Georgetown: President Donald Ramotar met with the Executive Director of the Karanambu Lodge, Ms. Diane Mc Turk, at the Office of the President, to congratulate her on winning the coveted Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Award , at the recently concluded Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC 14) in Trinidad recently.
Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Irfaan Ali and the Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority, Mr. Indranauth Haralsingh accompanied Ms. Mc Turk as she was warmly welcomed by the Head of State.
“This is a great initiative that the Karanambu Lodge has taken as the pioneers in sustainable development. This is an extremely worthwhile project…Congratulations on this significant achievement,” President Ramotar stated.
The Head of State noted too that such a project sits at the core of the country’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), which fosters the protection of the ecology and the environment while sustaining livelihoods.
He also pointed to the sustainable model being promoted and adapted in the mining sector and the worldwide recognition the country is attracting as a result of these and other sustainable developmental initiatives.
The President explained, “With what the world knows now about the natural environment, it will be irresponsible to cause harm to the environment…it has to be a combination of earning a living, preservation and restoration ,”
Meanwhile, Minister Ali reminded that the Karanambu Lodge has been in operation for the past 25 years and generates employment for close to 20 persons, while preserving an integral aspect of the country’s biodiversity.
He said too that the Government through the GTA will be working to improve the infrastructure at the Karanambu Lodge to allow for expansion and development of the project; this will in turn attract additional visitors to the area.
As she presented the award to the President, Ms. Mc Turk expressed profound gratitude to the Government for their continued support, and assured that her facility will continue in their quest to protect the giant otter species in Guyana.
She said, “I am truly honoured by the recognition of Karanambu’s achievement…we have undertaken the responsibility of our area, our country, our people. I am hoping that everyone accepts their responsibility.”
Alluding to the vision of the Karanambu Trust, Ms. Mc Turk explained that the thrust for sustainable development and the development of a protected area had its genesis in the early 90’s.
Diane McTurk is a conservationist and world-renowned expert on giant otters and her legendary hospitality is extended to every guest, who visits the facility
McTurk is especially noted for her work in rehabilitating orphaned and injured giant river otters, and is recognised as an eco-tourism pioneer.
Settled in 1927 by Tiny McTurk, Karanambu was once a working cattle ranch and Balata collection station, it is now an eco-tourist destination known as The Karanambu Lodge.
The area encompasses approximately 110-square miles of savannah, marshy ponds, riparian forest, and a 30-mile stretch of the Rupununi River. The Lodge provides guests with the opportunity to experience the wildlife of Karanambu.
The Lodge also provides excellent viewing opportunities of giant river otters, giant black caiman and giant anteaters. The evening ritual of watching the giant water lily, Victoria amazonica, open is another memorable experience for visitors.
During the CTO/Travelmole Sustainable Tourism Award ceremony, Guyana emerged as the biggest winner, carting off three major awards: the Caribbean Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Award, the Biodiversity Conservation Award won by the Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society, and the Heritage Award which was given to Guyana National Trust.
This is the third consecutive year the country has won the Excellence in Sustainable Tourism award.
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