Unique canopy walkway will boost Guyana tourism product
Guyana Chronicle
December 2, 2003
IWOKRAMA Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development took another step to promote sustainable business within its concession by opening the first canopy walkway in the Caribbean and the Guiana Shield in Guyana’s hinterland.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds officiated at the November 22 ceremony which was part of Tourism Awareness Month.
The 150 metres aluminum state-of-the-art suspended bridge, located at Maushiparu, North Rupununi, was funded by Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) at a cost of US$180,000.
Built by Greenheart Conservation Company of Canada, with support from neighbouring communities, it consists of five suspension bridges and four observation platforms which offer a scenic view from 30 metres above the ground, overlooking tree tops from one side of Maushiparu Mountain.
The unique structure, accessible by steps cut into the side of the mountain is a notable addition to Iwokrama and Guyana eco-tourism and will be managed as a joint private sector/local community enterprise by personnel from Surama village, Rock View lodge and Wilderness Explorers.
Wilderness Explorers General Manager, Ms Teri Ramnarine said the consortium is registered under the name Community And Tourism Services (CATS) to provide professional community based tourism products and services.
According to Ramnarine, her company has constantly sought to work closer with Iwokrama, recognising the great benefits the latter has added to the local tourism product.
“We fully expect the walkway to become a significant tourism attraction in Guyana and hope that all tour operators and travel agents sell it both locally and internationally,” she said.
Iwokrama Acting Director General, Dr Graham Watkins pointed to the contribution of the people in the vicinity whose knowledge, business and marketing skills are very important to aid his own entity’s management expertise.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and his wife, Yvonne (front right with others at the opening of the canopy walkway.
He said his institution has established links with the National Audubon Society and Jacksonville Zoo in the United States and has connections to other nature and bird watching groups.
Watkins said there is a special relationship between Iwokrama and Rupununi and stressed the need to integrate conservation with sustainable use in a working partnership.
He said, biologically, Iwokrama is a very special area with unique biodiversity and the Macushi tribe homeland has many characteristics.
Watkins explained that Rupununi and Iwokarma are not just special only in Guyanese terms but globally and, if the place has to be conserved, the benefits must go to the local and national communities first.
Iwokrama Logistics Manager, Mr Vibert Welch, Commissioner of Forestry, Mr James Singh and Mrs Yvonne Hinds, wife of Prime Minister Hinds were among others at the ceremony, attended, too, by residents of Fairview, the only Amerindian village spawned by Iwokrama.