Jungle setting for forestry exhibition
by Linda Rutherford
THE Sophia Exhibition Centre auditorium in Georgetown is being changed into an almost tropical rainforest in time for the opening Friday of the country's first ever Forestry and Forest Products exhibition. The three-day exposition, which will coincide with another first for Guyana, the hosting of the 10th Caribbean Foresters Meeting, is due to be declared open by President Bharrat Jagdeo. It is being hosted by the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) in collaboration with the Forest Products Association (FPA) and the Guyana Manufacturers Association (GMA) and under the theme: `Exploring Guyana's Rainforest Products'. The idea of having a jungle setting, explained Commissioner of Forests, Mr James Singh yesterday, is to give those on the coastland and elsewhere who have never had the opportunity, to experience what it is like to be in a rainforest. To lend authenticity to the environment, Singh said, there will be life-sized preserved animals placed at strategic points, and all the usual sounds associated with the forest such as the twitter of birds, and the occasional call of an owl. Other rainforest props will include a bird's nest here and there and a wood ants' nest or two. In addition, wattle and leaves will replace traditional plywood in making exhibition booths and representatives of three Amerindian nations, the Macushi, Awarak and Wai-wai, will be on hand to demonstrate to the public how they co-exist with nature. Each will be dressed in the traditional garb of their nation and will be required to go about such daily chores as making cassava bread, farine and paiwari and weaving. There will also be on display replicas of dwelling places typical to each of the three nations and the public will be given the uncustomary privilege of exploring these to their heart's content. The decorating aspect of the exhibition, Singh said, is being supervised by horticulturist, Mr Boyo Ramsaroop. Among the many objectives of holding such an exhibition, Singh said, is to: * showcase the variety of products that can be had from a rainforest and in so doing dispel public perception that all forests are good for is harvesting timber; * provide the government with a platform from which to convince both the local and international communities that Guyana is practising sustainable management of its forests and other natural resources. This will be done through information booths which will be manned by the Forestry Commission, the Iwokrama Rainforest Centre, Tropenbos, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This is to be supplemented by video shows and a series of educational lectures by resource persons from the GFC and the University of Guyana. The idea, Singh said, is to target not just the technical people but the general public as well. Among the 50 or so manufacturers to have given their firm commitment to participating in the exhibition are the Courts department store; the Barama Company Limited; Demerara Timbers Limited; the heart of palm firm, Amcar, and Liana Canes which specialises in making nibbi furniture. Also on exhibition will be the usual sculpture, leathercraft and handicraft, and in the case of the latter, emphasis will be on the use of indigenous dyes in making tie-dyed products. Entertainment will be in the nature of cultural items by such groups as the popular Couchman Family and another from St Cuthbert's Mission and Coney Island. Other attractions will include live performances by Pete's Caribbean Fusion, the Originals and Jahrusalem bands and the Roy Geddes Steel Orchestra. The exhibition will be open to the public from 19:00 hrs-23:00 hrs on opening night, June 16, and from 1300 hrs-2300 hrs on June 17 and 18.
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