused tourism.
Surama Village, Guyanas most famous
example of community-led tourism is
therefore a fitting place to conclude my
trip. This community of nearly 300 Makushi
people in the Rupununi savannah, just
south of Iwokrama, has successfully
opened up to tourism while retaining its
hunting and farming traditions.
Guests are welcomed to the village like
friends and can stay in either a traditional
thatched benab or a more modern cabin.
Over a delicious breakfast of breads,
Giant Anteater & Baby
Toucan Frog
Frog
18 | EXPLORE GUYANA
homemade peanut butter and fruits grown in her own garden,
Suramas chef and culture leader Jeane Allicock tells me
how she teaches songs and poems to the communitys
children to keep the Makushi language and legends alive.
Im lucky to get the chance to chat to village elder Fred Allicock,
one of the brothers who founded the Surama community,
and who worked closely with the research organisations to
locate and build Iwokrama field station. He also created the
agreement between the indigenous owners of the land and
the research bodies as to how Iwokrama would be run.
I cant help but ask how many jaguars hes seen himself.
He chuckles as if hes been asked this question a thousand
times.
The jaguars are there, he promises. But if your eyes arent
accustomed to the landscape then you miss them.
If only the stealthy jaguars would take their lead from the
birds at Iwokrama and stage a private perfomance for me.
Though that would rather ruin the fun of searching.
For more information visit www.ttgdigital.com
Tarantula
Jaguar
Canopy Walkway - Iwokrama
Tarantula
Jaguar
20 | EXPLORE GUYANA 20 | EXPLORE GUYANA
An Adventure to Remember
Channing Tatum & Friends Explore Guyana
Story & Photos by Ian Craddock
Channing and Friends on top of Kaieteur
EXPLORE GUYANA | 21
An Adventure to Remember
G
uyana is rapidly emerging as the
new jewel in the crown of rainforest
destinations around the World.
Because of its size, relatively few tourists
and the remoteness of the interior locations,
many trips are planned by local operators
who know the place well and can best work
the infrastructure and attractions of Guyana
into a great tour.
But if you want to do something a little
different, your dates dont match a
scheduled trip or you need more of a
bespoke package then that is no problem!
One such person was movie star Channing
Tatum and a group of friends who travelled
to Guyana in 2012. They reached out to the
UK and Guyana registered tour operator
Bushmasters (who specialize in adventure
and survival experiences in the jungle) to
develop a trip which would push these guys
to the limits, to see if they can handle life
without all the luxuries of home, but also to
have some serious fun and memories to
last a life time.
Channing and his friends flew to Surama,
but of course en route they stopped off at
the amazing Kaieteur Falls. The fact that it
is in the middle of nowhere, has no cheesy
souvenir stands or such like and there was
no one else there, made the experience
of this huge jungle waterfall all the more
stunning.
In Surama they slept every night in
hammocks in the jungle, lit their own fire
with no matches, swam rivers using their
packs as floatation aids, climbed into the
tallest of the silk cotton trees (and rappelled
down afterwards), fished for their dinner
and even had a mad and exciting day of
paintball in the forest. One scenario had
them protecting some local girls from the
bad guys! GI Joe himself as one of their
bodyguards certainly went down very well
with the girls!! Throughout their time in
the interior of Guyana and deep into the
forest the guys had with them Bushmasters
staff and the awesome local hunters from
the village. Ninja 1 and 2 as they became
known!
Every person we met was so laid back,
nice, and capable! Man were they ever
capable. We watched one of the local boys
fish using his bow and arrow, and he was
spearing fish from 30 feet away! Fish that
we couldnt even see were there. It was
amazing.
Indeed, throughout their time in Guyana the
team was really made to feel safe, at home
and really welcome by the people. To say
Channing and his friends were impressed
is an understatement.
The people in Guyana are half the story,
theyre incredible. Its like something out of
a storybook. They can fix a car with a roll
of duct tape and kill a charging jaguar with
a bow and arrow, and all with a calm smile
on their face like theyve done it a million
times before.
From the jungle the guys took to 4x4
vehicles to bounce along rainforest tracks
Channing Tatum with Amerindian Group at Surama Village
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Channing Conquers the Challenge
Channing and Friends Crossing Challenging Terrain
and then out into the savannah for the
150km journey across the savannah. In
torrential rain, they drove the vehicles
through swollen creeks, muddy tracks
and were often winching, pulling and hi-lift
jacking themselves out of the many stick
ups they got into. It was hard driving, but
great fun with the tunes coming loud from
each vehicle.
Finally, reaching Lethem on the Brazilian
border the guys had a let their hair down
that night at a well known Brazilian BBQ
next to the airstrip and later at the Takatu
Hotel, where, along with what seemed like
half of the youth of Lethem, they had a
great Tuesday (!) night out. Channing had
several dance offs with local guys testifying
to his Step Up Movie street dance skills,
whilst the rest took to karaoke, pool and
some awesome guitar solos!
As Channing said:
After the jungle, and long road trip to the
Channing and Friends in Lethem
March into jungle
23 | EXPLORE GUYANA
Channing and Friends in Lethem
border; we had barbeque at this awesome
Brazilian place and then spent the night
hanging with the locals, dancing, singing,
and drinking the local rum. Easily one of
the best travel experiences of my life so
far.
This carried on to the very early hours so
the flight back to Georgetown the next day
was pretty quiet, though by the evening all
had recovered enough to hit the Brazilian
BBQ and then onto a great night out at
Jerries on Waterloo Street. Jerries graffiti
wall is still full of the whole teams prose!
After 10 days in Guyana the guys left
next day, having had a great time, loving
Guyana and planning their next boys own
adventure. Channing was on the Letterman
show a few days later promoting the Magic
Mike movie, but also extolling the virtues
of Guyana and the jungle. Letterman
thought he was crazy swimming rivers full
of piranha, caiman and anacondas, but
for Channing and his friends, this is what
it was all about, getting back to basics, to
pristine nature and in Guyana they found
the perfect place.how about you?
Channing summed it up perfectly
Going to Guyana is like stepping back
in time. Its so untouched by man. The
Jungle, the plains, the rivers and the
animals. Seriously, Im not sure you could
find another country this far off the beaten
path and pristine left on earth.
March into jungle
Rewa
Adventure
Guianas Villa
& Courtyard
Savannah Inn
Fair View
Conservation
International
Concession
Hurakabra
Grand Coastal Hotel
Aracari Resort
Jubilee Resorts
Wonotobo Resort
Surama
Wowetta Aranaputa
Atta Lodge
Karasabai
Yupukari / Caiman House
Nappi
Iwokrama Canopy
Walkway
Lodge
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Please refer to page 94 for details of Hotel listings
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DENOTES CITY HOTEL LOCATIONS
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Georgetown
Colonial Homes of
Introduction
In the ever changing landscape of
Guyana, especially in the district of
Georgetown, some striking old traditional
wooden buildings can still be found. In the
conservation of our wooden built heritage,
strategies had to be adopted to make the
use of historic buildings current so that
they can survive for the benefit of future
generations. This is so since the original
use of the building may not have been
sustainable enough to safeguard the future
of the building. The term adaptive reuse is
common among conservation enthusiasts.
It is the act of changing the original function
of the building or site in an attempt to ensure
the survival of the historic building. This
change is usually designed for the benefit of
the public and in an effort to garner revenue
to aid in maintenance.
In adaptive reuse, the aim is to retain the
aesthetics of the original building especially
the facades. In many such projects the
internal areas of the building will be altered
to accommodate the new functions of the
building. For example, if a historic building
which was once a dwelling house is to be
changed to a hotel, its internal spaces will
be retrofitted to suit the new functions.
There are a number of exemplars of
adaptive reuse in Guyana including the
Dutch Heritage Museum which was once
a Court of Policy building located at Fort
Island on the Essequibo River, Cara Lodge
Hotel, Red House, Castellani House,
Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport among
others. In this article, a number of historic
buildings will be featured most of which now
serve various functions from what they were
originally built for, that is, private dwellings.
Some still retain their original purpose such
as Austin House.
Brazilian Ambassadors
Residence
This residence, located on the corner
of Peter Rose and Anira Streets in
Queenstown, was built in 1939-40 by the
De Freitas brothers for their sister Aurelia
Story by: The National Trust of Guyana
Brazilian Ambassadors Residence
Woodbine House - Now Cara Lodge
30 | EXPLORE GUYANA 30 | EXPLORE GUYANA
De Freitas on the occasion of her marriage
to Andrew Baldwin. He was a British
schoolteacher who was once employed by
Queens College.
A team from Charlestown Sawmills led
by one Harry was responsible for the
erection of the house, all timber and
materials having been procured from this
establishment. Its Brazilian connection
was initiated through the association of
Mrs. Baldwin (nee De Freitas) who acted
as liaison for Cruzeiro Airlines, a Brazilian
Airline that was operating in British Guyana
in July of 1971 upon the retirement of the
Baldwins to England.
Woodbine House now Cara
Lodge
This building is located at 294 Quamina
Street. It was built in the 1840s and was
called the Woodbine House and was
home to several influential owners. Now a
heritage hotel, this building constitutes a
variety of architectural features stemming
mainly from colonial influences including
the prominent Demerara shutters, turned
timber balusters and English brick columns.
It also has Portuguese ceramic floor tiles
and the railing and gate bear the crest of
Woodbine House.
This heritage hotel has successfully merged
the beauty of traditional architecture with
contemporary luxury and comfort.
Dargan House - now UNESCO
Office
This traditionally designed building
is located on the corner of Robb and
Oronoque Streets. It was named after
its first and most influential owner Patrick
Dargan (1850-1908), a coloured lawyer
and Politician. It was purportedly built circa
1880. This elegant two storey wooden
building features a unique grand staircase
constructed of local wood and is a splendid
example of traditional colonial architecture.
It was purchased by the Government of
Guyana in 1975. It now houses the office
of the Guyana National Commission for
UNESCO (United Nations Educational
Scientific and Cultural Organisation).
Austin House
Home of the Anglican Bishops of Guyana,
Austin House is named after Bishop William
Piercy Austin (18071892) who lived in the
original building on the site. Opened in
1842 as the Bishops residence, the original
Dargan House - Now UNESCO Offce
Austain House
Sharples House - Now Duke Lodge
Dargan House - Now UNESCO Offce
building was U-shaped, and was known
as Kingston House. Kingston House, in
disrepair was demolished in early July 1894
and construction of a new structure started
later in the month.
This second building, handed over on
October 5, 1894, is the structure we know
today as Austin House which is located on
High street, Kingston. The 1894 structure
is credited to the construction capability
of John Bradshaw Sharples (possibly
John Bradshaw) and is typical of the
colonial structures of the day with steep
roofs, Demerara windows and six-paned
Georgian windows.
During the tenure of Bishop Swaby (up to
1899) the building was known as Bishops
Court.
In the 1930s the ground floor was enclosed
to provide more space for offices and in the
1950s the stained glass windows over the
main entrance were added. In 2012 major
restorative works were done by Architect
Rawle Jordon.
Sharples House now Duke
Lodge
Sharples House, located on the northern
portion of Lot 93 Duke Street, Kingston
on the western side of the street, was
constructed circa 1890. Kingston was
the first area of settlement of the British in
Georgetown and this particular part of the
street, north of Barrack Street, boasts a fine
ensemble of 19th century historic wooden
colonial homes.
A distinctive feature of this building is the
centrally placed open entrance porch
with its classical entablature (horizontal
roof beam resting on the columns) with
a cornice (the top slightly projecting part
of the roof beam) and a combined frieze/
architrave (the lower part) with running
panels of figures one female, one animal
and one male (left to right).
This building is now an apartment building
in conjunction with the Duke Lodge Hotel.
GO-INVEST Office
Located on the corner of Camp and Church
Streets this impressive colonial style
structure was designed by H.O Durham
and constructed circa 1925.
The imposing facade of push-out jalousie
windows on the top floor and with glass
windows running the full length of the
gallery below join with arches and stairways
and high wall within to create a warmth and
comfort and security that is almost tangible.
The southern tower anchors the building
firmly carrying a special feature known as
a widows walk.
Upon construction, the building was then
purchased by E. Kidman and was later sold
to a Dr. Browne. In the 1940s, the property
was acquired by Dr. Frederick M. Kerry and
became the Kerry family home until 1979
when Mrs. Eleanor Kerry sold the property
to the Government of Guyana.
The property was then converted to
commercial use and became the offices
of Design & Graphics the Government
owned Advertising Agency at the time.
Today it houses the offices of GO-INVEST,
The Guyana Office for Investment.
For further information on monuments
and other historic sites in Guyana please
contact the National Trust, Carmichael
Street, Georgetown. Telephone: (011592)
2255071. Email: nationaltrustgy@gmail.
com
GO-INVEST Offce
34 | EXPLORE GUYANA
Fishing in the Jungle Rivers
Where Exotic Species Abound
Story By Michael Devenish
John with his prized catch of an Elusive Arawana
F
or myself, old friends Nick Houlgate
and John Petchey and, more
recently, my brother Ian, February
2013 was not our first trip to the beautiful
Country of Guyana.
In fact this was our third visit in as many
years and the reason can be found in
Guyanas other title, The Land of Many
Waters . For we are four men from the
UK who share a passion for sport fishing
and we have travelled all over the World
over many years in order to catch and
photograph exotic fish species.
This may seem a strange past- time to most
people whose usual experience of fish is
something which turns up on a plate at meal
times but to us the challenge of hunting and
catching fish and to record and photograph
them before returning them unharmed to
the water, holds far more appeal.
In fact, in some of the Countries we have
visited in the past there is almost no
understanding of the concept of sport
fishing and letting fish go to live another day
is not only bewildering to the local people
but has even caused friction at times. This
is an attitude that we can understand from
a poor African or Indian Villager trying to
feed his family and we always try to explain
that our tourist dollars are what we offer
instead, but sadly fish stocks are in decline
all over the world and fish have few friends
South America has always been a favourite
destination for us but, not being great
linguists, we have often experienced
isolation and communication difficulties in
most Latin American Countries.
This, of course, is not a problem for us in
Guyana and the benefits of being able to
talk freely and easily with everyone we
meet and in our own language, is never
under-estimated by us.
However, the real advantage to fishing
in Guyana comes about because of
the merging of some of the Countries
larger river systems with those of other
Amazonian rivers during the high waters
of the rainy season. This is when the rivers
rise and break their banks, flooding into the
forests and allowing the fish in to forage on
the flooded ground. This is known as the
time of plenty for the fish but the time of
little for the fisherman.
The flooding of the Rupununi Savannah
enables rivers to connect with their Brazilian
neighbours and not only helps the fish to
survive and thrive but has also allowed
species to migrate as a consequence of
which we can find many of the classic
Amazonian sport fish in Guyana.
Species such as the beautiful and highly
colured Lucanani or Peacock Bass, much
prized for its aggressive nature in taking
our artificial lures, and the Baiara or
Vampire Devil Fish with its outlandish fang
like bottom teeth. The elusive Arawana,
which can be so difficult to catch and even
harder to hold due to its incredible speed
and manoeuvrability. From the prehistoric
looking Haimara, which must rank high
on the list of the World ugliest fish, to the
mighty Arapaima, the largest scaled fresh
water fish of all.
