Dear Editor,
On March 6, 2019, Guyana was declared #1, Best of Top 100 Ecotourism Destinations in the world at the ITB Berlin travel trade show. President of the Green Destinations Foundation, Albert Salman, declared the Awards Jury was impressed by the dossier prepared by the Guyana Tourism Authority and by the success stories summarising the sustainable characteristics of the Surama and Rewa eco-lodges. Both projects are community owned and led, and aim at preserving Guyana’s ecosystems and indigenous traditions.
Shortly after reading about this impressive achievement, two female guests (one Danish and one Guyanese/Canadian) returned to our BnB in Georgetown and related to me their recent adventure.
“We were on a boat tour on the Rupununi River. It was almost dark when we started making our way back to the village of Yupukari. As we made our way around a bend in the river, we heard a terrifying scream. Our two guides, Oswin Ambrose and Marcellus Thomas, became concerned and got out their cell phone flashlights. They stopped and asked us to wait on a sandbank while they investigated. To their surprise, they discovered an otter entangled in a fish net. As we watched from a distance, the two guides took their time and cut loose the plastic netting cutting into the otter’s legs and neck. It took them over an hour to set the distressed and frightened animal free. As he swam away, we heard some chattering which could have been otter speak for thanks.”
Our tourists were full of praise for their guides and they will never forget that experience. That is why Guyana is number one in eco-tourism.
I have seen those otters’ teeth up close. Those guides are my heroes!
Yours faithfully,
Syeada Manbodh
