New documentary showcases Imbotero’s research tourism

The Guyana Marine Conservation Society (GMCS) and REEL Guyana on Tuesday launched a short documentary on the Imbotero Research Centre in Region One.

The documentary, titled “Imbotero Research Centre – Merging Coastal Communities and Science,” showcases the daily life of the Warraus in Imbotero and the role they play in the development of research tourism in their community. It also showcases the potential of the Imbotero Research Centre.

The research centre has already proven to be invaluable in yielding important research just two months after its establishment as the documentary showcases two university students conducting studies on canoes and crabs.

In the documentary, Annette ArjuneMartins, head of the GMCS, notes that the increasing developmental pressure on

Guyana has revealed the urgent need to safeguard and protect Indigenous communities. It is with this in mind that the GMCS has been doing extensive work in Region One, where Guyana’s largest intact mangrove ecosystem – the Barima Mora Passage – is located and home to Indigenous Warraus.

“Having [a] research centre located in the Warrau community of Imbotero will not only afford access to international, national and regional research on coastal and marine ecosystems and their peoples but will also contribute to the development of research tourism,” she said.

According to Arjune-Martins, it is her hope that research tourism will serve as an alternative livelihood option for the Warrau community.

However, Anthony Lewis, the Toshao of Imbotero, says they are already seeing the benefits of developing a research centre in their community – a project that started in Region One after the GMCS was forced to relocate their research center from Shell Beach because of erosion.

He says he is glad that that the GMCS involved his community in the project, especially the youths. Developing Imbotero into a tourism was strange at first, Lewis said, but since then they have accumulated a wealth of knowledge and know which direction they intend to take the project. The documentary was produced as part of a collaboration between GMCS and Republic Bank.

Steven Grell, Republic Bank’s Managing Director, said the Republic group will lend and invest US$200 million by 2025 to support actions that will help achieve major climate financing goals.

So when they were approached, they committed without hesitation to collaborate with GMCS to produce the documentary.

“For us, this is a great example of steps being taken towards climate action – an absolute must for our region,” he said.

Grell said that Republic Bank has also committed US$100 million for sustainable agriculture in support of food security in the Caribbean.

“And so in whatever way we can we are prepared to lend our support to positively impact climate action,” he said.

He commended the work of GMCS to preserve the Barima/Mora Passage and for including Indigenous communities, noting that it is necessary to include Indigenous communities to help achieve climate goals. The documentary will premiere on Monday on Reel Guyana’s social media platforms.