In 2008 when Annette and I were courting she took me to Shell Beach. We flew into Mabaruma and departed Kumaka by boat for a one hour ride through the mangrove fringed riverbanks of the Arouca, Barima, Mora Passage and Waini before crash landing on Shell Beach ( this is the only way to land when the water is rough). The rugged beauty and spectacular wildlife at Shell Beach is another column. On the return to Kumaka the next morning, the ocean was calm. Leaving the ocean and entering the mouth of the Waini lit by the morning sunrise was breathtaking. Being overcome with emotion I cried. That beautiful memory stayed with me and was awakened upon hearing Annette recently in one of her endless Zoom meetings making a presentation on why the Barima Mora Passage Mangroves and its Warrau peoples are so special and need to be protected.
