-BK awaiting ‘suitable’ weather
Tour operator Alisha Ousman has accused BK International of delaying restoration works in the area of Baracara Falls, resulting in a $2M loss in revenue to her company.
Ousman, Manager of Wonderland Tours, said that she has tried in vain to rally support to her cause and to get the relevant authorities to force the company’s hand in moving forward with a restoration plan, which was agreed on in June. She, however, said she has been given a “run around” while her business continues to suffer. “You know how much business we lost this summer?”
When contacted on Monday, Kit Nascimento, Public Relations Officer for BK International, said that he wished to make no comment on Ousman’s statement and that works will commence when the weather was suitable. GTA head Indranauth Haralsingh, when contacted for an update on the plan, said, “we are waiting on BK.”
During the peak tourist period between July and August, Ousman said that she usually arranges three trips for thirty persons per week to the falls; this she has not been able to do because of the condition of the area. She noted that the loss was more significant since there was an upsurge in tourists this year.
Ousman said she lost most of her bookings to Baganara and had to resort to taking her clients to Marshall Falls. According to her, Marshall Falls is an almost one hour trek in rougher terrain and is more dangerous since visitors are more likely to encounter jungle animals on the way. She added that it costs more money to take tourists there since more tour guides and a bigger boat have to be hired. “I’m tired of BK excuses. Work can be done. The ground is hard,” she said.
The company had cited weather conditions as the impediment to the restoration plans but Ousman saw this action as deliberate and said that she is frustrated at not being able to get any satisfactory answers to her queries. “We really need to get this thing fixed. I’m not getting anywhere.”
She said that the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) in response to her queries has repeatedly told her that they cannot make contact with Brian Tiwari, a claim she found outrageous given the time which has elapsed.
In June, the GTA and stakeholders had drafted a plan for the restoration of the Falls, which were damaged by BK International’s quarrying activities and the company was given a provisional timeline of June 30. Two phases for the project were identified by GTA Head Indranauth Haralsingh- in Phase One the company would clear and clean the area of fallen trees and debris, in addition to providing garbage receptacles and restoring the access pathway, while Phase Two would entail the construction of benabs, tables, seating chairs and signs. However, the company had proposed August for the clean-up campaign.
Ousman had openly criticised BK International for wrecking the environment in the name of money and said that it is the country which will ultimately suffer. She had previously spoken out against the company’s operations in the area and called for an end to the destruction while at the same time drawing attention to the issue.
