Georgetown: The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) rewarded the daring, men and women who completed the 529-mile journey to the Pakaraima Mountains, between March and April.
The brave safarians and sponsors of the event were yesterday presented with a certificate of participation and special awards at a ceremony this evening in the GTA building at the Sophia Exhibition Centre.
In attendance were Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce (acting) Irfaan Ali and Managing Director, Rainforest Tours and the leader of the 11th Pakaraima Mountain Safari, Frank Singh.
Prime Minister Hinds commended the safarians for impacting on the development of the North Pakaraimas, and for bridging the gap between two-worlds; the coast and the hinterland.
“Let us recognise that we are accomplishing many things, we are building our country, we are developing bonds, we are developing the links, the contact between coastal and hinterland people, between people of different races, and maybe even nationality, in what we are participating in, and I think that our efforts have been very much for the best,” he said.
The annual Pakaraima Mountain Safari led to the development of trails and road links into some of the most remote areas in the Rupununi, allowing for more persons to venture into these parts.
Minister Ali told of the safari’s importance to the development of Destination Guyana. He said that the safarians’ mission is integral to the development of the tourism product that the ministry is trying to create, and in fact the safari is now a large component of the tourism product in Guyana and South America.
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce (acting) Irfaan Ali makes brief remarks at special ceremony for the participants of the 11th Pakaraima Mountain Safari at the GTA building, Sophia Exhibition Centre
Minister Ali also disclosed that plans are afoot to organise the safari in a more structured way, so as to place it more in the mainstream of the country’s tourism product. In this regard, he explained that the ministry is moving feverishly towards organising a safari club in Guyana. He said that this would lead to regulations being put in place for the safari such as specific requirements for drivers involved in the journey.
“Once we are going to put in into the mainstream of our tourism product, we have to ensure that the regulations are there, to ensure that it is properly run and governed, and to ensure a mechanism is there as an incentive so that even foreigners that are coming in to join the safari would have a smooth process in bringing their vehicles and re-exporting their vehicles or joining the safari from different points of our border,” he explained.
A 2013 safarian, collects from Prime Minister Samuel Hinds his certificate for completing the 11th Pakarima Mountain Safari
He said also that development of other routes for the safari is indeed being explored and that it is important that the safarians form themselves into an organisation as it allows for synergy and linkages among the different safarian clubs in South America and the rest of the Caribbean. This will allow for the planning of activities between and among these clubs, where Guyana could be the centre, the Minister said.
Among those honoured tonight was Harripersaud Nokta, the pioneer of the Pakaraima Mountain safari. Nokta was presented with a handmade, handicraft plaque by the Prime Minister; a token from the Ministry of Tourism for his tremendous work as a pioneer in the safari and also in hinterland communities.
Nokta expressed his gratitude for the award, and said that the token would help him remember some of his days in the Pakaraimas. He also expressed the hope that the event will continue to grow. He said that he foresees a time went it will be held twice yearly. Like the Prime Minister, he also advocated exploring new routes, and suggested going into the Deep South.
The 11th Pakaraima Mountain Safari was a 10-day trip that allowed the safarians in a convoy of 28 vehicles; 4x4s, All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), and Land Rovers to witness some of the country’s most diverse terrain – by offering them a once-in-a-lifetime adventure into the wild, over rugged parts of Guyana never before seen by many, and culminating at the Rupununi Rodeo in Lethem.
The route starts from Georgetown, then through Karasabai, Tiperu, Rukomoto, Morabaiko, Yurong Paru, Monkey Mountain, Paramakatoi, Kato, Kurukubaru, and Itabac, ending at the foot of the Pakaraima Mountain Range, where the Orinduik resides.
In 11 years, over 600 persons have completed the safari.
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