Black Caiman
35 | EXPLORE GUYANA
EXPLORE GUYANA | 37 36 | EXPLORE GUYANA
Then there are the many species of cat fish
or skin fish, so called because they have
no scales, The Lau Lau (largest skin fresh
water fish in the world), The Red Tail or
Banana fish, the Jundea and the Surabim,
Tiger Fish and many more all inhabit these
waters. The list of species is almost endless
and they can all be found in the Jungle
Rivers of Guyana.
Our journey begins in Georgetown with our
regular driver Dennis who meets us at the
airport and crams us and all our baggage
into his (too small) car for the always
entertaining drive into town where we
always overnight at the lovely old colonial
building that is now the Herdmanston
Lodge Hotel.
We invariably receive a wonderfully warm
welcome from the staff here and Tuana,
Edna, Malcolm, Michael and all the others
who make our stay comfortable are always
pleased to see us again, its a delight to be
back again albeit for one night only.
After a good nights sleep and the re-packing
of our equipment into jungle proof dry bags
we are off the next day to Ogle airport for
the short ninety minute flight to Annai in the
Rupununi Savannah where sometimes we
will linger a night at the lovely Rock View
Lodge as guests of fellow Englishman Colin
Edwards.
Colin has created a beautiful Eco Lodge
and Gardens here which must be seen and
experienced by any visitor to Guyana.
This year however we want to keep moving
and we only stay long enough to pick up
some packed breakfasts and a bottle of
Colins home made fruit juice before loading
up the truck which Colins son Jorge will
drive to transport us the short distance
across the Savannah to the landing at
Kwatamang on the Rupununi River.
This is where we meet up with our old friend
and guide Ashley Holland from Yupukarri
who brings along all the boats, hammocks,
tarpaulins and food we will need for two
weeks of camping in the jungle.
Also with Ashley are our Amerindian
boatmen friends Brian and Telford and Jose
who does all the cooking and who, despite
all the jokes, has yet to serve up anything
truly disagreeable.
Once loaded aboard the boats and
underway on the river we travel for a few
hours to our first stop which is the eco-
lodge at Rewa where we stay for an hour
or so and collect a small two man canoe left
here by Ashley on his last visit.
Rewa Lodge is also the very last opportunity
to enjoy a cold beer before the jungle
proper
Soon we are off again and entering the
mighty Essequibo River and onto the
village of Apoteri where we stop to pick up
two more Amerindian Guides.
Uncle Stanley and his Son in Law Neville
bring local knowledge of the channels and
routes on this river which are essential to
safe travel on the water.
River travel is slow this year, as water levels
are very low due to the lack of rain in the
wet season, but very soon we are getting
Jungle River
Home Sweet Home Nick and Ian Fishing
Ian with Bayara
EXPLORE GUYANA | 37 36 | EXPLORE GUYANA
rain showers which prompts much joking
from the boatmen about us bringing the
English weather with us to Guyana.
The river surface is teeming with millions
of small yellow butterflies all seeming to
be on their way to somewhere else and
in quantities that we have never seen
previously and before the afternoon is up
we have also spotted an Osprey and a pair
of giant otters.
Late afternoon we land at out first campsite
and very quickly a small river-side clearing
becomes a comfortable abode with
hammocks slung under tarpaulins and
dinner under way.
Very quickly we adjust to camp life and our
daily routine sees us rising before dawn for
an early session of bait fishing for the cat
fish.
Once the sun is up we will return to camp
for breakfast, usually porridge with wild
honey or eggs with fried fish. Although we
are sport fisherman we do, of course, have
to eat some of what we catch and fried cat
fish for breakfast is delicious.
Fully fuelled we set off again to spend the
day casting lures to the many species that
will take artificial bait. The Lucanani, the
Arawana, the Haimara, the Pacu and of
course the ubiquitous Piranha.
The Piranha is everywhere and is usually
viewed by us as a nuisance fish but they
are feisty and aggressive and can be great
sport on a quiet day, just stay away from
those teeth. They also provide a reliable
protein source for the local people during
the rainy season when other species are
hard to catch.
Our first full days fishing saw John and Nick
catch quite a few Haimara, a species which
has eluded us in the past so were off to a
good start, despite the odd rain shower.
Ashley, of course, is never slow to remind
us that we are in the Rain Forest again and
thats why its called Rain Forest. The clue
is in the title I guess.
The next day I went with Ian and Neville
to take the small canoe around one of the
large land- locked Ox-Bow lakes which
abound in this area.
Redtailed Catfish Mouth
Kingfisher Capybara
Michael with an Arawana
Ashley Relaxing
These lakes are left behind when the water
levels recede after the rains and will often
trap fish so they can be very good places
for the angler to try his luck.
Mine was in on this day and my second cast
produced an 8lb tiger cat fish which took
my artificial lure and was soon followed
over the next hour or two by half a dozen
Haimara up to 15lb and two Peacock Bass
at 5 and 6 lb respectively.
Ian was not doing quite as well when
suddenly the whole situation changed and
my lure was engulfed by something much
larger. Suddenly I was into a battle of epic
proportions.
This was the famed Arapaima and was most
certainly not what I was fishing for. These
fish have been hunted to near extinction in
other Countries but are a protected species
in Guyana and thankfully it seems that
populations of these fish are now on the
rise again here.
But my immediate problem now is that I find
myself connected to a fish not much smaller
than myself which I must free again as
soon as possible. Imagining all along that
this large fish will spit out my ridiculously
small lure like a grain of rice at any moment
I hold on tight but I think this fish knew that I
meant it no harm and thankfully it was very
soon returned to the water having suffered
EXPLORE GUYANA | 38
no more than wounded pride and the
inevitable photograph.
Sport fishermen are mostly fairly serious
conservationists and I will admit that I was
never happier to see a fish swim safely
away.
After a few days at this camp it was time
to pack up and move the thirty or so miles
to our next camp site which took most of
the day but by evening we are again well
established and comfortable in Anteater
Camp, so called by Ashley and the guides
because of the large rock midstream in the
river that resembles an Anteater.
Use your imagination lads!
Late afternoon is a good time to freshen up
with a bath in the river, always keeping an
eye out for the opportunistic black Caiman
of course, and is a chance to relax for an
hour or two before another Cat fishing
session into the evening.
As the light fades and darkness falls we can
be found anchored up somewhere on the
river, enjoying the cool of the evening after
a long hot day in the sun and listening to
the sounds of the rain forest at night. This is
when the many types of frogs and Cicadas
start calling to each other across the water
and the macaws will be returning to roost
Ian with Peacock Bass
Michael with another Peacock Bass or Lucanani Michael with 100lb Red Tail Catfish Michael with Pink Pacu
with their characteristic screeching as they
fly overhead. They often seem to fly in pairs
and I have heard it said that Macaws mate
for life.
Howler monkeys too are often heard at
Michael with Black Piranha
40 | EXPLORE GUYANA
night with their distinctive and eerie howling
sound which is said by the Amerindians to
predict the coming of rain.
Now, to an Englishman who knows a thing
or two about rain, this was interesting
information.
Sure enough, we found them to be very
accurate in their weather forecasting,
usually giving us a ten to fifteen minute
warning of an imminent downpour, and
allowing time to dig out the rain coats. They
were certainly more reliable than our own
Meteorological Office back in the UK.
The cool evenings relaxing in a boat under a
star studded sky of inky blackness is usually
a quiet time however. The conversation is
almost whispered sometimes as noise will
travel far across water at night.
This is a time to learn a little more about
Amerindian customs and traditions or
perhaps just swap jokes whilst we wait for
that elusive bite which at any moment can
turn into the fishermans fight of his life.
There can be few experiences that can
transport a person from pure tranquillity,
through panic and action to jubilation or
disappointment in such a short space of
time.
One fish I lost this year in exactly these
circumstances was a good sized Lau
Lau, a cat fish probably well in excess of
100lbs, although they can get much larger,
which I suspect was robbed from me by an
excitable Piranha joining in the action and
biting cleanly through my 200lb line just as
my fish was about to give up and was no
more than twenty yards from the boat.
The line was good and we could think of
no other explanation other than a line bite
from a Piranha. And Piranhas, being sight
feeders with correspondingly big eyes, are
not even meant to be feeding at this time
of night.
Anyway nothing is guaranteed until we can
see the fish through the lens of a camera
and however the session turns out it will
always be a good excuse to discuss and
dissect the moment in minute detail back
at camp, probably over some five year
old El Dorado rum in either celebration or
commiseration for the poor soul concerned.
And, as we always say, thats fishing and
thats why we dont call it catching and
its also why we keep coming back to the
Jungle Rivers of Guyana.
All too soon its time to break camp for
the last time, pack away the tackle and
head back up river to say our goodbyes
and return to Georgetown. But, this year I
have prepared one last treat and chartered
a small plane to pick us up from the
landing strip at Apoteri and take us back
to Georgetown via Kaieteur which is, of
course, one of the true wonders of the world
and, although knowing a great deal about
the Falls, is somewhere we have not yet
managed to visit.
After a slightly nerve- wracking wait
wondering whether the pilot will manage to
get through a very small hole in the cloud
to land the plane at Apoteri, it eventually
Top of Kaieteur Falls
arrives and after unloading a delivery of
roofing sheets (no point in wasting the
outward bound trip from Georgetown after
all) we are soon up in the air and leaving the
rivers behind us
Kaieteur didnt disappoint and richly
deserves all the superlatives heaped upon
it. What a magnificent place.
Our journeys into the jungle may not be to
everyones taste but we all love Guyana
and wouldnt change a thing.
The only thing left to do now is to start
planning our next trip.
Refer to the list of Tour Operators in the
THAG Member Listings in this Magazine.
Sulphur Butterflies
Top of Kaieteur Falls
EXPLORE GUYANA | 42
The Demerara River origin
of its name, its profile and its
significance
The early Spanish explorers referred to
this river as Rio de Mirar, the wonderful
river, but it was the Dutch who christened
the river, the Demerara, from the word
Demirar, the wonderful.
The wonderful Demerara River originates
from the rugged, rain-fed, forested northern
slopes of the Makari Mountains, located
slightly right of centre of the narrow waist
of Guyana.
In 1956, while prospecting for diamonds
at Lindo Creek, Matthew Young, man of
many parts sugar estate overseer, gold
panner, diamond prospector and hinterland
construction engineer during the 1920s
to 1980, received an invitation to visit Mr
Bleakey, a Government Geologist who was
working in the area towards the source of
the Demerara River. Young wrote:
I dropped downriver to his riverside camp
from where Edwards, his boat man carried
me to the walking line on which Bleakey and
his other geologists were working. The next
day, I followed the geologists over laterite
rock which was oozing water, in some
places a foot deep. We continued walking
through this water to climb a sandstone
mountain about 1,000 feet high from which
two black water tributaries emerged. At the
top I found myself on a flat tableland of rock
with dwarfed trees and shrubs. There was
a grand view all around. From the southern
tip I could clearly see the Makari Mountain
peak rising above us. This then was the
source of the Demerara River .

The black water source tributaries the
Kuruduni and the Charabaru, conjoin
just above the Mauri tributary to form the
Demerara River and its volume increases
from the numerous tributaries fowing into
the valley from the two ridge lines on the
left and right banks as the river journeys
346 kilometres to its estuary at the Atlantic
Ocean. The ridge line on the left (western)
bank of the river provides the alignment of
the Kurupukari Mabura - Linden Sand
Hills trail and the one on the right (eastern)
bank, the alignment of the Kwakwani
Linden- Timehri Georgetown road and
trail. There are signifcant hill features
on these ridge lines: the Akaiwanna
Mountains, Wamara Hill, Mabura Hill,
Arisaru Mountain, Tiger Hill, Wismar and
Sand Hills are located along the western
ridge line while on the eastern ridge line
are Red Hill, and the Ituni, Seba, Linden,
43 | EXPLORE GUYANA
Dora and Timehri Hills. Along its journey
also, the river descends from a height of
approximately 300 metres through a series
of falls and rapids of which the more well
known are the Canister Falls, Great Falls,
and Malali Falls.
This article on the wonderful Demerara
River is intended to provide the reader
with relevant aspects of Dutch, French and
British occupation of the Colony of Demerara
as they pertain to the pivotal role of the
river in facilitating the development of early
settlements, plantations and enterprises.
It illustrates how the river was integral to
this development and helped shape the
foundations of trade and commerce based
on sugar, minerals and timber that have
been the magnets for colonial exploitation
and post-emancipation settlement.
The employment opportunities associated
with production and processing of
sugar, extraction of minerals, and
logistic movement, attracted the
fow of foreign contractors and
also migrant workers from
coastal communities and
this led to the establishment
of settlements on both
banks of the river. The
presence of the Demerara
River as a natural feature
as well as a logistic artery
was advantageous to the
colonial administrators and the
foreign-owned companies, who,
up to the late 1960s, propagated a
stratifed society, based on class, religion
and ethnicity. The Demerara River has
its unique folk-lore and it has provided
travelers and settled communities with
euphoric as well as the painful memories.
And, it continues to stimulate the modern-
day shared optimism and promise of a
brighter future.
It is worthy of note that some of Guyanas
best known signature products carry the
brand name Demerara Demerara Rum,
Demerara Sugar, and the Demerara
Shutters.
It is the river that provided the artery, conduit
and lifeblood for the multiplicity of activities.
Commencing in the 1750s under Dutch
colonial occupation, the early settlements
existed alongside plantations on both banks
of the Demerara River, where European
Planters, utilizing their slave labour,
produced sugar, coffee and cotton for the
Dutch West India Company. During French
and then British occupation there was the
establishment of the Capital City and Port
of Georgetown on the right bank of the
estuary of the Demerara River. Later, the
discovery of bauxite at McKenzie and the
quest for gold, diamonds, timber and balata
in the hinterland, catalysed the development
of lines of communication a sand trail of
approximately 60 kilometres running south
through the forested ridge line from Hyde
Park (later Atkinson Field and Timehri)
to McKenzie, and the steamer service in
the Demerara River from Georgetown to
McKenzie. A 27 kilometres single track
railway ran from Wismar on the left bank
of the Demerara River to Rockstone on the
right bank of the Essequibo River and from
there, boats plied to the Potaro and the
gold and diamond felds, the logging and
balata concessions. Later, a cattle trail was
opened up from the Rupununi
to Kurupukari on the
Essequibo River
and from
there to the
Cani s t er
F a l l s
on the
Demerara
River and
through to
the Berbice
savannahs. Cattle
were driven through
this trail to the Berbice River, and then
transported by steam-driven paddle boats
to the coast.
The lines of communications are in constant
evolution. Trails, roads, airstrips, river
landings and bridges provide the threads
of connectivity for economic enterprises,
market access, tourism, socialisation and
culture. A fxed metal bridge was constructed
over the Demerara River to service the
Wismar-Rockstone railway, as well as the
bauxite industry and the mining operations
in the hinterland. In July 1978, the foating
pontoon-supported Demerara Harbour
Bridge was commissioned - 1,851 metres in
length, with a retractable span for passage
of ocean going vessels, and it provides
the connection for the communities on the
eastern and western banks of the lower
Demerara River. More recently, wooden
bridges have been constructed over the
upper Demerara River by Demerara
Timbers Limited in the vicinity of Mabura,
and by Variety Woods Limited just below
Canister Falls, in order to manage their
operations in timber concessions granted in
accordance with Timber Sales Agreements
with the Guyana Forestry Commission.

