What happens if you ask coastlanders – especially our under-20s – what and where is “Region Eight” in Guyana? Or to name seven communities in Region Eight?
I suspect that only a very few would answer accurately. Fewer still would be able to pin-point locations and communities within that interior of Guyana. Of course, students of local geography and those coastlanders with relatives working in mining and forestry would probably have “superior” knowledge of the area.
To love Guyana is to know it. We who are committed, patriotic citizens dedicated to living in this big beautiful blighted land, love what we know. In most cases, just the long narrow Atlantic coastal strip we inhabit. Travel to the bowels of our Guyana can be tricky. And certainly costly. Hence, our limited appreciation except what we see on Mike Charles’ remarkable videos on television and those made, ironically, by foreigners with exotic interests.
Well “Region Eight” is officially, that vast jungle-forest portion of our land described as the Potaro-Siparuni. It is a region within heartland Guyana – home to our precious forests and minerals, so much in the news these days. Students and residents of our hinterland heartland know vividly that most of our administrative regions take their names from the wonderful rivers which also indicate their boundaries and extent. Potaro-Siparuni, as lyrical as it is geographical is one such.
Little plane,
big country
Those of us who are, or have been, fortunate enough to have flown over the more hinterland regions would know how humbling the vast expanse of forest and jungle can make you feel. How vulnerable you can become up above that comprehensive canopy of green in a relatively little aeroplane with one or two engines. Religious types surely leave everything to their Creator and our skilful pilots.
Last Friday, I had a brief opportunity to spend two/three hours over Region Eight looking down on the vast, underused natural resource that we should be blessed with. Underused except for the gold-field and rivers below which is home to those El Dorado minerals we and now our numerous visitors crave.
And as I contemplated what a hub Mahdia is or can become, I recall what I once learnt of Region 8 about thirty years ago: it’s home to some 20 Amerindian villages, (they now probably own the place!); Kato, Kaieteur, Kopinang, Konawaruk, Chenapau, Monkey Mountain, Paramakatoi, Baramita, would be just some of the remote communities nestled in the forests of the region; that it borders Brazil and accommodates our highest mountains and ranges including Ayanganna.
I was struck by the need for air transportation to really access heartland Guyana. We must salute our local aviation operators – past pioneers and present protagonists. We must lobby government to assist the private sector to make all hinterland airstrips safe and useable. Frankly speaking, we must insist that government – and presidential candidates – tell us how early and effectively they will operationalise hinterland development in all its aspects.
Foreigners in our
forests
In principle, Forbes Burnham’s dreams and programmes to bust open the country’s interior, through his National Service Centres were never given a chance to succeed. Many were the reasons. And could we ever dare to envisage youths of today’s generation trekking to Regions 1, 7, 8 or 9 to settle, develop and take ownership of this land, alongside our First People?
I think not! That’s why the Brazilians, Chinese, Indians, Malaysians and Norway enter the picture! They know of oil, gold, manganese and lumber in that heartland. Since we can’t do it on our own, what do we do about the foreigners in our forests? Well, it’s up to government to ensure fairplay. Is that happening? Are Guyanese to remain just employees always?
All these thoughts assailed me as the little aeroplane “sailed” me through the clouded skies over Region 8, one week ago. What say you? Next time I’ll take a look at all those who make it possible for us to fly over and in Guyana.
Mediocrity
– our norm
Just another lament to report, with regret, that this generation of Guyanese seem to represent a nation given to accepting too much mediocrity as normal service, standard or measurement.
Just look at what/who we accept as bus conductors, boat landings, vendors’ outlets, hinterland airstrips, river transport, customer service, garbage collection and disposal, etc. etc. My point? It’s that I regret that our young Guyanese don’t even realize that they are living in a mediocre, sub-standard society. Wherein only the rich enjoy quality consistently and the highest desirable standards reside only where the poor migrate to. Discuss
Ponder…
● What’s this? Bharrat `buses one-time friend Glen Lall, but Glen Lall backs Donald Ramotar?
● Within the bigger crime picture is the urgent, vital need to get guns away from the youths now!
● Coming next week: “Paul, security, cocaine and cricket”.
’Til next week!
(comments?
allanafenty@ yahoo.com)
