PRESIDENT of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) Mitra Ramkumar is calling for the ban on wild life trade and commercial hunting in Guyana, to preserve the country’s biodiversity.
Ramkumar made this statement on Friday evening at the Cara Lodge during the launch of Explore Guyana 2019, the nation’s official tourist magazine, as part of Tourism Awareness Month.
“Recreational hunting, seasonal hunting every type of hunting is not part of our tourism.” he urged.
He added, that the meats of the animals are promoted as delicacies which are sold in many shops and restaurants in Guyana.
He stressed that human interference with biodiversity could have serious effects on the flora and fauna living there.
Over the recent years several persons were charged and successfully prosecuted before the courts for attempting to smuggle birds and other small animals out of Guyana through the major airport to be sold abroad.
Ramkumar also called for the Guyana Zoo to be rebranded as a rescue centre, as he said “we do not want animals to be in captivity… that is not one of our tourism products.”
The cover of the Explore Guyana 2019 features a pale-throated sloth and baby. That photograph was taken at Sloth Island Nature Resort on the Essequibo River.
Publisher of the magazine, Lokesh Singh, explained that over 35,000 copies of the magazine were printed. The 21st edition of the magazine was made from recycled paper and showcases Guyana’s flora, fauna, culture and tourism with 112 colour pages. The magazine is distributed free of cost in Guyana and overseas.
“We have stories that are written by locals and overseas persons visiting… We have featured the flora and fauna and in recent times the people of the country,” Singh said.
Singh explained that the cover photo on the magazine came through the courtesy of the Sloth Conservation Foundation (SolCo) and was taken by a photographer who camped out at the Sloth Island Nature Resort. There is also an article on the work of SolCo in the magazine.
He explained that the pale-throated sloth is clinging on for survival and is found in the deep remote jungle.
The magazine has content and photographs and also includes events planned throughout the year of 2019.
Also adding content to the publication was British High Commissioner to Guyana, Gregory Quinn with his article, ‘Three High Commissioners and a waterfall.’ In the article Quinn took the British Commissioner of Barbados and Trinidad to the majestic Kaieteur Falls, which he explained left a wonderful impression of Guyana imprinted on everyone’s mind.