The Demerara River and its signifcance
to the Dutch
In 1744 during the Dutch occupation, there
was an overfow of new settlers in the
Essequibo colony and the Directors of
the Zeeland Chamber of the Dutch West
India Company allowed the Commander
of the Essequibo Colony, Laurens Storm
Van Gravesande to throw open Demerara
to settlement. The frst grant of land in
Demerara was to Andries Pietersen on the
Kuliserabo River, a left bank tributary of
the Demerara River and approximately 66
kilometres upriver. Concessionaires were to
commence cultivation within a year and six
weeks or risk forfeiture of the land. Between
each concession a strip of land 10 roods (1
hectare) wide was to be left in reserve as a
company path to secure access to the lands
beyond. Ignatius Courthial, a Frenchman
who was a miner, established a coffee
estate on the West Bank Demerara. During
Gravesandes visit to Holland in 1750 to
brief the managing body of the Dutch West
India Company, referred to as the TEN - who
represented the Amsterdam and Zeeland
Chambers of the West India Council, his
report so impressed them that he was
appointed the Director General of the two
rivers the Essequibo and Demerara and
his son Jonathan Samuel Gravesande was
appointed the Commander of Demerara.
On his return to the colonies in 1752,
Gravesande brought with him his wifes
nephew, a qualifed surveyor - Laurens
Lodewijck Van Berch-Eyck and the latter
commenced the laying out of the boundaries
in Demerara. Jonathan had received a
1,600 hectares concession on the Madewini
Creek on the right bank of the Demerara
River and his father Laurens received 800
hectares concession on the Madewini
and 800 hectares on the Haimaruni Creek
- approximately 10 kilometres upriver
from Madewini. The Dutch settlements in
Demerara that developed from the cluster
of plantations located along the eastern or
right bank of the Demerara River required
that a Brandwagt or Guard-House be
established at the mouth of the Demerara
River close to what is now the Stabroek
Market.
Borsselen Island in
the Demerara River
EXPLORE GUYANA | 44
2



Makari Mountains
& Canister Falls
Timehri (Hyde Park)
Christianburg
Georgetown
Three Friends
Mabura &Great Falls
Seba
Demerara River
Hopetown
Madewini
Linden (McKenzie)
In 1752, it was decided that no concession
of 800 hectares should be granted except
on condition that a sugar mill be erected
within 3 years. The Director General was
therefore undertaking to erect 2 new sugar
mills within 3 years and the foundation
of the sugar industry of the colony of
Demerara was laid at this instance. Later,
an Administrative Centre was established
on the second island, located 32 kilometres
up the Demerara River, which lay abreast
of Jonathan Gravesandes plantation at
Madewini. The island was called Borsselen
in honour of one of the TEN P.J. Van
Borsselen Van Der Hooge. The island
was laid out into 24 lots - 3 for government
purposes and 21 were sold and among the
frst grantees were Laurens and two of his
nephews the Van Berch-Eycks.
The site on which Georgetown is situated
was frst laid out in plantations in 1759.
Jacques Solinoe was the frst to receive a
grant of 2000 hectares below the Brandwagt
and this included Plantations Vlissengen
and Eve Leary. Joran Heyligar also owned
properties in Werk-en-Rust, La Penitence
and Ruimveldt. In 1759 also, Laurens
Lodewijck Van Berch-Eyck published his
famous chart of the Demerara River and for
his efforts as a draughtsman, the Directors
presented him with a slave and a cask of
red wine.
The Lower Demerara River and the
Capital
The Demerara Trade grew as a result of
the increase in production of sugar, coffee
and cotton and in 1762, ten ships entered
the Demerara River and shipped a total
cargo of 1200 tons of sugar, 281 bags
of coffee and 10 bales of cotton. On 24
February 1781, the English captured the
colony of Essequibo and Demerara and
established Fort St. George on the site
of the Guard-House or Brandwagt which
had been built by the Dutch to monitor
activities along the river. Thus were the
plans laid for the Capital Georgetown.
On 3 February 1782, the French captured
the colony from the British and the new
town was named Longchamps. When the
Dutch regained possession of the colony
on 16 February 1784 under the terms of
the Treaty of Versailles, Longchamps was
renamed Stabroek and when on 22 April
1796 the colony again came under British
rule the administrative centre continued to
expand and on 5 May 1812, Stabroek was
renamed Georgetown.
On Robert Schomburgks second journey
to BG, accompanied by his brother Richard
in 1840, they arrived on the ship Cleopatra
and Richard recorded this view of Demerara
Canister Falls in the upper Demerara River
Tributary of the Demerara River above Canister Falls
Canister Falls in the upper Demerara River
Tributary of the Demerara River above Canister Falls
46 | EXPLORE GUYANA
from the deck:
The dense tropical vegetation, with which
Georgetown or Demerara was regularly
veiled, prevented us from satisfying our
inquisitive gaze. We could only see a
majestic Lighthouse with its proud summit
and the huge locking chimneys of the sugar
plantations
After the efforts of the French resulted in the
empoldering of lands along the coast and
the Canals Polder, there was a shift from
the plantations in the upper Demerara such
as Kulisiabo, Haimaruni and Madewini
which were experiencing declining yields
to the more productive and logistically
more accessible, lower Demerara River.
Signifcant economic activities infuenced
the demographic shift to the coast and the
Capital Georgetown, and many of upper
plantations were abandoned.
The modern day profle of the lower
Demerara River is that of a bustling Port
with a variety of vessels and crews plying
their trade ocean- going and coastal
vessels, fshing trawlers, artisanal fshing
boats, fuel boats, pontoons laden with
timber and quarry products, and water-taxis
ferrying passengers across the river as an
alternative to using the Demerara Harbour
Bridge. Vessels transporting bauxite from
Linden and ships laden with petroleum
products, cement, containerized cargo and
agricultural produce, are also a regular
feature. Plans to desilt the river channel
will facilitate transportation of increased
tonnage of cargo, with consequential
benefts to the private sector and the
countrys revenue stream.

The Upper Demerara River and its
linkages to the exploitation of mineral
and other resources.
The discovery and exploitation of bauxite,
gold and diamonds, the tapping and
processing of balata, and the demand
for beef and tobacco from the sprawling
savannahs in the south west, infuenced
the migration of coastlanders to the upper
riverine settlements and the hinterland . The
Demerara River along with the Essequibo
River provided the means through which
logistic movement was made possible to
the bauxite locations of McKenzie, Ituni and
Kwakwani, the gold and diamond districts
of the Cuyuni, Mazaruni and Potaro and the
cattle ranches, tobacco felds and balata
concessions of the Rupununi. Settlement
along the upper Demerara River can be
traced back to 1759 when a land survey
was carried out for the establishment of
a township which later became known as
Three Friends. This was named for three
friends - Messrs Spencer, Blount and
John Dalgeish Patterson, who had settled
there in the late 18th century. They were
former British naval offcers who had fought
against the French in the Caribbean during
the Napoleonic War. Patterson, a contractor
for the Dutch colony of Essequibo-
Demerara at the time, owned Plantation
Christiansburg which was a choice place
for retirement of British naval offcers after
1803. Patterson built a great house there
which became a Guest House for visitors
of the early settlement and when he died
in 1842, the British Guiana Government
took over his plantation and used the great
house as a Magistrates Court. A portion of
the plantation was then sold to Sprostons
which then established the Wismar
Rockstone railway to move stone and
timber from the Essequibo to Demerara.
Wismar was formed by infux of immigrants
from various European countries, mainly
Germany, and after emancipation, many
of the former African slaves who refused to
work on the sugar plantations, migrated to
live there. The German settlers named the
settlement Wismar after a German town of
that name.
Bauxite, as an economic term, is defned as
an aggregate of hydrated aluminum oxides of
suffcient concentration to be commercially
exploitable as an ore of aluminum metal. It
was described, but not identifed as such,
by JG Sawlins and C Barrington Brown in
1875 in the vicinity of Christianburg. The
material was investigated by J.B.Harrison in
1897-1916 and feld work over an extensive
area was carried out in 1917 to 1921 under
the direction of Harrison. Many of the
deposits exploited currently, were located.
Areas such as Fairs Rust, Watooka, and
Noitegedacht were mined out. Dorabisi
Creek deposit and Montgomery - Arrowcane
deposits are some of the better known
ore bodies mined. These ore bodies are
overlain by blue clay beds of overburden,
white kaolin, and white and brown sands
varying in thickness from 5 to 60 metres or
more. In 1913, Scottish geologist, George
Bain McKenzie bought lands for mining on
the eastern bank of the Demerara River.
He bought the lands at cheap prices by
claiming he would plant oranges because
8

Madewini Creek on the right bank of the Demerara River and his father Laurens received 800 hectares
concession on the Madewini and 800 hectares on the Haimaruni Creek - approximately 10 kilometres
upriver from Madewini. The Dutch settlements in Demerara that developed from the cluster of
plantations located along the eastern or right bank of the Demerara River required that a Brandwagt or
Guard-House be established at the mouth of the Demerara River close to what is now the Stabroek
Market.
In 1752, it was decided that no concession of 800 hectares should be granted except on condition that a
sugar mill be erected within 3 years. The Director General was therefore undertaking to erect 2 new
sugar mills within 3 years and the foundation of the sugar industry of the colony of Demerara was laid at
this instance. Later, an Administrative Centre was established on the second island, located 32
kilometres up the Demerara River, which lay abreast of Jonathan Gravesandes plantation at Madewini.
The island was called Borsselen in honour of one of the TEN P.J. Van Borsselen Van Der Hooge. The
island was laid out into 24 lots - 3 for government purposes and 21 were sold and among the first
grantees were Laurens and two of his nephews the Van Berch-Eycks.
The site on which Georgetown is situated was first laid out in plantations in 1759. Jacques Solinoe was
the first to receive a grant of 2000 hectares below the Brandwagt and this included Plantations
Vlissengen and Eve Leary. Joran Heyligar also owned properties in Werk-en-Rust, La Penitence and
Ruimveldt. In 1759 also, Laurens Lodewijck Van Berch-Eyck published his famous chart of the Demerara
River and for his efforts as a draughtsman, the Directors presented him with a slave and a cask of red
wine.


Map of Demerara River showing Dutch Plantations in the 1760s
The Wooden Bridge over the Demerara River below Canister Falls
Map of Demerara River showing Dutch Plantations in the 1760s
48 | EXPLORE GUYANA
11


The Lower Demerara River
Borsselen Island
few people knew about bauxite and its
potential. In 1915 after Mackenzie died,
his lands passed to Winthrop C Nelson. In
1916, great interest was generated in the
USA on the occurrence of bauxite and the
Aluminum Company of America, ALCOA, in
the same year incorporated the Demerara
Bauxite Company DEMBA and secured
leases on large areas of bauxite-bearing
land in the vicinity of the area purchased by
McKenzie.
In 1916, mining of Bauxite commenced
and hundreds of people from the coast
migrated there in search of employment. A
settlement known as Cockatara, which grew
up in the bauxite mining area, joined up
with Christianburg Plantation and became
known as McKenzie. The settlements
fortunes depended on the overseas
demand for bauxite and aluminum. The
slump of the early 1930s was followed by
a rapid increase in demand during World
War II and with infrastructure such as for
production of refractory grade and abrasive
grade bauxite as well as an aluminum
refnery, British Guiana became the most
diversifed bauxite producer. On the socio-
economic side, even though facilities were
established for workers accommodation,
education, health and recreation, McKenzie
was a racially stratifed society.
In the 1960/61 period a potential hydropower
project at Malali Falls was the subject of
discussion between then Premier of British
Guiana, Dr Cheddi Jagan and Cubas Dr
Ernesto (Ch) Guevara . It is hoped that
this project would be revisited.
Forestry operations on both banks of the
Demerara River provide logs and processed
wood products for the export and domestic
markets. In 1980, the Government of
Guyana established a national logging and
sawmilling company known as Demerara
Woods Limited based on Mabura Hill. This
was subsequently divested to a foreign
company and renamed Demerara Timbers
Limited.
Forest concessions have been awarded
to the Demerara Timbers Limited, private
individuals such as Messrs Nagasar
Sawh, Klautky, Herzog and Charter and
to syndicates comprising small chain saw
loggers.
The wonderful Demerara River has been
a silent witness to the events of over 250
years as summarized in this article. It has
been relatively unchanged as a river except
that modern day extractive industries and
agricultural run-off as well as indiscriminate
disposal of solid waste, especially in the
middle and lower reaches of the river,
pose health challenges to downstream
communities and environmental stress to
biodiversity, especially aquatic life. There
are anecdotal reports of increasing rates
of siltation. The Shipping Association is
concerned at the reduced tonnage of cargo
carrying vessels. Siltation has reduced the
volume of fresh water discharge from the
estuary into the Atlantic Ocean. Increasing
salinity in the lower reaches of the river
can threaten agricultural production, fsh
stock and the integrity of aquifers. Climate
related impacts on rainfall patterns, tidal
differentials, and the health of coastal and
estuarine mangrove forests, micro-climate
and biodiversity, are all aspects that need
to be monitored and appropriate regulatory
and corrective action taken.
As with the human body, the health and
functional integrity of this national artery
will need to receive the attention of policy
makers, regulators and citizens, since the
future economic, social and developmental
activities that depend on this important
national waterway, will only be realised
through committed and sustained
stewardship of this Wonderful Demerara
River.
Sources:
1 Rev. L. Crookhall, British Guiana or Work
and Wanderings among the Creoles, the
Africans and Indians of the wild country.
(London: T. Lester Union Ltd.)
2 M F Young (1998), Guyana: The Lost El
Dorado. Peepal Tree Press, UK
3 Richard Schomburgk: Travels in British Guiana
during the years 1840-1844. Vol 1. (Leipzig: J.J.
Weber, 1848),
4 Cheddi Jagan (1966): The West on Trial, Seven
Seas Publishers, Berlin.
5 Dmitri Allicock (2013): Peg Leg George of
Sebacabra.
6 Desrey Fox and George Danns (1993): The
Indigenous condition in Guyana, (University of
Guyana).
7 Cecil Clementi (1915): The Chinese in British
Guiana, The Argosy Co. Ltd, Georgetown.
Overhead view of Demerara River
from the East Bank.
View from the McKenzie Bridge of the bauxite
loading facilities - right bank of the Demerara River
Overhead view of Demerara River
from the East Bank.
View from the McKenzie Bridge of the bauxite
loading facilities - right bank of the Demerara River
T
here is nothing quite like the feeling
of riding the rapids, and the thrill of
rushing down a river at what seems
like 100 miles per hour around sharp turns
and breathtaking drops!
Chasing the wind and testing your limits and
endurance, the challenges of the river call
out with each stroke of the paddle and at
the end; you will undoubtedly be physically
drained but mentally stimulated by all the
adrenaline coursing through your body.
Run the rapids and your day will be flled
with fun, thrills and spills, or simply canoe
past beautiful scenery and waterfalls along
Guyanas waterways.
An 18 day nature/ wildlife / adventure canoe
trip in Guyana will cater to every interest
from birdwatching, adventure, and fshing
or simply enjoying nature.
The countrys unpredictable waterways will
take you on a journey from gently foating
on your back one minute to being on the
brink of being tossed around a thick wall of
water, realizing that there is no turning back
you are at the mercy of the river.
On one such canoeing trip up the Rewa
River in a remote area of Guyana, expertly
lead by local experienced guides, we were
full of anticipation and we had planned
all the details: picnic lunch, sunscreen,
sun hats, and the route down a clean and
meandering river, in our canoe.
