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Two Guyanese in historic Mount Roraima climb
Two Guyanese, of Amerindian descent, have been lauded in a historic climb of Mount Roraima earlier this month.
Hanging high: Safety harness and all, the climbers taking a break during the historic climb.
Edward Jameson
Troy Henry
On Wednesday, the Guyana Tourism Authority, along with Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams, and Vice President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock hosted a press conference at the Guyana Marriott Hotel honouring what is being described as an amazing feat.
Leo Houlding, an international climber, his team – Ann Taylor, Waldo Etherington, Wilson Cutbirth, Dan Howard and Matt Pycroft – along with Guyanese locals from the Indigenous village of Phillipai, Troy Henry and Edward Jameson, completed the 600-metre climb to Mount Roraima’s prow on December 3.
Henry and Jameson are the first two Guyanese to be recorded to ever complete this incredible journey, according to government.
“I have a mind to climb it. I just want to see the view from the top,” said 59-year-old Jameson who, along with Henry, simply wanted the experience.
Troy Henry reading a book while on the ascent.
The two Guyanese (in the foreground) along with the other team members shortly after reaching the prow of Mount Roraima.
The team completed a 53km trek through pristine, untracked jungle towards their starting point. Following the same route as the British expedition of 1973 led by Joe Brown and Don Whillans, the team reached “Tarantula Terrace” and forged a new route along virgin territory.
With loose rock, huge overhangs, and unpredictable weather, the team free-climbed their way to the prow.
The fearlessness and determination of the two locals was solidified by Troy Henry, as he gave his remarks at the press conference via translator Loraine George, “he is a human and I am a human too. If he could do it, I could do it too.”
Minister Hastings-Williams expressed her gratitude to Houlding and his team for taking up this challenge and allowing Henry and Jameson the opportunity to experience this national wonder. She urged them to “encourage other young people in [their] communities,” to recognize that “this is the beginning of a very special community tourism activity.”
Echoing her sentiments, Minister Allicock congratulated the team on their achievement.
“The knowledge of our Indigenous People is key to any venture of this kind. The forest is our backyard, the eco systems demand our respect and that is what we treat it with.”
Veteran climber Houlding expressed his fascination with the way Jameson and Henry handled themselves throughout the expedition. He remarked at their ability to quickly adapt in an activity that they have never done before. Jameson and Henry, equipped only with cassava bread, water and their skills introduced the climbers to an authentic Indigenous way of life that will forever be embedded in their memories.
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