The regional administration of Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), last week, handed over $500,000 in items to the Moraikobai Village Council in support of the village’s tourism drive.
The Department of Public Information (DPI) press release stated that Deputy Regional Executive Officer (DREO), Sherywn Wellington, presented mattresses, blankets, cutlery and other kitchen utensils to the caretaker of the hostel at Mahaicony. These items will be sent on to the village which is located ninety miles inland.
Wellington said that additional items to upgrade the facilities for visitors are to be acquired from savings on the $7 million subvention granted to the village from Central Government last year, the DPI release added.
The DREO disclosed that the annual subvention to Moraikobai, which is largely spent on the acquisition of fuel for generating electricity to the village, will be increased to $10 million this year.
In 2016, after an assessment of the community of Moraikobai, and consultations with the village residents, the then Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Indranauth Haralsingh proposed that Moraikobai in Region Five could be the next local tourism destination.
Moraikobai is the only indigenous community in Region Five and currently has a population of just over 1,200 residents.
The villagers have since been upgrading the accommodations in the area including the eco-lodge to attract tourists to the community for activities such as bird watching, fishing, exploring the wildlife, and other forms of relaxation, all in a natural setting.
The lodge will be equipped with nine cabins, a bar, dining area and a craft centre. It will also have a library where materials will be available on the history of the village.
In 2018, Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, who has responsibility for tourism, disclosed that his ministry was in the process of developing a community tourism partnership model. This will see the government, private sector and members of various communities working together to push eco-tourism. Among the suggestions was the construction of eco-lodges.
