Benabs boost for tourism
Guyana Chronicle
July 6, 2004
TREKFORCE Expeditions, a United Kingdom-based charity, has just completed its fourth project in Guyana - building three benabs in the Amerindian community of Surama in Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo).
The structures are to be used as part of an eco-lodge project to support tourism there.
The benabs were officially handed over to the community on June 22, Trekforce Expeditions reported.
It said the pioneering expedition was done with a team of 25 volunteers from the United Kingdom which has completed the first solely community-based project for Trekforce in South America.
The overall aim of the Surama eco-lodge scheme is to have a total of nine accommodation benabs, each reflecting the individual style of some of the Amerindian peoples of Guyana, the organization said.
This first team of Trekforce volunteers built the Arekuna, Arawak and Carib benabs, which will now be decorated according to traditions of these people.
Another group of volunteers is coming from the UK to join Trekforce and build the fourth accommodation benab for Surama.
Trekforce said it hopes that with these facilities in place Surama can benefit from the increasing number of tourists visiting the north Rupununi, as the benabs offer an Amerindian community-based cultural experience.
Each benab on the project was built from scratch with the Trekforce volunteers assisting in everything from the concrete foundations to harvesting Kukrit palm for the roofing material and finally the thatching of the roof.
Despite having no previous construction experience the volunteers provided an enthusiastic workforce, enabling Surama residents to complete this self-funded project that they wish to have in operation, the organisation noted.
Trekforce Operations Director, Chip Cunliffe who flew in from the UK to attend the handing-over ceremony, expressed the organisation’s wish to build on the success of the project not only with Surama, but extending linkages to other Amerindian communities within the North Rupununi.
Trekforce said expeditions of this kind are not solely based on project work.
Throughout the two months the volunteers were in Guyana, every individual had the opportunity to leave the project site and experience trekking through primary rainforest, with Amerindian guides, Orlando Allicock, Milna and Harold Captain, it said.
While on the trips, they observed some of Guyana's most rare and beautiful wildlife.
Harpy Eagles (the largest eagle in the world) were seen, as well as Giant Otters, Tapirs, Black Caiman, Spider Monkeys among other wildlife.
This expedition was truly amazing for the British volunteers who had never been to the tropics or a rainforest environment before, Trekforce said.
"They will go back to England with wild and adventurous stories. And no doubt after drinking black creek water and eating Labba, they will return to the land of many waters (Guyana)", it said.
Trekforce Expeditions was founded in 1990 by Wandy Swales, a renowned explorer who loved leading people to work on worthwhile projects in the jungle.
Trekforce said it today seeks to deliver challenging expedition programmes consisting of sustainable projects, language, teaching and cultural experiences in diverse environments, which benefit the host country in order to educate and inspire volunteers. (JAIME HALL)