As we proceeded along the waterway, the
vessel sliced through the water effortlessly,
gliding on placid waters and, at some points,
it sat unexpectedly still with such balance,
one could not help but feel confdent.
We pushed off into the current and dug
in our paddles, feeling the canoe surge
underneath us as our adventure began,
we looked out along the river and down its
path, knowing that navigating the waters
was more than just looking at a map; you
50 | EXPLORE GUYANA
Riding the Rapids of
the Raging Rivers
An Engaging Encounter with Nature and Adventure
Story By Chevon Singh
had to sense the waters speed, the fow,
the direction. We had to be in control of the
water.
The sound of the paddles knocking against
the side, each stroke pulling us further along,
was a comfort and its bobbing brought us in
touch with the water and made us feel close
to its power; then as quickly as a slight of
hand, the river, as it descended toward a
rapid point got faster and more challenging
headed towards Corona Falls.
At this point, our canoe had been through
pounding rapids, easy river paddles, and
even dangerously low water levels where
it had scraped and fussed against the
boulders on the river bottom.
Despite several scary moments along the
waterway we were able to see wildlife,
experience the wild and ride the wild rapids
of the Rewa, all in one day ; now thats an
adventure!
51 | EXPLORE GUYANA
Petroglyps at Dadanawa
Fishing at the Falls
EXPLORE GUYANA | 53
Three Parks Initiative
T
he Botanical Gardens, Zoological
Park and National Park form the
core components of Georgetowns
network of green spaces. These sites
are heavily utilized by the residents of
Georgetown and surrounding areas, as
they are among the very few places within
the city that provide large recreational
spaces and the opportunity to interact with
local fora and wildlife. In particular, the
Zoo and Botanical Gardens play key roles
in increasing environmental educational
and awareness among the citys residents,
and can serve as important links between
Guyanas large urban population and our
efforts to conserve our forests under the
Low Carbon Development Strategy.
Although important, these three sites are
built on infrastructure and facilities that
are decades old, and that are becoming
increasingly diffcult and expensive to
simply maintain. These areas have
experienced signifcant erosion and land
settling since they were frst established,
and are now prone to regular fooding.
This restricts the amount of areas available
to the public during rainy weather, and
constrains landscaping and recreational
options. The structures in these areas are
also aged, and in their current state, have
limited options for long-term sustainability.
These parks are now managed by
the recently created Protected Areas
Commission, under the Ministry of Natural
Resources and the Environment, and are
poised to beneft from a ground-breaking
effort called the Three Parks Initiative.
The primary objective of the Initiative is
to enhance key facilities, and rehabilitate
and improve infrastructure in each of
these green spaces, in order to provide
sustainable and quality services to the
public.
Opened in 1966 and covering ffty-
seven (57) acres, the National Park is an
important urban park for exercise, sporting
and recreation. The Three Parks Initiative
will aim to address the issues of fooding,
Exciting Plans for Re-Development of the Botanical
Gardens, Zoo and National Park
Story By Damian Fernandes
Waterbirds Exhibit - Before - Botanical Gardens
Giant Otter - Before - Botanical Gardens
Caiman Exhibit - Before - Botanical Gardens
Waterbirds Exhibit - After - Botanical Gardens
Giant Otter - After - Botanical Gardens
Caiman Exhibit - After - Botanical Gardens
54 | EXPLORE GUYANA
security and enhanced facilities. Lights
have already been installed around the
full track, security guards stationed at key
points, and efforts to improve drainage
are underway. The Athletics track is now
being raised and a number of facilities are
identifed for restoration, including historical
features such as bridges, kokers, a national
clock, and a scenic trail.
The oldest of the three parks, the Botanical
Gardens was established in 1879 and is
spread over ninety-six (96) acres of land
in the heart of Georgetown. The Gardens
is home to a variety of tropical plants
and animals normally found in Guyanas
interior. The Three Parks Initiative will aim
to address the overall security and drainage
situation in the Gardens while developing
features such as fountains, landscaping,
trails, and other recreational facilities.
Established in 1952, the Guyana Zoological
Park is arguably the most important nature-
based recreational facility in Guyana. The
Park sits on approximately four (4) acres of
land in the Botanical Gardens and currently
exhibits 232 animals representing 39
species. The Zoo also plays an important
role as an animal sanctuary, with over
80% of the Zoos animals being brought
in abandoned, injured, unwanted, and, in
many cases, unable to survive in the wild.
The Zoo is therefore ideally positioned
to increase environmental educational
and awareness among school children
and Guyanese in general on the need for
conservation.
Much of the Zoo was designed shortly after
the facility was opened in the 1950s, and
thus in serious need of rehabilitation. In an
effort to improve the facility, the Protected
Areas Commission developed a full-scale
Master Plan and Concept Designs for the
rehabilitation of the Zoo (Figure 1). The
vision of the modernized zoo is to connect
Guyanese and visitors to the country with
the rich natural world that exists just beyond
the limits of Guyanas urban landscape.
The Zoo will be reorganised to represent
the four major ecosystems in the country:
Coastal Wetlands, Savannah, Mountain
Highlands and the Lowland Rainforest.
Garden Island - Before - Botanical Gardens
Koker - Before - National Park
Lake - After - National Park
Lake - Before - National Park
Bell - Before - National Park
Bell - After - National Park
Garden Island - After - Botanical Gardens
Koker - After - Botanical Gardens
57 | EXPLORE GUYANA
I
first met Buddy on the Sandbank by the
Rupununi River at Karanambu in the
North Savannahs. Diane McTurk and I
were walking across the sandbank toward
him. Over the past 20 years or so, Diane
has cared for over 50 orphaned Giant River
Otters at Karanambu. The majority of which
have successfully been returned to the wild.
Having a large animal, (about six feet from
tip of tail to tip of nose) checking you out is
a little nerve wracking. But I soon realized I
had nothing to fear from Buddy as he heard
Diane call out My beloved beast! He
came bounding over and almost knocked
her over.
Buddy was a teenager, almost fully grown
at three years old. He lost his sight, when
he was much younger, in an accident, when
he stepped on a long board, which flipped
up and hit him across the face, blinding him
instantly. In the wild, Giant Otters live to be
about ten years old, living in groups of up
to ten, with only the dominant pair mating.
But in a zoo, with aquatic and wildlife
veterinarians, they can live to fifteen.
Diane also had two young orphan Giant
River otters at the time and Buddy really
played too rough with her, so I volunteered
to take him to the sandbank twice a day,
for at least two hours each time. We
became very good friends. I was amazed
at what Buddy could do. Not having sight
in the murky waters of the river was not a
hindrance to catching fish. He surprised
us all when he caught at 86lb Arapaima
and dragged up out of the river onto the
sandbank. Another time he caught a huge
stingray and ate most of it!
But Buddy was getting big. Twice he
followed a wild otter down the River and we
had to go behind him in the boat to bring him
back. He also had several close encounters
with Black Caiman, who were thankfully not
bigger than he was. Jacksonville Zoo, in
Jacksonville Florida has an agreement with
the Government of Guyana. Two Jaguar
from Guyana are already there. Now they
were looking for a Giant River Otter to add
The Story of Buddy
- The Blind Giant Otter
Story by: Salvador de Caires
From the Sandbank of the Rupununi
River to the Jacksonville Zoo
Buddy with Salvador on the Sandbank of the Rupununi River
58 | EXPLORE GUYANA
to the gene pool. Diane agreed that he
would have a much shorter life in his natural
environment, but he knew the river and was
very happy here. But, because he was
blind, it was only a matter of time before
a Black Caiman would get him. It was a
question of quality of life over safety. But
Diane still would not agree to send Buddy
to a zoo. I tried to tell her that this would be
his only chance to mate. She wavered and
then the wet season came and the River
came up about twenty feet. Buddy became
disoriented, because the Sandbank was
gone and the steps that he was accustomed
to going up and down on at a great speed
to the Sandbank disappeared under water.
Diane relented.
So a few weeks later, a charter flight landed
at Karanambu and a crate was loaded
with Buddy and Talia a volunteer who
had become very close to all of the otters.
There were various delays at both Cheddi
Jagen and Miami airports, but after 48
hours he was in Jacksonville, Florida. The
experts checked his eyes, but unfortunately
nothing could be done. He had a few
parasites and was kept in quarantine until
he had adjusted. The Jacksonville Zoo
went to great lengths to recreate a huge
habitat modeled closely after Buddys home
at Karanambu. They designed under water
channels, a waterfall and even a sandbank.
Buddy was accustomed to catching fresh
Piranha and eating them headfirst. So,
when they served him his first frozen fish
Popsicle, he swallowed it too quickly and
got a brain freeze, shaking his head
madly.
His future partner, or as Diane called
her, his mail order bride came from the
Philadelphia Zoo and they have been
together now several months. She is
extremely caring towards him and even
serves as his seeing eye water dog.
This year on our way back home to Guyana,
we stopped to visit my brother Larry
who just happens to live in Jacksonville!
Our niece Samantha, volunteers at the
Jacksonville zoo, so we went to visit
Buddy. Nick Kapustin, senior veterinarian,
arranged for us to meet Buddy privately,
behind the scenes. I could not believe that
after 3 years he recognized me. It was very
emotional.
Now we are anxiously awaiting the good
news of Diane once again becoming a
Grandmother.
Buddy and friends at the Rupununi River Bank
Buddy at the Jacksonville Zoo Florida
Salvador De Caires at the Jacksonville Zoo, Florida
1 & 2 Area M Plantation
Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara
Guyana, South America
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Buddy and friends at the Rupununi River Bank
EXPLORE GUYANA | 61
KAIETEUR FALLS
Story by: Treina F. Butts Photos: Paul Waldron
Guyanas Natural Wonder
Protecting the Area and Enhancing the Visitor Experience
W
hen mention is made of
the Kaieteur National
Park, for some persons it
immediately invokes images of the
majestic fall, stunning vistas, unique
environment, its mystique and
folklore. For others, Kaieteur Falls
in Guyanas Pakaraima Highlands,
in full glory, is all there is to behold.
It is the most visited attraction in the
country. Most notably in 2012, the
Park recorded the best numbers
ever totalling of 6, 667 visitors over
2011s total of 3,678 visitors. Arrivals
for January to August 2013 totalled
4683 visitors to the Park as compared
to 4940 for the corresponding period
of 2012, a decline of 5.2%.
A visitors experience would be
incomplete without an important
component, the people who guide
tours through the maze of trails,
share the folklore of ancient past and
educate on new development in the
park.
Staffers are employed from the
Indigenous communities as cooks,
wardens, guides and research
assistants. In most cases, guides
working in the Park are the
investment in the people who provide
very useful services to guests -
interpretation create memorable
visitor experiences and ensure the
safety of all who visit the Park.
Park Offcials have noted the need to
develop a pool of persons capable of
conducting guided tours at Kaieteur.
As a demonstration of the Protected
Areas Commission s commitment to
build capacity within the Amerindian
villages and communities
surrounding the Kaieteur National
Park, nineteen representatives;
including eight females, from
Chenapau, Karisparu, Paramakatoi
and Mahdia and current staffers of
the Kaieteur National Park received
training in Tour Guiding Techniques
and Communication Skills.
Representatives were exposed to
training in Conservation and Protected
Areas; Botany; Geology; Wildlife and
Tourism at Kaieteur Top as well as
History, First Aid, Folklore and People
of the Kaieteur Area.
On the fnal two days of the course,
the trainees participated in guiding of
actual tourists who were visiting the
National Park.
This training forms part of a larger
effort initiated by the Protected Areas
Commission and the Ministry of
Natural Resource and Environment to
improve the services at the National
Park and upgrade accommodation for
both visitors and staff.
In collaboration with the World Wildlife
Fund, the Protect Areas Commission
aims to fnalise Kaieteurs frst ever
management plan, which will provide a
logical framework for the development
and conservation of the area.
The best in class trainees will be
engaged to offer tours to visitors
to the park as well as assist in the
management of the Park. The
Commission hopes, as part of
their future plan to incorporate the
remaining guides in a rotational
system working within varying
capacities in the management of the
park.
We hope that all of our visitors to
Kaieteur Falls and National Park enjoy
the enhanced environs and leave with
fond memories after the tour of the
entire area by our knowledgeable and
experienced Tour Guides.
Please ensure that you plan and
book your Tours to Kaieteur with a
recognised Tour Company.
Refer to the list of Tour Operators in
the THAG Member Listings in this
Magazine.
Training Participants in front of Kaieteur Visitor Centre
EXPLORE GUYANA | 62
Mighty Kaieteur
Gentle meanderings a little way upstream,
The Potaro River, tranquil and unassuming,
Head down river, have cause to wonder,
The booming tremor of approaching thunder,
Draw closer still, a deafening roar,
Hints at the imminence of the mighty Kaieteur,
A rising crescendo of earth trembling rumbles,
As a mammoth cascade in freefall tumbles.
Thousands of gallons form a giant aqueous wall,
Rendering this the worlds premier waterfall,
Descending several hundred metres in height,
A colossus with an awesome display of might,
Guiness coloured torrents of frothy tan and cream,
Crashing down on boulders, billowing clouds of steam,
Showering mossy banks with a fine mist spray,
Caught in the crossfire of the suns dazzling rays.
Behold the bright arc, a perfect rainbow,
A befitting crown, a majestic halo,
Adorning rocky outcrops perched all around,
Jaw dropping vistas with true surround sound,
Gaze at that deluge and be mesmerised,
Humbled by Nature, her sheer power and size,
Soon to reassume a far gentler pace,
Vanilla swirls atop a dark chocolate surface.
Snaking her way down beneath jungle clad peaks,
As the rainforest echoes with all manner of speech,
One last glimpse of the mighty Kaieteur Falls,
Now a faint murmur that perpetually enthrals.
Copyright 2013
Story by Alex Morritt
Kaieteur National Park
Kaieteur National Park
Unusual Images of the Jungle
Images by Andrew Synder
EXPLORE GUYANA | 64
EXPLORE GUYANA | 65
66 | EXPLORE GUYANA
O
ur lives are filled with moments
of brilliance often overlooked,
quite often too, meaningful travel
illuminates those moments, and a trip to
the county of Berbice is sure to bring a
sense of enlightenment and evoke a sense
of longing.
The possibilities for finding adventure
in this Ancient County is endless, from
Historical/ Industrial Tours, Sugar Factory
Tours and Rice Mill Tours, to Fishing,
Bird Watching, Shopping, Swimming,
Picnicking, Nightlife (parties, fairs, shows/
expos, etc) Horseracing events and cricket.
This Region, covering approximately
40,425km2, starts from the Abary River
Bridge and ends at Moleson Creek
Corentyne, is known as one of Guyanas
premier regions with a defined economy
also home to 125,000 people from diverse
ethnic backgrounds, Berbice continues to
be eyed as the breadbasket of Guyana
through its expansive Agriculture base.
Though this has traditionally been the
highlight of the Region, the county also
boasts innumerable tourism potential,
and possesses rich pockets of historical,
ecological and archeological facets; a two
hour journey can transport any visitor as
far back as 175 years when the first East
Indian Immigrants arrived at Highbury or
further still, back 250 years at the cusp of
the Berbice Slave Rebellion, led by Cuffy.
