Twelve more Iwokrama forest rangers graduate
Stabroek News
March 25, 2003
Twelve persons graduated last week from a 13-month Forest Ranger course offered by the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development.
The ceremony was held on Thursday at the newly constructed and recently dedicated Ranger Station at Corkwood, which marks the southern boundary of Iworama's rainforest reserve. Of the 12 persons who undertook the course, four were sponsored by Conservation International, while the others were attached to Iwokrama.
This is the second batch of ranger graduates, the first batch having graduated in 2000, according to one of the graduates.
These rangers will be responsible for maintaining the Field Station at Kurukupari, Essequibo river. They will also assist persons doing research at Iwokrama's facility, as well as conduct patrols on the river, roads and trails for signs of illegal fishing, logging and hunting. Forest Rangers also assist in guiding tourists around the reserve.
Some of the rangers who had graduated previously, were sworn in as supernumerary constables, giving them powers of arrest within the reserve.
Michael DeMendonza of Toka village told Stabroek News that he successfully completed courses in herpetology - the study of reptiles and amphibians, botany, wildlife and wildlife management relating to eco-tourism, among other things.
DeMendonza gave the vote of thanks on behalf of the graduates, saying that the programme had enhanced his self discipline. "We are now equipped with an extensive range of skills," he said.
Outgoing Driector-General of the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development, Dr Kathryn Monk, in her opening remarks, said that it was Canadian Gary Hunsett, whose contract with Iwokrama had ended in September 2001, who had initiated the ranger training course, which is funded by the United Kingdom's Department for International Trade (DFID). Macsood Hoosein repackaged the original two-year programme into a one-year course and a series of short courses. She made the point that the value of this work, both to Guyana and to Iwokrama, was amply demonstrated by the number of new donor-funded country programmes in Guyana. Trekforce Expeditions, a UK charity organisation, was testimony to that value.
The outgoing DG called the new rangers "walking advertisements." "They are an exceptional group of young men and women and I am personally very pleased to have worked with them," she said.
Floria Francis is the only woman ranger in the batch. Hailing from Paruima village near the Venezuelan border, she told Stabroek News that her aim was to pursue a Certificate of Forestry from the University of Guyana. She said she had an affinity for wildlife, and had enjoyed the courses. "I learnt a lot, I learnt how to survive," she said. She described her training as being similar to "living the life of a man," since she constantly had to handle chainsaws and outboard motors as part of her training. That fact notwithstanding, however, she would still encourage others to join similar training exercises. Since she is on the reserve for most of the year, Floria only goes home to Paruima at Christmas because of the high cost involved.
During the training, the students were given a stipend and were allowed to go home for one week in five.
