Oxen-drawn punts, a Rolls Royce, and pest-fighting insects were among the highlights of a tour of the Albion Estate, which the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has been promoting as part of its cultural heritage tourism product.
On Saturday, GuySuCo hosted a familiarisation tour of the Albion Estate to showcase the attractions there. GuySuCo’s Commercial Manager Rama Persaud explained that the tour is part of the company’s new tourism initiative. “It’s a new line of business that we are developing, a new sector. Not that we are moving away from our core business but we are developing this as an additional stream in our transition. We believe that we have a product in terms of our history and we want to expose it and we think we can benefit from it,” he said.
Stabroek News had previously reported that with the aim of generating additional revenue for the downsized sugar industry, GuySuCo has moved to turn some of its estates into a “cultural heritage tourism product” where persons would gain a first-hand experience of estate operations. Locations identified for the pro-gramme are the Albion, Uitvlugt and Blairmont estates and GuySuCo’s La Bonne Intention Head Office compound.
Persaud said on Saturday that even as they are working to perfect the package, “we are ready even as it is.”
Present on the Albion Estate tour were major tour operators from Georgetown, representa-tives from the Guyana Tourism Authority, members of the media and GuySuCo and estate officials.
The tour began with breakfast at 9:30 am at the Albion Estate’s senior staff club following which everyone was treated to a mini-tour to the estate’s insectary – where insects are kept for the estate’s bio control mechanism, as well as the nursery to view the different varieties of sugarcane. Participants then joined an estate lorry which drove through Rose Hall town and Port Mourant village, during which, with explanations from a tour guide, attractions from the Port Mourant Market in its glory to the Tain cultivation fields, were highlighted.
Following refreshing coconut water at the Tain cultivation gate, everyone was invited to join a cane passenger punt.
The punt was first pulled by two oxen after which a tug took over so as to ensure persons experienced the authentic experience of sugar workers. It was explained that the passenger punts are used to transport workers to areas which are not accessible by lorry or whenever the dams are in a deplorable condition due to the weather. The ride was a smooth one and one estate manager joked, “No potholes here.”
After exiting the punt, it was back to the lorry for a drive further down the dam to an ancient water pump. Then it was on to the Port Mourant Training Centre for a dance performance by students, following which the tour participants viewed a 1924 Rolls Royce, which is reportedly in working condition.
Thence it was on to the Albion Community Centre and then the Albion sugar factory, where participants had a first-hand look at the production of sugar. In every area, an experienced member of staff was present to explain the process to the gathering.
Following the tour, everyone was treated to a tasty lunch of seven curry, fried fish and cook-up rice along with coconut water and cane juice.
Overall, tour operators were excited as most said they saw the potential of the tour becoming a big seller for GuySuCo.
However, some added that they would tweak the package. It was pointed out that the daily and weekend tours would have to be planned differently while there is also a need for accommodation for tourists, particularly for the weekend package.
One tour operator also suggested that the terms used in explaining the sugar production process in the factory be simplified so as to ensure that tourists fully understand them. Among other things, also mentioned was the need to have all tour guides properly trained in terms of selling the “story of sugar.”
It was further suggested that GuySuCo work on getting an authentication letter for the Rolls Royce, along with an account of its history.