More astonishingly, a group of local and
international archaeologists has discovered
Berbice - The Ancient County
Story by Chevon Singh
Rich With History & Lots to See & Do
On a tour to Orealla Kite Flying at Easter on No 63 Beach
Fishing on No. 63 Beach
Children playing Cricket on No. 63 Beach
67 | EXPLORE GUYANA
in the Berbice area (Dubalay) a human
settlement that dates back almost 5,000
years!
The villages are also teeming with history
and are home to several historic buildings
such as Mission Chapel Church, New
Amsterdam Town Hall, Berbice High school,
New Amsterdam and Fort Nassau.
Yet another novelty to be seen while
travelling through Berbice is the No. 19
Road, this stretch of road is seven miles
long, and is said to be the longest straight
road in Guyana and perhaps , in the entire
Caribbean.
This highway is one of the regions busiest
thoroughfares and also provides the
passageway for cycling enthusiasts on any
given day.
When travelling to Berbice, there is sure to
be something to captivate the eclectic taste
of visitors, from the enchanting cultural
lure, to the Creole cuisine and the charming
villages that litter the picturesque landscape;
a stop at the multitude of markets in the
region will most assuredly scintillate the
olfactory and gustatory senses; its much
like coming home.
Many now famous people have had their
origins in this county and are proud to call
Berbice home, including Guyanas former
President, the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan,
Mrs. Viola Burnham, Rohan Khanai, Sir
Shridath Ramphal, J.O.F. Haynes, Edgar
Mittelholzer, David Dabydeen and Sir Lionel
Luckhoo among many others.
On a tour to Orealla Kite Flying at Easter on No 63 Beach
Fishing on No. 63 Beach
Newly Constructed Berbice River Bridge
The Tapir Indigenous Berbice Transport
Horse Racing at Bush Lot, Berbice
Children playing Cricket on No. 63 Beach
EXPLORE GUYANA | 68
With such a diverse range of attractions and
an amazing array of activities to participate
in, its little wonder that the region is clearly
one of the countrys top tourist destinations!
It can easily be said too that Berbice is
home to cricket in Guyana and one can
easily join in a friendly match being played
on a deserted strip of country road, at one
of the popular venues, Albion Community
Centre Ground or Rose Hall, or along the
broad expanse of the No 63 Beach on
Sunday.
The No. 63 Beach is found North of
Corriverton and located in No.63 Village
on the Corentyne; each week more than
3000 visitors throng this area to bask in
the uniqueness of the 10 miles long stretch
which spans more than 12 villages, and
to bathe in the refreshing waters of the
Atlantic.
And if a cricket match does not fit your
fancy then a rousing horserace meet at
several of the readily available horseracing
grounds, including the Rising Sun Turf Club
or the Kennards Memorial Turf Club among
others, will be sure to stimulate and leave
you wanting for more.
Guaranteed, a trip to Berbice will not be
authentic without a ride in the traditional
mode of transportation, the Tapir; a small
homemade box shaped van that can
accommodate about 8 passengers.
This vehicle was carved and shaped by
few men in Crabwood Creek in 1980 and
after 30 years they are the traditional mode
of public transportation between Crabwood
Creek and N0. 51 Villages!
Whatever your choice of transportation, or
the reason for visiting, a trip to Guyanas
Ancient County of Berbice will indeed
become a pilgrimage of epic proportions
and significance.
Refer to the list of Tour Operators in the
THAG Member Listings in this Magazine.
Wanotobo Falls- Corentyne River
Craft Items at Orealla
A Caiman in the Abary River
The Canawaima Ferry at Moleson Creek
Craft Items at Orealla
70 | EXPLORE GUYANA
Lessons from the forest
Local Wisdom for Conservation
Story by Matt Hallett and Samantha James Photos by Ricardo Stannoss
P
roject Dragonfly at Miami University,
in a partnership with the Chicago
Zoological Society/Brookfield
Zoo, Iwokrama Centre for Rainforest
Conservation and Development and
Surama Ecolodge, have developed a
Graduate-level course called Guyana:
Local Wisdom and Conservation.
For the last three years, 20 students
from all over the United States and their
instructors have come to the Rupununi to
learn from local experts whoare applying
their extensive knowledge to resource
management and conservation.
This 10-day course is designed to give
students firsthand experience with applied
research in the Rupununi, environmental
stewardship, inquiry-driven learning and
community development. The course
brings together learners from North and
South, changing the perspectives of all
those involved and creating new knowledge
in the process. By bringing farmers,
fisherman, hunters and guides together
with researchers and educators, this course
creates a unique environment for learning
that allows both local participants and
their international counterparts to develop
a fuller understanding of conservation
and sustainable development. Megan
McCulloch, a middle school teacher from
Ohio said, The Earth Expeditions trip to
Guyana provides students the opportunity
to see a unique combination of traditional
and modern ways of life. The flora, fauna
and people of this country are absolutely
amazing. While I was only in Guyana for
a short time, this trip truly provided me with
experiences, knowledge, and memories Ill
carry for the rest of my life.
After the short plane river from Georgetown,
the students were soon immersed in the
rainforest, beginning their trip at Iwokrama
River Lodge. Here, Dr. Raquel Thomas-
Caesar and her teamprovided the group
with scientific technical support and context
for what Iwokrama is trying to do for the
world. At nearly a million acres, the forest
is teeming with incredible biodiversity
including jaguars, scarlet macaws, giant
river otters and a wealth of tree species, but
2013 Earth Expeditions Team at Kaieteur Falls
71 | EXPLORE GUYANA
the Georgetown-Lethem road monitoring
and for night hikes through the forest.
They expertly pointed out and identified
wildlife along the way, as well as explained
the traditional and modern day uses of
plants and trees, including for which you
can use for food, water, house and craft
materials, commercial timber and traditional
medicines.
Perky Smith Hagadone, an elementary
school principal from Idaho, remarked,
What Iwokrama is working diligently to
showcase to the world, made my heart open
with hope for our future. The partnerships
between local and international scientists
to discover and test ways to preserve this
essential ecosystem were intricate and
effective. From indigenous citizen scientist
data collectors, to the children happily
involved in Wildlife Clubs it became so clear
that all have a common mission: preserve
this treasure while using visionary foresight
and research to use its bounty sustainably. I
left feeling honored to have shared 10 days
with these brilliant individuals.
A Bedford truck that was formerly a UK
army vehicle(now owned and operated by
Surama Village Council), carried the eager
students though the Iwokrama Forestfor an
early morning visit to the Canopy Walkway;
there, veteran guide Leon Moore carried
the group along trails both along the ground
and suspended in the sky. For many
students, this was their first opportunity
to view the forest from the top down and
the experience left them with an increased
respect for the size and complexity of
the rainforest. Perched atop the canopy
walkway, students gazed out towards the
unbroken forest between them and the
IwokramaMountains at the horizon. Then
looking down at the massive tree trunks to
the forest floor over a hundred feet below
students couldnt help but feel like they
Head Ranger Micah Davis and Tourism Coordinator, Kevin Edwards looking at bullet ants.
Dr. Thomas-Caesar and her team of rangers
know this place like the back of their hands.
She explained how the management of the
area had been developed and implemented
based a combination of scientific research
and local wisdom. This has allowed
Iwokrama to develop its complex system
for the sustainable harvest of economically
viable timber species while monitoring the
impact of this activity on the incredible
biodiversity that the forest supports.
Dr. Thomas-Caesar explained, Iwokrama
looks forward to working with our partners
in the Earth Expeditions course. Its a
great example for all of us that learning is
a lifelong skill.
Samantha James, Iwokramas Community
Outreach Manager further made the link
with local knowledge building At Iwokrama
we value local knowledge very deeply and
are proud to support the Junior Wildlife
Clubs, provide training for local guides and
rangers and to make links between local
and international research and learning.
We know this system works as Iwokrama
was developed with the help of people
from local communities and now many
of the children of those original guides
and naturalists have become wildlife club
members, trainees, guides, rangers and
are now our colleagues in conservation!
In partnership with Iwokrama, the Chicago
Zoological Society applied the Career
Ladder model in the Rupununi with great
results. This initiative creates stepping
stones by gradually building additional
skills that complement local knowledge. As
students grow, they not only have a better
understanding of Makushi and Western
ways of knowing, but also have increased
opportunities to access better jobs related
to conservation for which they are uniquely
prepared.
Micah Davis from Toka Village and Kevin
Edwards from Kwaimatta Village are two
such examples of former North Rupununi
Wildlife Club members that are now working
with Iwokrama. Through the wildlife club,
they learned various techniques related to
research and monitoring, honed their public
speaking and presentation skills and gained
an interest in and commitment to natural
resource management and conservation.
Now Head Ranger and Tourism Coordinator
at Iwokrama respectively, these Rupununi
born scientists patiently guided studentsup
and down Turtle Mountain, on monitoring
trips on the Essequibo River and along
72 | EXPLORE GUYANA
were part of something that was bigger than
them. A part of something rare and special
in this world.
Traveling onto SuramaVillage, the students
spent the majority of remainder of their trip
immersedin stories, practices and traditions
of Makushpekomantuiseuru, the Makushi
way of life. The Makushi have a long tradition
of managing their resources creatively and
sustainably by proudly embracing their
traditional methods of rotational agriculture,
subsistence hunting and fishing and
combining this with more modern methods
of low carbon development like ecotourism.
Conscious of the value of indigenous and
non-indigenous knowledge, Guyanas
Makushi people are becoming masters of
straddling both worlds and these students
from North America were here to learn
from them. This local education began
with a lesson from the children of Surama.
The outdoor classroom can be both
engaging and rigorous, as students found
themselves monitoring birds with Suramas
Junior Wildlife Club along a transect line
starting at 6:00 am. Despite it being school
holidays and a weekend, over 25 club
members turned out for a day that unfolded
withstudents and club members working on
inquiry-based research science projects,
riotous games, competitions and even a
sharing of both Northern and Southern
culture through song and dance.
Carrie Sanderson, an elementary school
teacher from California, remarked, The
knowledge and awareness of the people
we worked with was impressive. Even the
children were dialed right into the Earths
heartbeat!
And it was no rest for the weary, as early
the next morning students were back at
work; this time in a traditional Makushi farm
with Dan and Paulette Allicock. Paulette is
the Coordinator for the Makushi Research
Unit, a group that for the past 15 years
has been chronicling Makushi culture and
language (they even lobbied to legalize
Makushi language teaching in schools
and wrote the text book for it), as well as
promoting womens rights and social well
being. Paulette and Dan opened up their
home to this group of 20 strangers from the
other side of the world and their hospitality
left everyone feeling like family as a result.
Scott Lenhart, a middle school teacher from
Ohio explained, The Guyana experience
helped me realize one thing; people are
people no matter where you go. The
traditions and environment vary but the
people of Guyana still value the same
things I do including family, education and
tradition. The immersion in their culture was
an experience you may not get on any trip
to another country. Their hospitality and
willingness to share enhanced all of the
activities, including the humor they found
in our struggles to complete tasks such as
cassava harvesting and arrow-making!
Working with Paulette and Dan right
at their house and their personal farm,
they showed students how to plant and
harvest staple crops like cassava, banana,
eddo, yam and corn, all while sharing the
traditional stories, traditions and beliefs that
have helped Makushi people thrive in this
environment for millennia. Uncle Dan
displayed skills in basket weaving, arrow
making and archery that he has mastered
over the years as a farmer, fisherman and
hunter. Without these tools, he explained,
they would all go hungry.
The following day, students rose early again
to learn that their cassava work was far
from over. At Suramas Cassava Co-Op,
students assisted residents in processing
cassava into staple food products like farine,
cassava bread and parakari. It was obvious
to everyone that meeting daily needs is
much harder here than what any of the
students had experienced in their personal
lives and it is only by working together with
your family and your neighbors that needs
for living are achieved.
Erin Stotz, Community Conservation
Specialist at the Denver Zoo, reflected that,
after spending timewith Makushi people,
one comes to understand the importance
At the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway
EXPLORE GUYANA | 73
of community and what is important in life.
Wrapping up their time in Surama, students
were treated to a hike up Surama Mountain.
Looking out over the vast stretches of
forest and savanna before them, the group
couldnt help but be in awe of the way that
the people of the Rupununi have utilized
the regions resources for their survival
for millennia, yet they are still left with the
amazing bounty that was laid at their feet by
the panoramic view. A view which included
scarlet macaws calling and soaring, black
spider monkeys leaping from tree to tree in
the valley below and red howler monkeys,
and all kinds of birds and frogs joining
in to make up a chorus that echoed for
miles. In that place and time, everyone
realized that what they had experienced
was true stewardship; the responsible use
of resources that bears in mind the needs
of future generations. This is part of the
true beauty of the Rupununi; not that this is
uninhabited jungle, but rather that this is a
place where people are scientists because
they study the land every second of every
day and make a living from their advanced
knowledge and understanding that is
gained as a result.
On the final evening, students experienced
the talents of Surama Culture Group and
everyone celebrated the fact that they
made it thought the course without being
bit by Bullet Ants or eaten by a Haguar and
that nobody chopped themselves (or each
other) with a cutlass (or machete), but more
importantly that everyone had made some
new friends and gained some amazing
insight into science, conservation and life in
general. In typical Rupununi fashion, two
buckets of parakari (Amerindian traditional
beverage) and a birthday cake are shared
while everyone watched, listened to and
participated in traditional songs and dances.
A wonderful farewell and fitting after sharing
a week of local Makushi culture, pride and
wisdom.
On the final morning, the experience
culminated in a once-in-a-lifetime visit to
Kaieteur Falls. This is a place that speaks
for itself; the largest single drop waterfall
in the world, surrounded by a river, gorge
and unique natural habitat that can only
be described as otherworldly. As the
students sat in owe of the powerful force
of nature in front of them, even as they
watched the amazingly beautiful Cock-
of-the-Rock or observed the tiny Golden
Rocket Frog, students couldnt help but
think back to what meant most to them
about this trip. Mary Yoder, a zookeeper
at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, summed it
all up by saying, Guyana is truly a special
place not only because of the bountiful and
diverse wildlife that can be found in the
amazingly pristine forests and rivers, but
because of the people that take care of the
land and call it home.
Interested in taking part in an experience
where local wisdom is the backbone for
conservation in Guyana? See http://www.
earthexpeditions.org/guyana and http://
iwokrama.org.
Playing with Members of the Surama Junior Wildlife Club
Yonette Sway teaches students the fine art of spinning cotton
Students learning how to grate cassava
Daniel Allicock demonstrating
how to use a bow and arrow
EXPLORE GUYANA | 75
T
he Guyana based organisation
Iwokrama International Centre
for Rainforest Conservation and
Development is an international not-for-
profit organisation that was established
by the Government of Guyana and
the Commonwealth Secretariat. The
organisation manages nearly one million
acres (371,000 ha) of intact rainforest with
the aims of testing the concept of a truly
sustainable forest, where conservation,
environmental balance and economic use
can be mutually reinforcing.
This concept includes sustainable forestry
(e.g. Non Timber Forest Products, selective
logging) as well as ecotourism. The latter is
often hailed as one of the few indisputable
examples of sustainable development
at work because it is not only compatible
with biodiversity conservation but it also
generates economic revenue from land
set aside for nature protection. Moreover,
ecotourism helps to educate the
general public on conservation
issues and thereby supports a
better management of protected
areas. It is therefore not surprising
that there is a growing interest in
broadening the ecotourism portfolio of
Iwokrama by exploring and developing new
and attractive sites within the Iwokrama
Forest boundaries.
