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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Mabaruma on the move DESPITE being without a Mayor and Deputy Mayor, the town council at Mabaruma is working to undertake a number of projects this year, including the establishment of a new market. Mabaruma was commissioned as a new town following the March 18 Local Government Elections last year, but a split in the number of councillors who were elected to serve on the 12-member body has created some bottlenecks. This led to a division on the council in selecting a Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Henry Smith was elected to serve as the town’s mayor; however,his position remains one on pa-
…despite deep division at council level
per, since the decision was challenged in the courts by the Opposition PPP/C. Despite the hiccup, the council has been meeting and Town Clerk, Barrington Ward,is working on the ground to ensure the projects identified and approved by the council materialise. These include the construction of a market at the Bumbury Hill/Wanaina junction on the periphery of the town. Ward said that the works to the market will commence in the weeks ahead and the facility is expected to assist persons who travel from remote locations
beyond Mabaruma, such as villages close to Wauna in marketing their produce. Ward said that the move will provide the residents with another option in addition to the market at Kumaka , the sub-region’s business hub. In addition, it will provide a means of income for residents of the communities there. The market will be built near to a playground which is currently under construction nearby. The playground has been in the making for years. Despite the passage of sums of money for its construction and upkeep
over the years, the project never materialised. During a site visit of the playground two Sundays ago, Ward and Smith noted that works are moving apace. Sheets of rock which impede the foundation works were being removed. The general aesthetics of the area will be upgraded and these include the provision of floodlights. A fence will be built around the playground while a volleyball court will be built adjoining the ground. A sum of $3.2M has been budgeted for the project while a sum of $2M has been budgeted for founda-
tion works for the market. The town council is also undertaking a similar project at Thomas Hill, a community near Central Mabaruma . A sum of $2M has been budgeted for foundation works to be undertaken there. In addition,several community road projects are expected to be undertaken this year. Several bus sheds have been built in recent weeks along the roadways at Mabaruma. The roads fall under the ambit of the town council since they connect the communities to the main public road which falls under the responsibility of the Regional Democratic council (RDC). The roads include the Koberimo-Kumaka
Road, a project which has been stalled for over a year. When this publication visited the area in March 2016, several planks lay along a trail leading to the hill-top community of Koberimo. According to Ward, efforts are in train to ensure that the works to the road are completed,as part of the council’s project schedule. The council’s agenda also includes the construction of the Town Hall. While works to the facility at the recreational ground at Mabaruma are almost complete, remedial works are expected to be undertaken to the building to ensure it meets the required specifications.
Mabaruma’s Mayor, Henry Smith, left inspect works at the playground under construction outside Bumbury Hill. At right are councillor Jude Hernandez and Town Clerk, Barry Ward
Persons walk alongside the roadway at Kumaka , the business hub of the town of Mabaruma
The stage at the Recreational Ground was rehabilitated by the Ministry of Communities
The playground under construction outside Bumbury Hill. The volleyball court will be Continued on page 15 ► built close to the bleacher in picture
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Children in the midst of a game of cricket at the Mabaruma Settlement Ground. The ground’s upkeep and maintenance falls under the ambit of the town council and several areas of improvement are expected to be undertaken there, including the construction of additional bleachers for spectators
A new sanitary block which was constructed by the town council at the Mabaruma Settlement Ground
A section of the Kumaka Stretch near Mabaruma .While this section of the main public road is in good condition , residents have voiced concerns recently over pot-holed sections of the roads in the town
A man cycles along the roadway at Mabaruma
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 28, 2017
A trip up the
Mowra Falls
ON arrival at the village just over a week ago the residents were eagerly awaiting the start of the 20 minutes trek to Mowra Falls. It’s not well known outside of the village but for months the village council at Kamwatta in the Mabaruma sub-region has been working to market the tourism potential of the falls, a landmark which is being whispered about frequently in recent months around the region. Located an hour by road from the town of Mabaruma , Kamwatta is home to some 49 families and this translates to a total of 303 residents. Toshao of the predominantly agricultural village, Ronald Mariano told the Guyana Chronicle that the falls would be attractive to visitors given the general adventurous nature of the place, which he noted is inviting. ”If we really want to go into tourism we can work as a village to get all the facilities and put them in order so that we
A school teacher collects pieces of moss from the side of the large rock located along the sides of the Mowra Creek. The moss will be used in the creation of costumes to be used in this year’s Mashramani celebrations
Uphill task: Visitors make their way back from the waterfall along the sides of one of three hills which leads to centre of the village
A visitor washes her hair at one of the pools of water at the waterfall. Further upstream, persons would swim in a much larger pool
