SANTA Aratack, nestled in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), has become the focal point of an empowering initiative aimed at bolstering the local Amerindian community. This transformative training course on bamboo and rattan product development technology, inaugurated last Friday, is poised to enhance traditional craftsmanship while providing sustainable economic opportunities for its 200 residents.

The initiative is a collaborative effort involving the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, the Guyana Tourism Authority, and the International Center for Bamboo and Rattan, China, facilitated through the Chinese Embassy in Guyana.
During the launching event, Oneidge Walrond, the Minister of Tourism, Industry, and Commerce, highlighted the significance of the training as a symbol of the strengthened partnership between Guyana and China through knowledge exchange. She emphasised that the training course is not merely about acquiring a craft but about empowering individuals and laying the groundwork for self-sustainability.
“The PPP/C government is dedicated to enhancing human resource capacity across the nation’s indigenous communities, recognising their immense potential,” Minister Walrond asserted. “By investing in training programmes like this, we equip our citizens with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive. Santa Aratack has a rich legacy of creating and promoting indigenous craft items, among the best in the country. This initiative also underscores our broader commitment to sustainable tourism development. By promoting local craftsmanship and sustainable tourism, we are not only preserving our cultural heritage but also creating economic opportunities for our people.”
Minister Walrond encouraged the 30 participants in the one-month training course to absorb as much knowledge as possible, noting the growing demand for genuine indigenous products in Guyana. “With visitor arrivals continuing to climb, more tourists are actively seeking memorabilia to take back with them. Additionally, there is a growing community of expatriates who wish to incorporate local craft in their homes,” she explained. “This training will enable participants to turn bamboo, a readily available resource, into products that can be marketed locally and internationally, fostering entrepreneurship and economic growth within the community. Having an outlet for these products is critically important to attain full value chain organisation. We will work to have them available at leading hotel brands and other strategic partners in Guyana and overseas.”

Gua Haiyan, the Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, expressed hope that the craftspeople would create tourism goods and advance ecotourism following their instruction. “It will also help Guyana utilise bamboo and rattan resources on a large scale and produce more household items,” she noted, emphasising that Guyana’s ample land is suitable for cultivating bamboo.

Ambassador Haiyan further pointed out that using bamboo and rattan products can efficiently substitute wood and plastic, thereby reducing pollution and environmental harm. Highlighting China’s prominence in bamboo cultivation, she shared, “China, often called the ‘Bamboo Kingdom’, hosts 40 percent of the world’s known bamboo species, accounting for one-fifth of the world’s bamboo land area. Trade in bamboo and rattan products exceeds US$2 billion, representing more than 60 percent of the global trade.”
Toshao Christopher Gouveia encouraged attendees to seize the opportunity and embrace bamboo crafting, expressing gratitude to both the Guyanese and Chinese governments for their support. “I want to thank both governments, the Guyanese Government and the Chinese Government for their full support with this,” he stated.
Rattan and bamboo, common natural materials, are extensively used in household furniture, garden furniture, wicker furniture, cane furniture, patio furniture, and utensils. This initiative aims to capitalise on these resources, driving economic growth and sustainability in the local community.