One of these sites that has been identified
as having a high potential for attracting
ecotourists are the so-called Turu Falls.
The area is very peculiar and exceptional
compared to other sites within the Iwokrama
Forest ecosystem, not the least due to
its spectacular topography that features
small waterfalls and creeks with pools and
cascades. Situated at the foothills of the
scenic Iwokrama Mountains it harbours an
extraordinary flora and fauna that has only
insufficiently been investigated in the past.
Two n e w
v e r t e b r a t e species have
recently been described from the Iwokrama
Mountains, a region recently assumed to be
an area of endemism: one amphibian (the
caecilian a legless amphibian Caecilita
iwokramae in 2009), and one reptile
(the lizard Gonatodes timidus in 2011).
Endemism is a term used in biogeography
(the study of the geographic distribution of
organisms) to characterize the uniqueness
to a defined geographic location. In other
words, a species that is said to be endemic to
the Iwokrama Mountains occurs only there,
and nowhere else in the world! These so-
Another New Species Endemic to the
Iwokrama Mountains of Guyana!
The Frog That May Be Lost
Story By Philippe J.R. Kok, Monique Hlting, and Raffael Ernst
76 | EXPLORE GUYANA
called endemic species are thus of primary
importance in terms of conservation,
especially when they are highly restricted,
but also as flagship species for the areas
concerned. When a peculiar region
harbours at least two endemic species,
it can generally be assumed that their
distribution has been affected by the same
historical biogeographical factors, and the
area is called an area of endemism.
Allobates amissibilis, literally the rocket frog
that may be lost according to the etymology
of its Latin name, is a recent new addition
to the list of endemics to the Iwokrama
Mountains. This tiny frog (less than 18 mm
long) belongs to the family Aromobatidae,
which was formerly included in the family
of the poison frogs (Dendrobatidae). Frogs
of the family Aromobatidae, which also
includes Anomaloglossus beebei, the well-
known golden frog of Kaieteur National
Park, notably lack the toxins secreted by
true poison frogs.
The new species has been discovered at
two locations in the Iwokrama Mountains,
the first sighting dating back to May 2010,
when one of us (Monique Hlting) secured a
specimen from Turu Falls while performing
preliminary investigations on the potential
impact of ecotourism on conservation.
About a year later, a second specimen was
collected by Philippe Kok (Free University
of Brussels and Royal Belgian Institute of
Natural Sciences, Belgium) on the summit
of one of the highest unnamed peaks of the
Iwokrama Mountains, and finally in 2012
additional specimens were recorded at Turu
Falls during the field herpetology course
taught by Philippe Kok to international
master students studying herpetology at
the Free University of Brussels, Belgium.
The new species is diurnal and terrestrial,
males calling during rainy days to attract
females and defend their territory. What
is really surprising is that no one noticed
this species during the extensive faunal
surveys conducted in Iwokrama during the
late nineties, further suggesting that the
new species is geographically extremely
restricted, and rather uncommon.
What makes endemism in the Iwokrama
Mountains so exciting is that it concerns
species that are distantly related (lizards
for instance are evolutionary closer to
humans than to frogs), and researchers are
currently trying to understand the historical
biogeographical processes involved in
that very localized endemism, also called
microendemism.
Because it is geographically highly
restricted, Allobates amissibilis may face
threats in the near future as a result of
increasing human pressure due to the
aesthetic attractiveness of the locality
where it occurs. Indeed, development of
Turu Falls as an ecotourism site, which,
if not planned carefully, could alter this
ecosystem substantially and put the long-
term viability of these populations at stake,
hence the choice of the species Latin name.
Another conservation challenge to face!
What exactly is a new species, and why a
Latin name?
Actually the term new species may be misleading for the general public because
these new species may have existed well before the emergence of modern
humans. They are considered new because they were never noticed by scientists
before, and therefore were still not scientifically named. Sometimes these species
are already known by local populations, and already have a local name, but
nowadays they are often discovered in remote areas that are not, or scarcely,
populated by humans. Scientific convention is to use binomial Latin, or Latinized,
names to designate species (a genus name and a species name), which allows
proper identification and classification. Scientists who describe new species are
allowed to decide the species name.
About the Authors
Dr Philippe J. R. Kok works at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences and at
the Free University of Brussels, Belgium. He has been working in Guyana (mostly
in Kaieteur National Park and the Pakaraima Mountains) for over a decade, mainly
on the systematics and evolution of amphibians and reptiles.
Dr Raffael Ernst and PhD student Monique Hlting work at the Senckenberg Natural
History Collections Dresden and at the Technische Universitt Berlin, Germany.
Both have been working in Guyana (mostly in Mabura Hill and Iwokrama) for over
a decade, mainly on the impacts of logging on amphibians.
Capt. Lloyd Marshall
100 Years of Aviation
In Guyana
I
n Dec. 1903, Orville Wright piloted the
first powered, controlled and sustained
flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Just
over nine years later, on the 24th. March
1913, a young German American by the
name of George Schmitz made the first
flight in British Guiana on a heavier- than-
air machine. The flight originated from
the Bel Air Park Race Course also known
as Canon Race Course which is today,
the area just East of the present service
stations on Vlissengen Road.
After WW1, other pioneer aviators visited
British Guiana. These airmen planned and
operated various flight missions thereby
demonstrating the usefulness of the aircraft
in aerial survey and transportation. In
1925, Seaplane Legislation was enacted
in keeping with the Air Navigation Order
of 1923. In September 1929, the famous
Charles Lindberg flying a Sikorsky S38
seaplane arrived in the colony and moored
his large flying-boat in the Demerara River.
The first airmail service out of British Guiana
commenced when that flight departed.
However, air transportation in British
Guiana really took off with the arrival of
Major Arthur(Art) Williams in 1934. With
his partner Harry Wentd, he commenced
regular flights into the interior using his
Wasp Ireland floatplane. On the 27th May
1938, Art Williams associated with John
Henry Hunter M.B.E. , registered a private
company known as British Guiana Airways
Ltd. By 1945, the company had acquired an
amphibian Grumman Goose and relocated
its operations to the Ruimveldt ramp. In
1947, two DC-3 (Dakotas) aircraft were
added to the fleet and these aircraft were
operated from Atkinson Airport.
A Director of Civil Aviation was appointed
in 1948 and in Oct.1949, Air Traffic Control
Service and Aeronautical Communications
were introduced. Several airstrips were
constructed to accommodate the DC-3,
while the Grumman Goose amphibian
service continued. Coastal airstrip
Capt. Lloyd Marshall
Image of the Atkinson Airport
Crop Dusting Exercise at the Old Bookers Terminal, Ogle
79 | EXPLORE GUYANA
Story by Capt. Lloyd Marshall
Recent Overhead View of Expanded Ogle Airport
EXPLORE GUYANA | 81
development became a reality in order to
facilitate transportation to the Bookers sugar
estates and also to support agricultural
flight operations ( Crop Dusting). Airstrips
were constructed at Ogle, Enmore, Wales,
Uitvlugt, Rosehall, Albion and Skeldon.
On 15th. July 1955, the Government of
British Guiana purchased British Guiana
Airways from the holders, and after
twenty -one years in British Guiana, Art
Williams returned to the United States.
The company was incorporated as Guyana
Airways Corporation in 1966 and continued
operation until 1999 when its operation
was terminated. Aircraft flown by Guyana
Airways include the amphibian Grumman
Goose, the venerable DC-3,the Cessna
310G, the De Havilland Dhc-6 (Twin Otter)
the De Havilland Dhc-4 (Caribou) The
Hawker Siddley 748 (Avro), the Shorts SC-7
(Skyvan), the Boeing 737-200, theTU-154,
the Boeing 707 and the Boeing 757.
British Guiana Airways and Guyana
Airways Corporation were always involved
in international charter operations. However,
international scheduled operations
commenced in the late 70s with the
addition of the HS-748 to the GAC fleet. In
1980, the 748 service to Boa Vista, Trinidad
and Barbados was upgraded to the Boeing
737 service to the two Caribbean Islands,
Suriname , Miami and New York. The Tu
154 was in service with GAC from 1985 to
1987 after which a Boeing 707 was leased
and non-stop flights to New York and
Toronto were introduced. In 1993 Guyana
Airways acquired a Boeing 757 aircraft and
offered scheduled services to Trinidad ,
Curacao, Miami New York and Toronto.
The private sector Domestic Aviation
Business also developed and was operated
mainly from the Ogle aerodrome. Anthony
P. Clavier was an outstanding private sector
aviator during the late 50s to the mid 70s.
Clavier piloted the aircraft he owned. He
maintained the aircraft he flew. He also
managed the business he established.
There were other aviators/entrepreneurs
Recent Overhead View of Expanded Ogle Airport
A Busy Apron of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport
EXPLORE GUYANA | 82
who rendered sterling contributions to the
business of commercial aircraft operations
from the Ogle aerodrome. Consequently,
this aviation sector emerged to be very
vibrant and thriving and presently, it is the
main provider for domestic commercial
aviation services in Guyana. Over the years,
this ever increasing aviation activity resulted
in the development of the Ogle Airport, to
the extent that it has been upgraded to the
status of a Regional International Airport.
From the early pioneer aviators to the
local flyers of today, all pilots, past and
present, who have flown into the interior
of Guyana have been privileged to
appreciate the beauty of the country from
a front seat vantage position. They have
all experienced the grandeur of the sun
rising over Mt. Makarapan and showering
morning sunlight on the North Savannahs.
They have witnessed the splendour of the
sun setting beyond the Paruima Hills. They
have observed the parched savannahs in
the dry season changing to lush grasslands
as adjacent rivers overflowed their banks in
the rainy season. They have taken pictures
of the Kanaku Mt. covered with a robe of
cloud and mist in the early morning and
then later they have admired the Kanaku
disrobed, with its natural beauty exposed
to the mid-day sun. They have vivid
memories of rivers and rivulets, hills and
valleys, canyons and gorges, rapids and
waterfalls and the mighty Essequibo --- 500
miles from source to estuary, meandering
its course to the Atlantic, and along the
way gracefully accepting the flows from the
estuaries of its four main tributaries : the
Rupununi , the Potaro, the Mazaruni and
the Cuyuni.
IT has been an exciting period of One
Hundred Years Of Aviation In Guyana and
my love for my homeland is reflected in
the poem Guyana My Homeland. This
poem was composed in Ulyanovsk, USSR
in 1985(Aug-Dec) while attending a TU154
pilot training course. I missed Guyana and
lovingly thought of my homeland in this
way.
In silent moments
Pleasant thoughts of you
Softly enfold me
With a divine tenderness
Only the warmth of your nearness
Can surpass.
I think of you and my heart
Beats strong and loud
Like a newly strung Congo drum
Sending messages of love
Oh listen! Here they come

If living with you means dancing
Well dance through life
In a rapturous embrace that knows no end
If living with you means walking
Well walk your length and breadth
From inland to coast
With arms wrapped snugly around waists
Last night I dreamt of the Essequibo
Running long and smooth and silent
Like a serpent,
Flowing with its secrets to the sea
Today I recall your living rapids
And Kaieteur cascading and rushing
And foaming and tumbling,
Forever I will remember your mountains and hills
Bold and erect as sentries to protect
Your stretching coastal plains.
And how can I forget your thirsty savannahs
Growing green with the seasons rains?
I live loving your freshness
The nourishing freshness of your fruit
The unbridled freshness of your freedom
The air after rain freshness
Of your laughter and friendship

I live knowing your poverty
And I share your adversity
But I kneel to your ground
And l feel your abundant wealth,
Your diamonds unearthed, exposed
Shining bright and unbreakable hard
Reflecting always:
Freedom! Freshness! Friendship.
Guyana My Homeland
2 DC3 parked in front of the old control tower
by Capt. Lloyd Marshall
F
estivals contribute to the cultural
tapestry of all countries. Each
festival brings with it a unique blend
of customs and traditions and acts as a
harbinger of good-will, peace and fraternity.
Centuries ago, Deepavali was celebrated in
the confnes of the logies (primitive homes)
in villages. Our forebears, the indentured
immigrants strove to maintain their culture
and religion with whatever limited facilities
were available in those times. Diyas were
lovingly crafted out of mud and the radiance
given off from these little lights served as
a beacon of hope to them as they toiled
under the most horrendous conditions.
The Festival of Lights
Deepavali
Deepavali, which literally means a row
of lights, is celebrated on the 15th day of
the Hindu month of Kartik. It is the darkest
night of that month and is conducive to the
twinkling lights that illuminate every nook
and cranny. Worship of the goddess Maha
Lakshmi is the main focus of Deepavali.
The aspirant performs Lakshmi puja and
Story by Dr Vindhya V Persaud
85 | EXPLORE GUYANA
86 | EXPLORE GUYANA
Home Decorated with Lit Diyas
seeks her blessing for material and spiritual
fulfllment. The festival encourages the
participation of the entire family and it
has long been the custom in Guyana for
everyone in the home to gather in front
of their Lakshmi murti at dusk chanting
prayers and mantras before emerging to
light their frst diya. Prior to the day itself
the home and mandirs would be thoroughly
cleaned and decorated in preparation for
the Goddess of light, Maha Lakshmi. The
ladies of the home would in recent times
design elaborate rangolis ( coloured tracings
on the foor) and be absorbed in making
sweet delicacies for family and friends. At
this time, the household would be sanctifed
as vegetarian fasts are the norm. Hindus
would also abstain from alcohol. Over
the last 3 decades the festival has gained
prominence, and features on Guyanas list
of national holidays.
Deepavali has emerged from homes and
mandirs and presently many commercial
entities and public building are decorated
with lights to welcome the goddess Maha
Lakshmi. The trend of using electric
lights has increased and more persons
are supplementing their diyas with these
creating an aesthetically appealing look that
has passers by gasping in awe. Diyas are
hardly made by individual householders,
but those professionally made from clay
can be purchased from stores and vendors.
Novel innovations to the once simple mud
diya flled with ghee and lit with a cotton
wick include wax flled diyas and electrical
diyas. The humble diya has certainly
withstood generations and in spite of all the
new- fangled techniques it still reminds the
Hindu to rekindle that inner light within and
to extend to all those he or she comes in
contact with.
The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabhas
Countrywide Motorcades have become
synonymous with the celebration of
Deepavali in Guyana. Thousands of
88 | EXPLORE GUYANA
Intricately Designed Float in Annual Motorcade
Guyanese of every stratum of society and
cultural belief throng the roads to witness
the processions of beautifully decorated
and illuminated vehicles depicting the
theme of Deepavali. In the olden days it
wasnt unusual to see horse-drawn carts
gaily bedecked for the motorcade. With the
advent of advanced technology, vehicles
ranging from low-bed trucks to sleek cars
are carefully designed with sophisticated
lights and mobile parts. The Dharmic
Sabhas motorcades are major tourist
attractions.
Deepavali in its many dimensions
addresses questions which are not only
philosophical, but also economical and
social in orientation. Deepavali threatens
darkness in all its dimensions and
infuences the emergence of an illuminated
society in which there exists understanding,
tolerance, love and cordiality.
Societies are built and sustained on
foundations such as these. Festivals
like Deepavali serve to rekindle hopes
and expectation, and infuence society
in a positive direction. Deepavali renews
the spirit of optimism from which a new
beginning can be constructed, based on
equity and noble intentions.