can explore our tourism potential”, he said. Mariano said the falls has been “there all the time “, but the former leaders did not shed much light on its importance or its potential. Last Saturday, village councilor Ralph Henry, was ready to perform his duties as tour guide to the falls. He led this publication along with visitors from the neighbouring village of White Water along a narrow roadway from the centre of the village to the falls; the journey last 20 minutes of brisk walking over two hills and a brief walk through a trail. Along trail, the sound of the water at the falls can be heard in the distance. The feature is comprised of three drops along the Mowra Creek, hence the name Mowra falls and at each point the water gushes downstream over several rocks. Along the creek , white sand and a pool which measures approximately 20 feet in width by 30 feet in length adds to the beauty
A visitor stands atop a rock measuring approximately 50 feet in height along the Mowra Creek
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 28, 2017 of the area and visitors would “plunge “ into the pool during their visit. Further upstream, Henry and other villagers led the team to a large rock, measuring approximately 50 feet in height, a breathtaking sight above the creek. Several visitors clambered up the sides of the rock and posed for photo opportunities at the top of the rock as amateur photographers below snapped the moments. Henry said that his foreparents were born in the village and like him, they also met the falls. “We use to come here and catch fishes and the brown crabs so we know about it for
decades”, he said of the waterfalls. In addition, he said overseas visitors would visit the falls whenever they travel to the village. He said the village has a tourism plan which it is working to develop in the months ahead. He noted however, that the village needs assistance in this regard. ”We will have to seek further help to market the idea and advertise it and we know it can work out “, he said in optimistic tones. At the moment the village council is working to develop a road which was once used by the defunct oil-palm company
National Edible Oil Company Limited (NEOCOL). Henry said the road will allow vehicles including cars and minibuses closer access to the falls. ”The road would cut down the 20 minutes’ walk which we did today”, he added. Meanwhile, several projects are expected to be undertaken by the village in the near future. Among them is a guest house which will boost the village’s tourism potential, Toshao Mariano noted. He said that the road project at the village has been completed and this was evident during the visit by this
publication. In addition, Mariano said that the council also plans to undertake a housing project, which he noted is of great importance to the community. A retired head teacher, Mariano is currently midway through his tenure as village leader and according to him, when he took over the leadership of Kamwatta he decided “to examine things differently, to see where they can market the village to the benefit of the residents”.
Water flows along the creek which leads to the first drop at the waterfall
Along the roadway to the falls , several small streams can be found at the lower parts of the hilly journey
Visitors trek through the rocks along the creek near the waterfall
Another “drop “ at the waterfall
Water runs over several rocks near the waterfall
Water gushes through the rocks at one of the three “drops” at the waterfall
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Female cricket taking off in Mabaruma THE sport is popular in the region; many would congregate at the cricket grounds to view the teams in action and in recent years the tradition has changed. While cricket is considered “the gentleman’s game”, it is the women who compete for the bragging rights of the best cricket team in Mabaruma. Over the past decade, cricket has silently eclipsed football as the more frequently
GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 28, 2017
played game in the sub-region. At the moment there are eight cricket teams which compete against each other at Mabaruma in matches played all year round. The teams are from the villages of Kumaka , Khan Hills , White Creek ,Wauna , Mabaruma , Koberimo Hill and Kamwatta . Every second Sunday of each month , the teams would compete against each other and the money to enter the competition is The Kumaka female cricket team
usually used as the winning prize while donations from the business community in the form of trophies and other prizes also adds to the prizes. On some occasions, the women play for the love of the game and such friendly matches are seen as playing in the true spirit of the game. “We women can play anything, any game just as the males “, said Louina Garraway, the captain of the Kumaka team, called the “Kumaka Angels”. She said that she plays the game to motivate herself and other women while she also views it as a means of bringing people together.” It also keeps you fit”, she said. Susan Boyer, a mother of four , plays in almost each game . She said that the teams would raise funds for each competition from their own pockets. “I see it as a good form of exercise and a weekend activity to keep the family occupied “, she said. She noted that there are many talented women in the town who can play the sport, noting that this is usually seen during the more competitive match-ups with the teams from Moruca and other parts of the North West District. Mabaruma Settlement Ground is considered the most developed in the Mabaruma sub-region and as such, most of the cricket matches are played there. The ground boasts upgraded washroom facilities, a high-maintenance sward and the ground is also outfitted with floodlights, the latter considered one of the more inviting features which have brought persons to the ground in recent years. Early in 2016 , West Indies great Shivnarine Chanderpaul led a cadre of top national male and female players to Mabaruma to compete in an exhibition match. The event was considered one of the highlights in the cricket history of the area, one which provided a boost to the competitive nature of the game at Mabaruma , at least in the eyes of the female cricketers.
