WHEN Nigel John heard about a training programme at Iwokrama River Lodge and Research Centre, he wasn’t confident enough to apply, but with encouragement from locals, he did and was selected to become a candidate for the training programme to become a certified Forest Ranger.

Having only primary education as a native of Apoteri Village, a remote Amerindian Settlement located between the Essequibo and Rupununi Rivers in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), John was not fortunate to benefit from secondary and tertiary education.

He told the Pepperpot Magazine that he is originally from Shea, South Rupununi, but relocated to Apoteri Village in 1986 when his father worked with the then balata company. He is from a family of six siblings, but two brothers have since passed away, one lives in Brazil, and two of his three sisters reside in Apoteri Village.

His parents live with him, and they enjoy a quiet, simple life in a natural setting in the beautiful sport-fishing community of Apoteri. The father of six stated that due to the location of the village, many things were not accessible. As such, he did not benefit from secondary education, and he had to leave school after completing primary school.

John added that he was always willing to learn despite challenges, and he went into trapping songbirds, which he sold locally for three years to have a stable income. He related that during that time, he learnt of a training programme being offered at Iwokrama River Lodge and Research Centre, but he didn’t apply.

Sometime later, a villager encouraged him to send in an application. He later received a letter stating he was selected for an interview, after which he was among the candidates for the Forest Ranger training programme.

“It was not easy; I had to apply myself to the fullest, and I endured 22 training courses to become a certified Forest Ranger in Guyana from the level of conservation to survival, and I have been at the job for the past 20 years, so with determination and the will to succeed anything is possible,” he said.

John was then the chairman of the Community Wildlife Club in Apoteri Village, which has 40 members, mostly youths, who were tasked with data collection and identifying birds, trees, and fish in the community.

He stated that they also participated in cultural festivals to promote the club and to educate locals about biodiversity.

John noted that as a Forest Ranger, he travelled around the country a bit, and for him, Apoteri Village is the best place to live because of the natural setting, the abundance of wildlife, and the simplicity that appeals to him.

He pointed out that during the off-peak sport-fishing season, jobs are not always within reach in the village, and youths would have to travel to other places to secure part-time jobs in the mining and logging areas.

John told the Pepperpot Magazine that in Apoteri Village, the population is made up of the offspring of the Mucushi, Wapishana and Patamona tribes. He explained that the locals earn via part-time jobs with the private tour operators as a tourism destination in sport-fishing of arapaima in the ‘catch and release’ method since they do not harvest the largest freshwater fish in the world.

John revealed that the sport fishing season is from August to March annually, but after this period, the locals depend heavily on subsistence fishing and farming for their livelihood.

He stated that they have several lodges in the surrounding villages, which provide employment for some locals, but they will soon make Apoteri Village a tourism destination by opening their very own lodge.

John disclosed that the construction of the proposed name Apoteri Balata Lodge is 95 percent complete, and they are hoping it will be officially opened in November.

He noted that the lodge will be managed and operated by the locals and will provide stable employment for some and they are hoping to promote tourism in the village.

John told the Pepperpot Magazine that Apoteri Village is a beautiful place that is ideal for eco-tourism.

The Apoteri resident said they have a package offering tours, etc., to promote tourism and generate income for their small community, which has a lot to explore.

Because he is involved in many things apart from being a Forest Ranger, John reported that he usually has a lot of tasks to complete, and soon they will be embarking on the production of another documentary that promotes sport-fishing in the village via the ‘catch and release’ method.

As a poin of pride, John added that recently, a documentary shot by Reel Guyana, which highlighted residents’ rescue efforts to save trapped arapaimas in shallow waters in Apoteri Village, was broadcast in the village during their mini heritage celebration in late September.