GUYANA PASTRY RECIPES
EXPLORE GUYANA | 89
Cheese Flaps
Ingredients
4 ( 8 g ) packets of yeast
2 cups warm water
6 cups four
2 ozs sugar
4 ozs margarine
1 tbsp salt
2 eggs
4 oz margarine (for basting)
1 lb cheese, grated mixed with 2 tbsps mustard
Preparation
1. Mix dry ingredients, that is, yeast, sugar, half of the four and
salt in a large bowl.
2. Melt margarine and water in microwave oven on low and set
aside.
3. Beat eggs and to margarine and water.
4. Add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients ..
5. Beat the mixture until smooth. Beat in the remainder of four
and knead to obtain a smooth silky dough.
6. Place in a greased bowl and leave for 1 hour or until mixture
doubles in size.
7. Turn out on foured board. Divide into 24 pieces, knead into
balls, cover and leave for 20 minutes.
8. Roll out very thinly to about 8 inches in diameter, and
brush with melted margarine. Fold in half and add I heaped
tablespoon cheese mixture on one quarter. Fold in half again,
covering the cheese and making into a triangular shape.
9. Seal edges and prick with a fork. Place on greased cookie
trays. Bake in a moderately hot oven for 25 minutes, then
change shelves & increase heat to 375F. Bake for another
fve minutes or until golden brown. Remove the oven and
brush with melted margarine.
Pine Tarts
Ingredients
lb Short Crust Pastry
1 cup local Pineapple Jam
1 egg
SHORT CRUST PASTRY
Ingredients
8 oz (1/2 lb) Flour
2 oz Lard
2 oz Margarine
A good pinch of salt
4 tbsp cold water
Method
1. Sieve four and salt
2. Add fat and shop in using the blade of a spatula
3. Rub in with fnger tips until mixture resembles like fne bread
crumbs
4. Sprinkle in water and mix carefully with spatula without
pressing too hard
5. Roll out lightly and shape for desired use
Pine-apple Jam
1 large green skinned pine-apple
1 lb brown sugar
1 small stick cinnamon spice
Method
Carefully peel the pine-apple to remove all the brown spots.
Shred the pine and combine with sugar and spice in a saucepot.
Boil until thickened. Remove spice and bottle jam.
Method for Tart
1. Roll out short crust pastry, cut into 5 rounds
2. Place 2 teaspoon jam in middle of pastry round
3. Damp edges and fold to form a triangle
4. Brush tart with beaten egg
5. Bake in moderately hot oven until golden brown.
6. Remove from oven and cool on a rack
Courtesy Carnegie School of Home Economics
EXPLORE GUYANA | 91 90 | EXPLORE GUYANA
About Guyana
There is a risk of malaria in certain parts of the interior. Consult
your doctor for the required precautons if you intend to travel
there. Georgetown and coastal areas are Malaria-Free.
Municipal Hospitals and Health Care Centres exist within rural
and outer lying communites with medivac services available in
cases of emergency.
Further informaton can be obtained from the Ministry of Health
on Telephone Numbers: (592) 226 7338 or (592) 226 1366.
INTERNET
For most customers, internet service is available natonally
through independent providers. Service is also available in most
hotels and at many internet cafs which have been established
across the country. Some hotels and restaurants provide Wi-Fi
at no charge to patrons using their laptops.
The informatve 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,
conservaton groups, and internatonal organizatons as well.
There are four daily papers; Kaieteur News, Stabroek News,
Guyana Times Newspaper and the natonal paper; Guyana
Chronicle Newspaper.
There are over twenty (20) Television Statons and fve (5)
privately owned radio staton and one (1) government operated
radio staton
LANGUAGE
The ofcial language is English, ofen spoken with a Caribbean
Creole favour. Guyana is also the only English speaking country
in South America.
PLACES TO WORSHIP
The predominant religious groups are Christans, Hindus and
Muslims. Each is well represented with its own churches,
temples, mosques. They are found across the country where the
major landmarks featuring traditonal architecture may be seen.
POPULATION
Guyanas populaton is approximately 751,223 (Census 2002) of
whom 90% live along the coastal strip and banks of major rivers.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS
Police: 911, 564
Police: Emergency Response Unit: 225-6411
Fire: 912
Ambulance: 913
TIME ZONE
GMT - 04:00
LOCATION
Guyana is located on the North East Coast of South America
and is its only English speaking country. Between 1o & 9o North
Lattude 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 afer
Suriname and Uruguay; it has four distnct geographical areas:
the Low Coastal Plain; the Hilly Sand and Clay Belt; the Highland
Region and the Interior Savannahs. The area is 214,970 sq.km.
Approximately 75% of the land area is stll intact forest, and 2.5%
is cultvated. The coastline is 1 metre to 1.5 metres below sea
level at high tde necessitatng an elaborate systems of drainage
canals.
The most valuable mineral deposits are bauxite, gold, and
diamonds. The main rivers are the Demerara, Berbice, Corentyne
and Essequibo.
CLIMATE
Guyana is a tropical destnaton 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.
CLOTHING
Lightweight, causal clothing can be worn throughout the year.
However longs are recommended for the evening along with
mosquito repellent to safeguard against mosquito bites.
HEALTH
Country Facts
Government
Guyana became independent from Britain in 1966 and a Co-operatve Republic in 1970, when a non executve President replaced
the Governor-General. A new consttuton in 1980 gave the President wide executve powers. The Cabinet is headed by the
President, and there is a 65-member Natonal Assembly elected by proportonal representaton.
EXPLORE GUYANA | 91 90 | EXPLORE 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 tcket.
Visa Exempt Natonals
Visas are necessary for all visitors except
natonals 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 duraton of stay any visitor
will be granted by Guyana Immigraton,
will not exceed thirty days.
Non Exempt Natonals
All visitors to Guyana who require a visa
for travel should visit the Ministry of
Home Afairs website: htp://www.moha.
gov.gy/ prior to making their travel
arrangements. All details regarding the
Visa Applicaton Process might be found
on the Homepage of the Website under
the subheading Immigraton 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 leter notfying the applicant of the visa
being granted will be sent to their address
provided in the applicaton. Visitors must
have in their possession the original/ or
copy of the document statng the visa
has been granted to show to Immigraton
upon arrival at Cheddi Jagan Internatonal
Airport -Timehri.
Payment for the visa might be made to
the Ministry of Home Afairs, Guyana or
upon arrival at Cheddi Jagan Internatonal
Airport Timehri.
Visitors who wish to extend their stay
must contact the Ministry of Home Afairs
in advance of the date he/she is expected
to depart Guyana. The Ministry of Home
Afairs is located at 60 Brickdam Street,
Georgetown. Guyana. The Central Ofce
of Immigraton, where the extension
is granted, located on Camp Street,
Georgetown, must also note the extension
in the visitors passport.
Travelers for purposes other than tourism
should check with the Ministry of Home
Afairs for informaton about requirements
for work permits and extended stays.

For further informaton, visitors are encouraged
to contact the Head of Immigraton Support
Service, Ministry of Home Afairs, Guyana on
Tel : (592 ) 223 7867 or contact the Guyana
Foreign Ofce nearest to you .
TRANSPORTATION
DRIVING IN GUYANA
Trafc drives on the lef. Seat belts are
necessary by Law. If travelling to Guyana and
wish to rent a vehicle during your stay, please
enquire with the Customs Ofcer at the
Airport, upon arrival into Guyana. The permit
will be immediately issued to you provided
you have your internatonal drivers 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
Tourists should ONLY use the ofcial taxi
services registered to operate at CJIA. They can
be identfed by their uniforms (Crme Shirt-
Jackets, Black Pants and ID Badges. Fares are
listed at the Airport and are fxed).
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, operatng
throughout the city and to and from other
urban centres.
Before embarking, do enquire of the rates
for travel to destnaton of interest. Use only
recognized yellow taxis bearing the logos of
respectve taxi services. Alternatvely, do seek
the guidance of the front desk staf in your
selecton 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 Internatonal Airport and Linden.
Check and confrm the fares before entering the
vehicle.
Transportaton 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 aford 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.
Travelling by taxi for short distances:
approximately G$300- $GY400.00; longer
drops G$500.00 and upwards determined by
the distance and destnaton. Prices will vary
from locaton to locaton. Rented cars are also
available.
RIVER BOATS & FERRIES
With the opening of the Berbice Bridge
between East and West Berbice, travelling tme
is lessened for commuters from Georgetown
to Berbice and onward travel to Suriname via
the crossing at Moleson Creek.
A toll is charged for the Berbice Bridge based on
vehicle capacity. The fee per passenger crossing
with the Canawaima Ferry at Moleson Creek
travelling to Nickerie, Suriname is US$11.00
one way and US$15.00 return.

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 Vreed-en-Hoop which is
obliquely opposite each other. Be sure to check
the bridge opening schedule one day prior to
travel.
The highway which begins on the West Coast of
Demerara is heavily trafcked since it provides
a link to Parika on the East Bank of Essequibo
River which has become an important centre
of economic actvity in the Essequibo region.
For example, speed boats or other types of
transportaton can be hired to take passengers
as far as Bartca or other hinterland resorts and
back in a single day.
TRAVEL TO GUYANAS INTERIOR
Travel arrangements may be made with local
busing service, jeeps, chartered planes and
speedboats. A guide is advisable for longer
distance travel to interior locatons.
EXPLORE GUYANA | 92
DOMESTIC AIR SERVICE
Air transportaton 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 Internatonal Airport, Timehri.
Informaton on their availability and movement
is easily obtainable from their ofce and from
tour operators. Private charter companies
operate fight into the interior from soon to be
completed Ogle Internatonal Airport.
(For further informaton please see THAG
Membership Listngs)
INTERNATIONAL & REGIONAL CARRIERS
Guyanas internatonal airport, named afer
the late president, Cheddi Jagan is located at
Timehri, 25 miles south of Georgetown. Flights
from Europe are routed through Antgua,
Barbados, or Trinidad. There are direct fights
from Miami, New York, Toronto, Brazil, and
Suriname.
CAMBIOS
These are licensed currency exchange houses.
Most cambios are open from 8am to 5pm, and
on Saturdays from 8am to 12pm, sometmes to
2pm. keep your cambio receipts, you will need
to produce them in order to change Guyanese
dollars on departure.
MONEY & BUSINESS GUIDE
ATM Machines are accessible to persons
with ATM Debit Cards. Persons in possession
of internatonal CIRRUS credit cards that is
Master Card and Visa Card might utlise the
ATMs at Scota Bank for cash advances when
in Guyana.
Further assistance might be ofered 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 optonal. Shirt and te atre is common in
most ofces. Females are expected to dress
conservatvely.
CURRENCY
The Guyana dollar is the only legal tender
accepted in this country. It is a foatng currency
and the value fuctuates 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
fuctuates and the exchange is approximately
US$1 GY$202.00. Major credits cards and
travellers cheques are generally accepted at
many resorts, hotels, gif 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$4,000).
This is paid at the airport at the GRA booth.
(The US dollar equivalent for this exit tax may
vary with exchange fuctuatons.) Please note
that this is payable in GY$ 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
natonal GDP, producing sugar and rice for
export, with extensive tmber operatons and
a range of other products, from cofee to fsh
and fruits, and fresh vegetables well respected
brands of rum. Gold, bauxite and diamonds are
mined.
INFORMATIVE SITES ON GUYANA
Travel and Tourism:
Guyana Tourism Authority- www.guyana-
tourism.com
Tourism & Hospitality Associaton of
Guyana- www.exploreguyana.org
Iwokrama Internatonal Centre
www.iwokrama.org
Kaieteur Park and Falls-
www.kaieteurpark.gov.gy
Investng in Guyana:
Guyana Ofce for Investment
www.goinvest.gov.gy
Guyana Lands & Surveys
www.lands.gov.gy
Private Sector Commission-
www.psc.org.gy
Georgetown Chambers of Commerce-
www.georgetownchamberofcommerce.
org
Guyana Manufacturers & Services
Associaton - www.gma.org.gy
Non Governmental Organizatons
(Conservaton):
Conservaton Internatonal Guyana
www.conservaton.org
World Wildlife Fund ( Guyana)
www.wwfguianas.org/
Iwokrama Internatonal Centre
www.iwokrama.org
Kaieteur Park and Falls
www.kaieteurpark.gov.gy
EXPLORE GUYANA | 93
MONEY & BUSINESS
About Guyana
CREDIT CARDS
Major credits cards and travellers cheques are accepted by
most hotels, restaurants, car rental agencies and tour operators.
Internatonal VISA, Mastercard, Maestro and Cirrus credit and
debit cards can be used to obtain cash from Scotabank 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 locatons.
BUSINESS CONTACTS & ORGANISATIONS
Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development
12 Chapel Street, New Amsterdam, Berbice Tel: 333 3324
Consultatve Associaton 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 Associaton 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:gccicommerce2009@gmail.com
Website: www.georgetownchamberofcommerce.org
GO-INVEST(Guyana Ofce for Investment)
190 Camp & Church Sts, Georgetown
Tel: 225 0658/227 0653 Fax: 225 0655
Website: www.goinvest.gov.gy
E-mail: goinvest@goinvest.gov.gy
Guyana Associaton of Travel Agents
Wm Fogarty Building, 34-37 Water St., Georgetown
Tel: 227 7225 Fax: 225 2513
Email:jimbacchus@inetguyana.net

Guyana Manufacturers & Services Associaton
157 Waterloo Street, Georgetown Tel: 223-7405/6
Email:gma_guyana@yahoo.com www.gmsagy.org
Guyana Rice Millers and Exporters
Development Associaton
216 Lamaha St, Georgetown Tel: 225 5353
Guyana Rice Producers Associaton
104 Regent St, Georgetown Tel: 223 7248
Guyana Tourism Authority
Natonal Exhibiton Centre, Sophia, Georgetown
Tel: 219-0094-6 Fax: 219 0093
Email: info@guyana-tourism.com
Website: www.guyana-tourism.com
Insttute of Private Enterprise Development
253 South Road, Bourda, Georgetown Tel: 225 8949
Email:iped@solutons2000.net
Linden Chamber of Industry and Commerce
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 organizaton for more private
sector business and employers organizatons.
More major companies are also members.
157 Waterloo St, Georgetown
Tel: 225 0977 Fax: 225 0978
E-mail: ofce@psc.org.gy
Website: psc.org.gy
Tourism and Hospitality Associaton
of Guyana (THAG)
157 Waterloo St, Georgetown
Tel: 225 0807 Fax: 225 0817
E-mail: info@exploreguyana.org / thag.secretariat@gmail.com
Website: www.exploreguyana.org
EXPLORE GUYANA | 95 94 | EXPLORE GUYANA
ACCOMMODATIONS
Georgetown and Environs
All of these propertes are members of the Tourism and Hospitality Associaton of Guyana,
and ofer the quality service we know will meet your satsfacton.