Former West Indies star batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul poses with fans during an exhibition match at the Mabaruma Settlement Ground early in 2016
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 28, 2017
…10-acre land cleared, factory being set-up Tumeric plants at the demonstration farm at Hosororo
WITHIN the second quarter of 2017, Processed turmeric at left, and the the turmeric processing factory which root of the plant at right is being set-up at Hosororo Hill in the Mabaruma sub-region is expected to become operational. Residents are eagerly awaiting the start of the project, which is expected to provide employment to persons in the area, including general staff to man the factory. The project will see turmeric being packaged after cultivation and marketed out of the North West District and the expectations include educational forums on new farming methods to farmers and the exploration of the regions’ agricultural potential. According to Faron Pearson, Research Assistant attached to the National Agricultural Extension Institute (NAREI), the factory’s machines, as well as a generator, is awaiting installation from engineers, who are expected to travel to Guyana from India next month to begin the installation work. The operation includes a generator house and a storage facility where the processed turmeric will be stored before export out of the region. NAREI’s Research Scientist of the spices programme , Ramnarace Sukhna, told the Guyana Chronicle that cultivation of spices is intended for several regions, but the focus at the moment in terms of a factory is Region One, given the climatic conditions, as well as the soil type which he noted is best suited for the crops. He said that four A view of the demonstration farm. crops, nutmeg, black-pepper, The sticks in foreground are turmeric and ginger are being used as harbours to support the cultivated on a semi-comblack-pepper vines Turn to page 21 ►
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 28, 2017 An aerial view of Kumaka in the Mabaruma sub-region
Spirited trade at
Kumaka
...as hard-hit Venezuelans scramble for food items, other products IT IS Saturday morning at Kumaka and the atmosphere is buzzing with shoppers, moving cars and buses parked along the road shoulders with a characteristic traffic congestion of the main roadway which snakes around the turns at Mabaruma sub-region’s main business hub. To the first time visitor it may appear confusing. But to persons familiar with the area, the situation occurs each weekend. Amidst strolling vendors and several dogs roaming the roads, a peculiar sight has been added to the landscape in recent months; the presence of Venezuelan–based Guyanese nationals plying their trade, some of whom barter goods in exchange for food stuff. Two Saturdays ago, the atmosphere was abuzz, mainly because persons were anticipating the arrival of the MV Northcote. The Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) ferry usually transports goods and passengers to the area on a fortnightly basis and it was expected later that day. Since it was “boat day “ the road network was busier than usual with buses passing to and fro, through the villages along the main roadway, from as early as 04:00hrs. At Kumaka, a dog lay beside several cars parked at the waterfront. It is almost
09:00hrs and a meeting of indigenous leaders was in progress at the Kumaka Extension Centre, several fish vendors chopped their fishes in parts for sale to shoppers and as time ticked, a sale was being organised between a young man and two shoppers. He swung several pairs of shoes across his shoulder, pieces of clothing in his hand and other accessories as he walked between the cars and buses, trying to sell his goods. Then he encountered two prospective buyers. His unique hairstyle and his broken English accent were distinctive traits among the vendors. He was one of several from the neighbouring country who have been trying to make ends meet, given the ongoing situation across the border. According to residents, the situation was observed during 2016, as the economic condition in Venezuela took a turn downwards. According to a report in the New York Times last May, supermarket shelves in Venezuela were chronically bare, and power shortages are so severe that government offices were open only two days a week. The healthcare system had collapsed, the crime rate in the Bolivarian Republic had soared and inflation rapidly eroded last year. The price of oil, Venezuela’s only signif-
A view of the bustling atmosphere at Kumaka one Saturday morning recently
Two porters pull their carts along the roadway at Kumaka two Saturdays ago
icant export, had plummeted, which means revenue could fall by 40 percent this year, the report stated. The situation resulted in a number of Venezuela-based Guyanese relocating to the place they once called home, within communities in the North West District. “They come across with fuel and plastic containers and clothes and take back sugar, rice and even things like toilet paper“, said Michael, a local vendor. He said that the goods brought by the Spanish-speaking individuals to Kumaka are sold at very cheap prices. “A set of bowls, the ones with more than one, you can get that cheap “, he said. At the Kumaka Waterfront, several stalls lined the edges of the roadway close to the Aruka River – a sight which was almost non-existent prior to the collapse of the Venezuelan economy. The area was once a matter of concern in the past, as water from the meandering Aruka River had almost eroded that section of the waterfront in recent years. However, revetment works were undertaken to the area and it has since stood the test of time. According to residents, many persons who relocated to Venezuela during the 1980s have returned to the North West in search of greener pastures. In addition, some per-
