TOSHAO of  Kabakaburi, an  Amerindian community located some 40 miles from Charity in the upper Pomeroon River, Ms Lorna Williams said residents are utilising bamboo that are growing in abundance to produce craft. According to the Toshoa, the bamboo project is a plus for her community because it is creating employment for residents especially youths and single parents.
Ms Williams said government has injected some $500,000 to start up the bamboo training programme whereby residents are trained in bamboo weaving.
Trainer in charge of the bamboo weaving centre Mr Donrad Correira, said 30 students which include 12 single parents are currently being trained in bamboo weaving.
Mr Correira who did two months training in bamboo craft in China in 2005, said students are learning quickly and producing excellent pieces of bamboo craft.
Mr Correira said his training in China included processing and utilisation of bamboo, weaving, furniture and accessories (earrings and chains).
The trainer said he worked at exhibition centres in Georgetown doing bamboo weaving and furniture before going to Kabakaburi.
Mr Correira said all tools for the Kabakaburi craft centre were made locally in the community. The trainer said Kabakaburi is the first village in Guyana to set up a bamboo craft centre. This idea is to spread the weaving skills to other hinterland communities where bamboo is growing in abundance.
The trainer said markets are available for the bamboo craft products.
Some of the bamboo craft products on display in the centre are waste paper baskets, floral vases, serving plates and pumpkin vases.
The green bamboo are boiled in a special steel container with environmentally friendly chemicals, ‘Borax’ and ‘Borek’ and left to air dry for at least  one week before it is used in craft work.
Trainer Mr Correira said the process is to remove sugar from the bamboo and preserve it to last longer at least 50 to 60 years.