(PULL QUOTE) ‘I can clearly say Guyana exceeds my expectations. –Director/Producer Erin Buxton
THE Ministry of Tourism and the Guyana Tourism Authority have introduced to the media the team from National Geographic that is presently in Guyana filming its fifth series of a documentary titled “Monster Fish.”Mr Indranauth Haralsingh, Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority, thanked the team and explained on Friday at a press briefing that National Geographic has endorsed Guyana for 2014 in terms of listing the country among the top 20 destinations to visit in 2014.

The National Geographic team is again here to help in promoting destination Guyana, and to highlight Guyana’s adventures, flora and fauna, culture, communities and ecology. The team arrived in Guyana on January 30 and is in search of the wolf fish, locally known as the haimara. The team began its journey in Massakenari, a Wai Wai village located on the Upper Essequibo Coast, and filmed and fished with the aim of finding the largest possible haimara.

Mr Duane De Freitas of Dadanawa Ranch was in charge of the team’s ground logistics and coordination. Director and producer of the series, Ms Erin Buxton, who is on her first trip to Guyana, said she had many expectations because she had heard a lot about the country and the diversity of fish species. She noted also that a great deal of Guyana’s rainforest is still intact. “I can clearly say it exceeds my expectations,” she declared.

Zeb Hogan, Presenter and Fish Biologist, noted that for the six years of the show, Guyana has given the team its best fishing experience, and the country also has the highest diversity of fish. The team noted that the diversity of species of fish found made their filming rather trouble-free.

Tourism Minister (ag), Mr Irfaan Ali also expressed gratitude to the team for undertaking the project of filming the documentary and what would be an impressive portrayal of Guyana’s diversity. He reiterated that this is the foundation of Guyana’s tourism product: nature, community and adventure-based tourism; and he said it is in Guyana’s interest to promote as well as protect itself through this medium. The minister noted that the Monster Fish show is viewed by thousands of people worldwide, and that, he said, would promote Guyana on a large scale.

The Tourism Minister also highlighted a project that is currently being undertaken and in which the team may find an interest — sports fishing for cuffum.

The National Geographic series on the Monster Fish commenced in 2007 and is currently in its fifth period. It serves to showcase Hogan as he travels the globe, seeking out the leading contenders in a quest to better understand them as he fights to protect them.

The Monster Fish series will commence airing in the United States within the months of July and August, after which it will be aired worldwide.
Written By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally