Tour guides hired for Kaieteur National Park

Feb 08, 2014 News

The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment has, through the Protected Areas Commission (PAC), announced the appointment of four new wardens/tour guides from Region 8 for the Kaieteur National

From L-R: Nadine Johnson of Karisparu, Phillip Lewis and Maxwell Basil of Paramakatoi, Thomas Williams of Chenapau, and Senior Warden (acting) LeRoy Vanhercel of Chenapau.

Park.
The newly appointed officials were selected from among the top candidates completing a week-long Tour Guide Training programme conducted in partnership with WWF Guyana in October 2013, the Ministry said yesterday.
The training was conducted at the Kaieteur National Park and benefitted 19 representatives from four communities surrounding the Park.
According to the Ministry, it has mandated the recently formed PAC to take steps to improve the facilities and enhance capacity to accommodate more visitors. PAC has also been charged to enhance its monitoring system of the Kaieteur National Park.
Under the initiative, the new Wardens/Tour Guides received training on visitor services, biodiversity and the area’s natural and cultural history.
“This will now strengthen the Park’s ability to provide a unique, informative and memorable tour experience for its visitors. The new staff will also support increased research activities and improve the monitoring and patrolling of the Park.”
Since their appointment, and with assistance from WWF, the new wardens have already completed mapping and clearing of all established trails, honed their tour guide skills, and repaired many structures which were in need of maintenance.
“The PAC is now working to improve the Park’s main guesthouse, and has already increased its capacity to accommodate more overnight guests. Work on the Tukeit Falls Guesthouse and Wardens Building at the base of the gorge is also in its final phase, and is expected to be completed by mid-year. The Guesthouse is funded by the German Government through KfW (German Development Bank), under the Guyana Protected Ares System Project.”
The Ministry said that PAC has reactivated the Park’s website (www.kaieteurpark.gov.gy), and is working to complete the first Kaieteur National Park Management Plan.

Adjustments to the Visitor Arrival Centre, Kaieteur National Park.

Kaieteur National Park is located in the southern Pakaraima Mountains and has been a Protected Area since 1929 and is 628.8 km2 in size. Kaieteur National Park covers a broad range of habitat types and is home to many species unique to the region.
Since 2013, the Park has been managed by PAC, an arm within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. In 2011 construction was completed on a new Visitor Arrival Centre located adjacent to the airstrip. In addition, the Park has a guesthouse which can accommodate overnight visitors. The Park can be accessed either by overland trek or via air from a variety of providers on scheduled or chartered flights.