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
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
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
1. Ariantze Hotel 4. Grand Coastal Hotel
3. Cara 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
5. Herdmanston Lodge
AMENITIES ICONS KEY
WIFI ZONE
HAIR DRYER No Smoking
Television
Wheel Chair Access
CREDIT CARDS
MONEY EXCHANGE
GYM
LAUNDROMAT
ROOM SERVICE
SWIMMING POOL
IRON
CASINO
Fishing
Hiking
EMAIL ACCESS
JAZZ CLUB
DINING
AIR CONDITIONING
COFFEE MAKER
24 HR. SECURITY
BAR
CAFE
Cycling
SECURE STORAGE
160 Versailles West Bank Demerara, Guyana,
(1 Mile North of the Harbor Bridge, WBD)
Tel: (592) 264 2946-8 Fax: (592) 264-2949
Email : info@aracariresort.com
Website: www.aracariresort.com
2. Aracari Resort
EXPLORE GUYANA | 95 94 | EXPLORE GUYANA
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
71 Croal St. Stabroek, Georgetown
Tel; (592) 227-7019/226-6374
Email: leonlesruth@yahoo.com
94-95 Duke Street, Kingston, Georgetown
Tel: (592) 231 7220, 227 2213
Fax: (592) 227 3816
Email: roraimadukelodge@hotmail.com
Website: www.roraimaairways.com
Providence, East Bank Demerara
Tel; (592) 265-7001-30
Fax; (592)265-7002
petal@princesshotelguyana.com
Website: www.worldofprincess.com
8. Roraima Residence Inn
6. Palace De Leon Suites &
Apartments
9. Roraima Duke Lodge 7. Princess Hotel and Casino
3. Cara Lodge
EXPLORE GUYANA | 97 96 | EXPLORE GUYANA
Eco-Resorts, Interior Lodges & Attractions
Akawini Creek,
Pomeroon River
Tel: 771 5391 / 301-384-2396
Email: adelresort@gmail.com
Website: www.adelresort.com
Adels Rainforest Resort
C/o Wilderness Explorers
176 Middle Street, North Cummingsburg, Georgetown
Tel: (592) 226 2085, 227-7698
Fax: (592) 226 2085
Email: info@iwokramacanopywalkway.com
Skype: iwokramacanopywalkway
Website: www.iwokramacanopywalkway.com
Atta Rainforest Lodge (CATS)
Delene Lawrence - rli.delenelawrence19@gmail.com
Fernando Li - rli.fernando.li@gmail.com
or info@rupununilearners.com
Yupukari Village.
Phone: (592) 772-9291
Website: www.rupununilearners.com
Caiman House
Field Station and Lodge R8 Eping Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown.
Tel: 261-9286/ 225-9647-8
Fax: 225-9646
Email: ral@roraimaairways.com
Website: www.roraimaairways.com
Arrowpoint Nature Resort
Essequibo River, Guyana
Head Office: Ogle International Airport, E.C.D
Tel: (592) 222-8050/222-8055 G/town: 225-4483/4
Peg Off: 225-4483-4 US Off: (310) 929-7460
E: bookbaganara@baganara.net W: www.baganara.net
Facebook: Baganara Island Resort
Baganara Island Resort
77 High Street, Kingston, G/Town, South America.
Facility Location: Upper Essequibo River,
Potaro -Siparuni. Tel: 225-1504/225-1186
Fax: 225-9199. Email: iwokrama-general@iwokrama.org
Website: www.iwokrama.org
Iwokrama Eco Lodge
Ori Hotel
EXPLORE GUYANA | 97 96 | EXPLORE GUYANA
Caiman House
Field Station and Lodge
Dakara Creek, Timheri C/O
106-107 Lamaha & Carmichael Street Georgetown
Tel: 225-48915/ 626-4263/ 691-7313
Fax: 226-5340
Email: reservations@jubileeresort.com
Website: www.jubileeresort.com
Jubilee Resort
Essequibo River
168 Century Palm Gdns,
Durban Backlands, Lodge
Tel: 225-3557/226-0240/ 624-8694/640-4497
Fax: 226-0240
Email: gemmadhoo@gmail.com/gems@gol.net.gy
Hurakabra River Resort
Karanambu North Rupununi Guyana or
A102 Issano Place, East Bel Air Park
G/town, Guyana Tel: (592) 226-5180. Fax: 226-2085
Andrea and Salvador de Caires
TheGREENHEART.elements@gmail.com
Lodge cell phone - (592) 613-0544
Website: http://www.karanambutrustandlodge.org
Karanambu Lodge Inc.
Iwokrama Eco Lodge
Alton Primus,
Tel: (592) 675-1921
Shirley Melville of Rupununi Adventures,
Tel: (592) 669-4513
Email: shirleyjmelville@yahoo.com
Moco Moco Village
Lot 118 Lethem Rupununi,Guyana
Tel: (592) 772 2124,
Mobile: (592) 641 3764 / 654 6317
Email: orihotel@yahoo.com
info@origuyana.com
Web: www.origuyana.com
Ori Hotel
Contact Information for Reservation:
Rudolph Edwards
Dicky Alvin
Russian Dorrick
ecolodgerewa@gmail.com
Website: www.rewaguyana.com/
Rewa Village
EXPLORE GUYANA | 99 98 | EXPLORE GUYANA
C/o Wilderness Explorers, Cara Suites
Address: 176 Middle Street, North Cummingsburg, Georgetown
Tel: (592) 226 2085, 227-7698
Fax: (592) 226 2085
Email: info@wilderness-explorers.com
Skype: wildernessguyana/tonywildex
Website: www,wildernessexplorers.com
North Rupununi District
Development Board (NRDDB)
Annai, North Rupununi, Region 9
Email: info@rockviewlodge.com/
colin@rockviewlodge.com
Website: www.rockviewlodge.com
Tel: 592.645.9675 (Colin) / 592.614.1060 (Office)
Rock View Lodge
Tel: (592) 227 4265,
Mobile: 623 3060, 692-6951
Email: dgajie@yahoo.com
Rupununi
Eco Hotel and Resort
Surama Office
Contact Information for reservation
Info @suramaecolodge.com
Websites: www.suramaecolodge.com
Surama Eco-Lodge, Surama
Lethem, Region 9
Tel: (592) 772-2035
Email: ramsaran4al@yahoo.com,
lindakhan4@yahoo.com
Savannah Inn
8-10 Providence, East Bank Demerara
Tel: 233-5023 Fax: 225-0459
Email: timberhead@soultions2000.net/
geb@solutions2000.net
Website: www.timberheadguyana.com
Timberhead
Rainforest Resort
EXPLORE GUYANA | 99 98 | EXPLORE GUYANA
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
Splashmins Resort
Eco Adventure Tours
EXPLORE GUYANA | 101 100 | EXPLORE GUYANA
TOURISM SERVICE PROVIDERS
AIRLINE COMPANIES
Air Services Domestic Charter & Cargo
Ogle Aerodrome, E.C. Demerara
Tel: 222-4368, 222-4357
Fax: 222-6739
Email: res@aslgy.com
Website: www.aslgy.com
Roraima Airways Charters
Ogle Aerodrome. Ogle E.C Demerara
Tel: 222-2337
Fax: 222-4033
Email: ral@roraimaairways.com
Website: www.roraimaairways.com
Trans Guyana Airways
Ogle Aerodrome, East Bank Demerara
Tel: 222-2525/2861.
Fax: 222-5462
Email: commercial@transguyana.net,
Website: www.transguyana.net
Wings Aviation Ltd.
Ogle Aerodrome, Ogle, East Coast Demerara
Tel: (592) 222-6513, 226-9098.
Fax: (592) 226-9098/222-5361
E: info@airguyana.net / wingjet2@networksgy.com
W: www.airguyana.biz
BARS AND NIGHTCLUBS
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
RESTAURANTS
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
Caf 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
Caribbean Soul Restaurant -Grand Coastal Hotel
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
Savannah Inn Restaurant & Bar
Lethem, Region 9
Tel: (592) 772-2035
Email: ramsaran4al@yahoo.com,
lindakhan4@yahoo.com
Website: www.savannahguyana.com
ALLIIED MEMBERS
ADVERTISING & PUBLISHING COMPANIES
Advertising & Marketing Services
213 B Camp Street
P.O.Box 101582, Georgetown
Tel: (592) 225-5384. Fax: (592) 225-5383
E: info@amsguyana.com
W: www.amsstlucia.com
COMPANIES & ORGANISATIONS
Demerara Distillers Limited
Diamond Estate , East Bank Demerara Georgetown
Tel: (592) 265-5019
W: www.theeldoradorum.com
Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company Ltd
79 Brickdam, Stabroek, Georgetown
Tel: (592) 225-1515
Fax: (592) 231-7637
W: www.gtt.co.gy
Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest
Conservation
CIDA Building, 77 High St., Kingston, Georgetown
Tel: (592)225-1504/7144.
Fax: (592)225-9199
E: iwokrama-general@iwokrama.org
W: www.iwokrama.org
National Parks Commission
Thomas Road, Thomas Lands, Georgetown
Tel: (592)225-8016/(592)226-7974.
Fax: (592)223-5379
E: natpark@networksgy.com
W: www.kaieteur.gov.gy
TOURISM CONSULTANTS
Public Communication Consultants Ltd.
168 Century Palm Gdns
Durban Backlands, G/town
Tel: (592) 225-3557, 226-0240, 640-4497
Fax: (592) 226-0240
E: kitnasc@gmail.com
W: www.hurakabragy.com
EXPLORE GUYANA | 101 100 | EXPLORE GUYANA
TOUR OPERATORS
Adventure Guianas
Mickel Plaza, 53 Pere Street, Kitty, G/Town.
Tel: (592) 227-4713
Fax: (592) 225-9646
E: info@adventureguianas.com
W: www.adventureguianas.com
Air Guyana Tours
Ogle Aerodrome, Ogle, East Coast Demerara
Tel: (592) 222-6513, 226-9098.
Fax: (592) 226-9098/222-5361
E: info@airguyana.net / wingjet2@networksgy.com
W: www.airguyana.biz
Bushmasters Inc
40 Beverly Hills Drive, Lethem.
E: amazon@bushmasters.co.uk
W: www.bushmasters.co.uk
Dagron Tours Guyana
91 Middle Street, Georgetown, Guyana
Tel: 223-7921/227-1174
Fax: 227-1166
Email: reservations@dagron-tours.com
Website: dagron-tours.com
Evergreen Adventures
Ogle International Airport, East Coast Demerara
Tel: 222-8050/222-8055 Georgetown: 225-4483/4
Email: reservations@evergreenadventuresgy.com
Website: www.evergreenadventuresgy.com
Facebook: Evergreen Adventures
Hurakabra Tours
168 Century Palm Gdns. Durban Backlands, Lodge, G/Town
Tel:(592) 225-3557, 649-4497
Fax: (592) 226-0240
E: gemmadhoo@gmail.com
W: www.hurakabragy.com
Old Fort Tours
91 Middle Street, South Cummingsburg Georgetown
Tel: (592) 225-1035, 592 225-1037
E: oldforttours_resort@hotmail.com
W: www.angcam.com
Roraima Tours
R 8 Eping Avenue, Bel Air Park Georgetown.
Tel: (592) 225-9648
Fax: (592) 225-9646
E: ral@roraimaairways.com
W: www.roraimaairways.com
Savannah Inn Tours
Lethem, Region 9
Tel: (592) 772-2035
E: ramsaran4al@yahoo.com, lindakhan4@yahoo.com,
W: www.savannahguyana.com
Timberhead Tropical Adventures Ltd.
8-10 Providence, East Bank Demerara
Tel: (592) 223-5179/223-5023
E: timberhead@solutions2000.net / geb@solutions2000.net
W: www.timberheadguyana.com
Wilderness Explorers
Cara Suites, 176 Middle St., Georgetown
Tel: (592) 227-7698.
Fax: (592) 226-2085
E: info@wilderness-explorers.com
W: www.wilderness-explorers.com
Skype: wildernessguyana or tonywildex
Wonderland Tours
85 Quamina & Carmichael Sts
Tel: (592) 225-3122/225-9795
Fax: (592) 223-5338
W: www.wonderlandtoursgy.com
TRAVEL AGENCIES
Angellinas Travel Agency
1995 Parika Highway, East Bank Essequibo
Tel: (592) 260-4536/7
Fax: (592) 260-4536
E: angellinastravel@hotmail.com
W: www.angcam.com
Roraima International Travel Agency
R8 Eping Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown
Tel: (592) 225-9648/225-6950
Fax: (592) 225-9646
Connections Travel
6 Avenue of the Republic Georgetown
Tel: (592) 227-2999. 227-2810, 227-2832
Fax: (592) 227-2999
E: connections@gol.net.gy
W: www.connectionsgy.com
EXPLORE GUYANA | 103
2014
calendar of
Events
Special Events & Public Holidays
December 31 Kashif & Shanghai Football Finals in Linden and Georgetown
January 1 New Years Day
Kashif & Shanghai Football Finals at the Providence Stadium
January 14 Eid ul Adha
February 22 Masharama Street Party in Brickdam between Sendall Place and Camp Streets
February 23 Flag Raising Ceremony at the Public Buildings in Georgetown
MASHRAMANI Road March
See https://www.facebook.com/MASHRAMANI for updates
March 17 Phagwah
April 12 - 20 Pakaraima Safari Cross-Country
April Roraima Airways Inc : Annual Wedding Expo Bridal Festival by the Roraima
Duke Lodge
April 18-21 Easter Weekend Celebrations
April 19-21 Bartica Easter Regatta
April 19-21 Rupununi Rodeo
April Motor Racing National Race of Champions
April Linden Town Day
May 1 Labour Day (National Holiday)
May 5 Indian Arrival Day (National Holiday)
May 26 Independence Day (National Holiday)
May Moruca Expo
May 31- June 5 Environmental Awareness Week
June 5 Environmental Day
June 16 Enmore Martyrs Day (Day of Commemoration)
July Caricom Day July 7 (First Monday)
July Berbice Expo
July Madhia Expo
July Motor Racing National Race of Champions
July 1-30 El Dorado Heritage Month
July 27 Bartica Summer Regatta
August 1 Emancipation Day (Day of Commemoration/National Holiday)
104 | EXPLORE GUYANA
Annually Guyanese celebrate a number of special occasions based on its rich cultural heritage and diverse ethnic populaton. Many of these
actvites are celebrated across Guyana or staged in specifc parts of the country. Be sure to plan your vacaton to visit Guyana whether it be to
celebrate Mashramani our local carnival, Phagwah the Hindu Spring festval, motor racing or all the thrills of Internatonal Cricket, the natons
number one sport. *Dates subject to change. Please visit our website www.exploreguyana.org for confrmed dates.
Share the excitement when in Guyana
August JamZone Week of Events
Aug 10 Lake Mainstay Regatta
August(3rd Week) Mining Week
August 28 Porkknockers Day

September 1-30 Amerindian Heritage Month
September Amerindian Pageant
September The Guyana/Brazil Cultural Festival
September 20 Ms Guyana Renaissance Pageant
September 21 - 27 National Trust Heritage Week
September 27 World Tourism Day
September GTT Jingle Competition
October 5* Eid ul Fitr (tentative date)
October 26-27 Rockstone Fish Festival
October 1- 31
Agriculture Awareness Month
Car & Bike Show
Canje Nite, Berbice
Essequibo Nite, Anna Regina , Essequibo Coast
October 23 Diwali Festival of Lights

November 1-30 Tourism Awareness Month
Sunday, November 23
to Sunday November 30 South Rupununi Safari (SRS)
November Ministry of Tourism Christmas Tree Light up
November International Motor Racing
November New Amsterdam Town Day
November Main Street Lighting Up (Courts)
November 29 & 30 Rupununi Expo
November 30 Rupununi Day
November Guyana Open Golf Tournament
December 1 The Flame and the Ribbon (World Aids Day Dramatic Production, National
Cultural Centre)
December 25 Christmas Day
December 26 Boxing Day
December 26 Main Big Lime
December 31 Old Years Day