By Sherah Alleyne
The Golden Arrowhead being hoisted at the top of Mount Ayanganna as an annual feature dating back to 1966 when a team headed by the Late Mr. Adrian Thompson, and including members of the Guyana Defence Force and Amerindian Guides planted the National Flag on the summit of Mount Ayanganna.

Each year, on the eve of Guyana’s Republic Anniversary soldiers would brave the many flowing rivers, mountainous terrain and harsh weather conditions to hoist the Golden Arrowhead at an altitude of 6,700 atop Mount Ayanganna.
One notable feature, however, is that over the years female soldiers have taking up the challenge to overcome the crest of Mount Ayanganna.
The Women’s Army Corps made history when the first female conquered the peak in 1992 and again when an all-female patrol climbed the mountain in 2005 and 2009.
This year, a team ventured to the top of the mountain to raise the flag for Guyana’s 50th Independence anniversary and that team included Lance Corporal Shannon Ross –Cox, the only female in the contingent.
Guyana Chronicle recently had the opportunity to meet the first woman soldier to climb to the top of Ayanagana for the event, and the most recent female soldier to do so, namely, Ross-Cox.
Staff Sergeant (ret’d) Beverley Somerset made history when she was recorded as the first female climbed the mountain 24-years ago. Her accomplishment paved the way for other females to take on the challenge of conquering Mount Ayanganna.

Somerset said that she requested to climb the mountain to send a strong message to the male soldiers. This was after she was denied the opportunity to complete the para-trooping course.
The patrol left Timehri on February 8, 1992 for Imbaimadai with eleven male soldiers including two Officers – Captain Lee and Second Lieutenant Jackson, along with Somerset.
When she left the airport, she was very excited. She stated that she undertook vigourous training before the trip so she was physically fit.
They went through the Mazaruni River to Chi Chi Falls in Region 8 (Potaro –Siparuni), which is about 350 feet high. They then headed to the Chinoweng which took them about four hours.
On arrival at the village, the villagers were curious as to why she was on the expedition, since they were accustomed to seeing only men. Some of them even encouraged her not to go, as they explained to her the challenge she would have face when climbing to the summit. But Somerset used their discouragement as motivation to complete the patrol.
Somerset explained that out of the twelve persons who were on the patrol, only six of them made it to the summit. They had to cover difficult terrain

and contend with harsh weather conditions at the same time, even going through a rocky tunnel where they were guided by each other’s footsteps.
But as they reached the summit, it was what Somerset described as savannah. She stated that the view from the summit was amazing.
“There is a very large rock on the summit, it is clean without mass, and it is very shiny.”
When they reached the peak, she felt that she had accomplished that mission she had set out to do; indeed she had. When asked if she would do it again she said “I will because I have the belly.”
The Women’s Army Corps made history again when Lance Corporal Shannon Ross –Cox (the Medic) was the lone female who participated in Operation Arrowhead after successful completing the mission of raise the Golden Arrowhead on the summit of Mount Ayanganna, in observance of Guyana’s 50th Anniversary of Independence.
The members of the Guyana Defence Force patrol was headed by Lieutenant Wavon Samuels, and included Lance Corporals Milton Isaacs, Teusimar Peters and Privates Kenroy Samuels, Chavez George, Colliin Hinds and Winston Williams.
Ross- Cox described the experience as a wonderful one. She stated that while the walks were long and the climbing was rough, she was prepared for it.
Unlike Somerset, who had to cover an additional set of walking from for Imbaimadai, Ross- Cox and the team were dropped off at Chi Chi and they walked to get their guide at Chinoweng, who took them to the mountain foot.
She stated that the climbed was most challenging of the expedition; she compared the climbed an assault course, where she was under and over trees among other obstacles.
When she reached the peak, the team said the Army creed, sung the song of the Republic and said the National Pledge and planted the flag.
Ross-Cox was satisfied that the task was accomplished. After all, she had the responsibility of bearing the flag through the journey and that has imbued in her a sense of deep pride. Indeed, she swore to put country first, and by accomplishing this feat, she has surely demonstrated her loyalty to country.