sons would cross the border to trade items at Kumaka which are difficult to source in their homeland. These include fuel, such as gasoline, which is retailed at approximately G$17,000 per barrel. The cost dropped significantly a month ago when the authorities clamped down on the trade of fuel at the port of Morawhanna. At that time, the price per barrel rose to approximately $28,000. “We buy gas at about $400 a gallon “, a minibus driver told this publication at Kumaka. He said that when the authorities visit the area, the prices would increase. Last December, Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Godfrey Statia, spoke on the issue of fuel-smuggling in the area. “We also know there is fuel-smuggling in the Essequibo, in Morawhanna, we also plan to put a presence at Morawhanna,” Statia noted at a press briefing. At the remote villages outside Mabaruma, persons would trade mainly food items with Venezuelans across the Amacuro River. The goods are usually bought at Kumaka and ferried to the border location, a practice which is not expected to end anytime soon, as residents noted the humanitarian grounds on which their neighbors are assisted.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 28, 2017
“If I had to live my life over again I would still be a teacher”, Teacher Bernice SHE is described as one of the more experienced educators in Region One and although she has retired from the teaching profession, Teacher Bernice Pierre continues to contribute to a profession which she has dedicated most of her life to. The 73-year old was born at the riverine village of Koriabo outside Mabaruma in the North West District. Sometime later, her family moved to the Wanaina Hill where she was raised. According to her, at 10 years old, she travelled to the capital city where she attended primary school. She would then return to the North West District and in 1963, she started her career in the teaching profession. Teacher Bernice taught dozens of persons who have grown up to be professionals in various fields. She taught at the Hosororo Nursery and later the primary school there. She would then move further north to the Wauna Primary school where she retired. During her tenure, she also taught briefly at the Beterverwagting Primary and the Sacred Heart Primary Schools in Georgetown. “Well it was a very good experience “, she said of her teaching career, adding that if she had to live her life over again, she would still be in the teaching profession. She noted that today, teaching is very difficult as she recounted her days when the records were prepared by the nuns.
She said that today the teacher has to prepare schemes, which she noted requires teachers to be experienced. “I sympathise with teachers today, especially the young ones“, she said in that regard. During her days of training, she said her sister was very supportive of her. Since she had to leave her two children behind, her sibling would ensure that they were cared for. Since retiring from the profession, Teacher Bernice says some days she feels as if she can return to the classroom. On Saturdays, she would visit the Roman Catholic Church library at Hosororo and read stories with the children. “I would help them to improve their reading skills, so I’m still involved“, she said with a smile. She said that sometimes she would sit and think of certain situations which she tries to relive and improve. This includes teaching the children to read at the library. Teacher Bernice said that she would encourage young persons to be focused on their education. “What I find is that the children can read but they don’t understand what they read and that needs improving“, she said. Living at Wanania Hill, which is remotely distant by road from Mabaruma, Teacher Bernice noted that her village is always home, despite the distance. For her, the comfort lies in her contribution to the teaching profession, a career which she noted was worth her time.
From page 19
mercial scale in the region. He said that 75 farmers have benefited from the turmeric project thus far in Region One. Sukhna noted that the plans for marketing will see the processed turmeric being utilised by local manufacturers within the capital city and when that market is satisfied, the focus may turn to the overseas market. “People are just awaiting the start and they are hyped about the project “, he said. He noted that normally, the raw materials for spices are imported and then processed by the larger manufacturers, but given the plans NAREI has, the situation is expected to change to the benefit of farmers. “NAREI was able to move from merely setting up pilot plots at various locations to a semi commercial scale of spices produc-
tion in Region One “, Sukhna said. At the nursery at Hosororo several stalks of “quick stick” limbs stood in neatly lined beds last Sunday. Beneath the stalks, young black-pepper vines were being cultivated to grow along the stalks. On another plot, ripened black-pepper berries hung under the stalks of the “quick stick” limbs. According to Pearson, the stalk was being used for the purpose of the nitrogen it exerts into the soil, a process which aids the growth of the black pepper. According to Sukhna, black pepper cuttings were distributed to a number of interested farm-
Faron Pearson, Research Assistant attached to the National Agricultural Extension Institute (NAREI), inspects the plants at the nursery at Hosororo
Black-pepper berries hung from the vines at the plant nursery
ers of Region One. This year, NAREI will continue to generate black pepper cuttings and nutmeg seedlings, which will be distributed to a number of farmers. Over at the demonstration farm, which is located on the hillsides of Hosororo , 10 acres of land have been cleared for planting of the spices and other crops. A total of 1000 black-pepper plants are appropriated for a section of the farm; at the moment 600 plants line the farm. Half acre of ginger and
an acre of turmeric were also planted. Pearson and a staff of five general workers have been manning the farm on a daily basis .He would make site visits to farms around the communities in the area and residents noted that the young man has brought life to the plant nursery. In addition, he has been commended for working beyond the nursery, with the assistance he provides to farmers in the area. According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), more than 50 farmers from turmeric producing communities of Region One, namely Arukamai , Hotoquai, Port Kaituma, Morawhanna, Hobodia, Yarakita, Koberimo, St. Anslym, Black Water, Kamwatta, Wauna and White Water have benefitted from planting materials, technical advice and training through NAREI.