By Tangerine Clarke
Jackie Allicock is one of only
about, 14 female Toshaos in
Guyana’s indigenous communities
who are leading the ecotourism
charge and attracting
worldwide travel to Surama Village,
in the North Rupununi
Savannahs.
According to Allicock, more
women are assuming responsibilities
to build strong communities,
taking the lead in the
hinterland region and empowering
themselves through leadership
conferences.
Surama’s inhabitants are
mainly from the Makushi tribe,
whose homeland is the now
protected Iwokrama Rainforest,
and where they still observe
many of the traditional practices
of their ancestors.
The Allicock family, the first
native people to occupy this
part of the region are introducing
tourist to their villages, with
activities including bird watching,
hiking, rafting in the Buno
Buno River, and sharing their
unique culture through entertainment
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Caribbean Life, F 28 ebruary 14-20, 2020
and presentations.
The tiny village of Surama is
the focal point of an innovative
sustainable ecotourism project
designed to create jobs and generate
incomes for local people
within the community.
The natives have developed,
owned and managed a community
based eco-tourism business
by constructively using the natural
resources and traditional
culture in a socially proper way.
They offer opportunities for
their people through research,
training and employment, working
in partnership with agencies
in other villages.
Despite instability in the
tourism sector in this region,
due to costly air transportation,
that can cause a threehour
travel by road to get to
Surama Lodge, Allicock insists,
tourism has allowed the village
to thrive.
She said the Coalition government,
the private sector and
the Guyana Tourism Authority,
partner with the village to
develop and keep up Guyana’s
eco-tourism package, while villagers
are hands-on in building
their communities.
“We have to do the work to
maintain our villages. We are
playing a very important part.
Tourism reminds us of where
we came from,” said Allicock,
adamant, and despite some
set backs, tourism remains an
important part of development.
Tourists immerse themselves
in the unique indigenous culture.
“We want to careful not to
hunt the wildlife and over harvest
our fish, but we make sure
tourist have a distinctive experience
when they visit,” said
Allicock, a senior manager who
uses these opportunities to pass
on traditions to the next generation.
Youngsters from age eight
are members of a junior wildlife
club that prepares youths to
share with visitors what the village
has to offer.
The 18 wildlife clubs of the
North Rupununi are vibrant
community-based, that give
Jackie Allicock, for right, with staff of Surama Village Eco-
Lodge, Guyana. Photo by Tangerine Clarke
members an opportunity to
gain firsthand experience in
natural resource management,
environmental stewardship and
partnership at the Iwokrama
canopy walkway.
Additionally, foreign university
students, from far away as
Europe and North America,
come to learn about ecology
and conservation. According to
Surama.com, visitors are welcome
“to our way of life, Amerindian
hospitality and home
style lodging.”
Surama Eco-Lodge is a community
tourism project operated
by the Amerindian community,
also offering basic but
clean and comfortable lodging.
Guyana’s female Toashos
lead eco-tourism charge
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