Honey production in Santa Aratak takes another level
Santa Aratak Gift Shop in the village
Santa Aratak Gift Shop in the village

ZWAANTJE DeCambra, better known as “Zoey”, is a female beekeeper who is empowered to earn in her home village of Santa Aratak, Demerara River, Region Three.
She produces top-quality honey in different flavours, and her target market is for export and tourists, with her produce being sold at the Santa Aratak Gift Shop — a space where all local produce by women is retailed.
DeCambra, a single mother, had lost hope of restarting her small beekeeping business when a devastating wildfire last year completely destroyed her hives in the savannah of her village.

Zwaantje DeCambra’s version of honey produced

But with assistance from the current administration, she was able to pick up the pieces and give it another go.
The 35-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that she has abandoned her teaching career to focus solely on her beekeeping and honey production.
Government’s intervention
The single mother of one child, a daughter, explained that she currently has 19 hives. As a gift from the government, she was given an additional 10 hives to expand her beekeeping and honey production.
DeCambra reported that with 29 hives in total, she can take her beekeeping to another level in terms of honey production, thanks to the training she received and the support from the Guyana Livestock and Development Authority (GLDA).

Zwaantje DeCambra

She related that she produces high-quality honey which is thicker than regular honey because of the specific flavours of mora, French cashew, wild ite’ palm, among other plants grown in the area.
DeCambra packages and labels her honey production, which is sold from her home or at the Santa Aratak Gift Shop, located in the village, a riverine community in Kamuni Creek.
Last year, residents had to be evacuated from Santa Mission/Santa Aratak when wildfires spread rapidly, engulfing the savannahs during the dry season.
It was reported that the bushfires at Santa Aratak caused mass evacuation of locals, who were temporarily housed at Timehri Primary School, an effort spearheaded by the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), until the flames were fully doused.
The entrepreneur lost all eight hives of bees she had at the time and could not finance restarting the venture.
When President Irfaan Ali visited the village, DeCambra seized the opportunity to seek assistance in resuming her small beekeeping business to produce flavoured honey.

Getting help with beekeeping gear

She spoke to President Ali, who promised to help, and he did so sometime after; she was then gifted four hives.
DeCambra had only four hives at the time President Ali visited the community, and she was able to revive the small business in her backyard, in the savannah area.
The beekeeper related that she represented the community during the community meeting, which was held, and has since become a role model in the village, inspiring women and girls to equip themselves with skills to earn a living.
DeCambra became versed in beekeeping and managed to represent her village at the first-ever Honey Fest, held at GLDA, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, in November last year.

Some of the hives in the backyard of Zwaantje DeCambra’s home

The resident of Santa Aratak told the Pepperpot Magazine that when visitors come to the village, they often buy her honey since it is a preferred taste that is well-liked.
She retails a small bottle of honey for $2,000, while the large bottle is $7,000 each. Her produce is also available at Arrowpoint Resort for sale, and will also be at the new Bio Green Escape Resort, set to open by Wild Adventures soon. The resort is currently under construction in the Kamuni Creek.
“As a single mother, I am very happy to be able to earn due to the support I received from the government, and I will use the knowledge gained to train and empower others, especially the women and young girls in my village, to grow and embark on their own business ventures,” she said.
DeCambra added that GLDA assisted her in training and provided the relevant personnel to conduct the sessions, including renowned trainer Sherwood Huntley from London, among others.
She disclosed that there aren’t many opportunities in Santa Aratak, and, as such, women and girls are often solely dependent on their male counterparts for financial support. That has to change — they must become self-employed to create a better future and life for themselves.
DeCambra also dabbles in making cassava cassareep to earn a bit of extra money. She is a candidate for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).
The Santa Aratak Gift Shop is a space where local women producers showcase and sell their products. It comprises mostly arts and craft makers.

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