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APNU criticises annual Pakaraima Safari as region faces continued hardship
Parliament’s largest Opposition faction, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), has criticised the holding of the annual Pakaraima Mountain Safari, saying the event is slap in the face of the indigenous people who are suffering at this time.
The eight-day, 600-mile trip of the 12th Pakaraima Mountain Safari, is organised by Frank Singh, owner of Rainforest Tours, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA).
Flashback: The safari in progress last year.
The safari is set for April 12th -20th.
But according to APNU, the excursion in Region Eight comes at a time when the Pakaraimas is suffering.
“The residents – mainly indigenous people of the Patamona nation – however, continue to suffer the daily disdain of central government and negligence of the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development.”
The region, the country’s fifth largest, possesses no proper roads, despite the Government’s safari.
“The entire region remains virtually inaccessible by road and is dependent on expensive air transport for travelling, evacuation of medical patients and cargo.”
An APNU Parliamentary team has assessed the plight of the Pakaraimas during a weekend visit to the villages of Paramakatoi, Bamboo Creek and Yawong-Mountain Foot. APNU Members of Parliament included Leader of the Opposition, Brigadier David Granger, Dr. George Norton, Ronald Bulkan and Gloria Bancroft, Political Coordinator.
The parliamentarians, APNU said, saw that most of Paramakatoi – “the principal and most populous village in the sub-region – has been without running water for over three months owing to the non-functioning of facilities installed in late 2012. This situation severely affects the 500 students housed in the dormitory in the Paramakatoi Secondary School, who have to form ‘bucket brigades’ from early morning.”
APNU urged the administration to address the matter urgently and develop a comprehensive plan and “for the Central Government to immediately respect the constitutional role of the Regional Democratic Council in administering the Region.”
The faction said that a national priority has to be to end the isolation of this Region with the realization of proper roads to link it with the rest of the country.
“Brigadier Granger told residents of Bamboo Creek, Guyanese citizens must one day be able to drive from Crabwood Creek to Bamboo Creek.”
Slated to be the largest safari ever, more than 40 owners of vehicles have already indicated their intention to participate in the event, the Ministry of Tourism said recently. Participation is also expected from Jamaica and Suriname this year. The trip will begin from Georgetown and end at the Rupununi Rodeo this year instead of the usual closing point, the Orinduik Falls.
The first safari was held in March 2003 with four Land Rovers, and two tractors and trailers with passengers, which started a two-and-a-half-day journey from Karasabai to Orinduik.
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