The work of Anette Arjoon
ANNETTE Arjoon is a retired private pilot-turned-environmentalist and conservationist who identifies as a humble ambassador for the Barima-More Passage – Guyana’s largest and most intact mangrove ecosystem. She has been doing a lot behind the scenes to empower young people and women, especially the Warraus in the remote villages in Region One (Barima-Waini) in becoming self-sufficient.

Arjoon is an indigenous woman from the Arawak tribe who is from Siriki, Pomeroon. She grew up with her maternal grandmother until she attained primary school age. She was sent to the city to attend school, after which she enrolled in secondary school in Barbados. She also worked towards achieving her private pilot licence in Barbados after completing high school.

HOW THE JOURNEY BEGAN
Arjoon told the Pepperpot Magazine that she came from a family who had sawmills in remote parts of the country. Travelling overland or by rivers for days at a time was exhausting and time-consuming, so some of her relatives qualified as pilots.

Arjoon’s younger sister and a brother are commercial pilots but commercial pilots while Anette retired from that profession as a private pilot when she became a mother. In her time as a pilot, Arjoon travelled the length and breadth of Guyana and quickly fell in love with Region One (Barima-Waini). Her curiosity was ignited when Dr. Peter Prichard, a renowned biologist, use to come to Guyana annually. Curious about his work in the most remote parts of the country, Anette accepted an invitation to observe firsthand, and after that, she became intrigued by his work.

Dr. Pritchard took Arjoon to Shell Beach, and when she saw the sea turtles up close, she was in awe. She knew there was no turning back, so she became a conservationist. That was in 1989, and then Shell Beach was among several small beaches along with Almond Beach and Annette Beach – which was named after her. Arjoon revealed that in 1989, there were 230 residents on Almond Beach, but now, only five locals are there. Erosion has washed away almost all of the beach.

SHELL BEACH AND THE TURTLES

She told the Pepperpot Magazine that Audley James, who is still alive but is way in his 80s, is a marine biologist from Moruca and it was him who taught her all she knew about sea turtles and the way of life of the flamingoes.

James is also known as the ‘Father of Sea Turtles’ due to his years of work with sea turtles. One day, they were in a small boat together just off Shell Beach when the boat began taking in water.

Arjoon quickly took off her shirt and saved them both from drowning and as they reached the beach, James named the beach “Annette” after her since she saved his life. James paid the lease for the beach, and thus, it was named “Annette’s Beach.”

Arjoon reported that James is a very knowledgeable man and a conversationalist who taught her the benefits of traditional medicines and was also her environmentalist mentor. She reported that James began working with sea turtles in the 1960s, and he founded the Sea Turtles Conservation.

She disclosed that Shell Beach is the only coastal beach, and in 2011, it was declared a protected area and the management of it fell under Protected Areas Commission (PAC) and she is very proud of making that happen.

FULFILLMENT AND EMPOWERMENT

“I get real joy working with amazing people, the Warraus. Their resilience and simplicity have motivated me to keep going and stay focused and the women of the Barima-Mora Passage are the real extraordinary people,” she said.

Arjoon added that the women grasp at the opportunities presented to them, and they are making a difference in handling major projects, including large-scale pepper farms, impacting the lives of their immediate families.

She is the founder of Guyana Marine Conservation Society (GMCS) and 80 per cent of its members have been females since its establishment in 2000. Arjoon noted that they have five women board members and some of the younger members started as interns while students of the University of Guyana (UG).

She is also the leader of the Imbotero Research Centre and was instrumental in securing the two weather-beaten buildings that were wasting away at Shell Beach. After approval was given by the government Arjoon spear-headed its removal to Imbotero, where the Imbotero Research Centre and the Guyana Marine Conservation Society were established.

Arjoon’s ‘behind the scenes’ work goes way beyond what is seen by the eye, yet she is humble and shares her knowledge daily to empower others, forging partnerships for developing the Warrau people.

She is the mother of two children and has two dogs, her beloved pets who shadow her every move when she is at her Oleander Gardens residence even though she is super busy and there is never enough time for leisure.