Nascimento says permission for Roraima climb should be reviewed
Public Relations Consultant, Kit Nascimento is calling on the government to review the permission granted to the prospective climbers of Mount Roraima in order to avoid the possibility of a tragic loss of life. A press release from Nascimento's Public Communications Consultants Ltd said that it was clear that the young men involved might not know much about what they plan to undertake. He feels they need to research much more carefully than the evidence suggests they have. Group leader, Rafael Downes told Stabroek News in response that the group had received no permission from the government as such. He said that letters were written to government and non- governmental agencies informing them of the intent to climb the mountain. Downes does not feel that their lives would be in any real danger, as they have a well-planned strategy. He also said that the group members were no strangers to mountain climbing. When this newspaper first reported the matter, it was said that the group of Guyanese would be climbing the Guyana side of the 9,094-ft mountain, which also has faces in Brazil and Venezuela, for the first time. It was also stated that there was an attempt to conquer the mountain from the Guyana side during the 1970s by two Britishers who did not reach the top. The report further stated that the men ran out of food and abandoned the climb. Downes has since called this newspaper and stated that the men had in fact completed the climb even though they ran out of food as it was replenished by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). He said that his group would be the first Guyanese to make it to the top of the mountain from Guyana's side if they succeed. Nascimento pointed out that the mountain was climbed in October/November 1973 by four of the world's most famous and skilled mountaineers, Hamish MacInnes, Don Whilians, Joe Brown and Mo Anthoine from Great Britain. The expedition was planned and coordinated by Guyana's Adrian Thompson and Nascimento was the government minister directly responsible for approval and support of the climb at the time. Giving an insight into the climb, Nascimento said that the successful ascent of Mount Roraima, which came near to failing, drew worldwide media attention and first day stamps were struck to commemorate it. He said that the red brick vertical sandstone face of the prow of the mountain had never been climbed though there were previous attempts, some involving Adrian Thompson and British climber, John Streetly. "It proved to be in the words of the mountain climbers themselves, the most difficult and treacherous of climbs ever undertaken by them," the release said. The release said that the expedition which almost did not make it to the base of the mountain through the mosquito and snake infested El Dorado Swamp because of the terrible jungle terrain and almost impenetrable swamp, was on the verge of failure after repeated attempts to climb the rock face. "The journey to the base of the mountain was subject to perpetual, torrential rain, the climb took place under the same conditions, the sandstone cliff face was a virtual waterfall and the climbers encountered scorpions and tarantulas throughout the rock face in the crevices they use for hand holds," the release disclosed. A book was written on the climb by Hamish MacInnes called Climb to the Lost World. However, Downes is not daunted by all this as he said they would not be engaged in any vertical climbing. He explained that they have seen big cracks in the mountain in photographs and it was these cracks they would use, making it easier for them to climb. He also said that they would use PVC pipes and cement along with other material to make a catwalk, which would actually be a safety apparatus for evacuation in case of an accident. He said that they had done enough research and had no plan to do any sophisticated climbing. The expedition will cost some $5 million and it is expected to kick off on May 1, and finish on the last day of the same month. Already the group has $1 million in sponsorship and according to their leader the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has indicated that it would be sending three scientists on the climb.
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