New infrastructure for Mabaruma Green Park to boost tourism – Mayor

February 21, 2018

DPI, GUYANA, Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Plans are onstream to construct a traditional benab at the Mabaruma Green Park in an effort to boost tourism. The park located in Region One (Barima-Waini) will also have lights, which will be powered by solar panels, seats and fruit trees indigenous to the region.

Henry Smith Mayor of Mabaruma.

Mabaruma’s Mayor, Henry Smith told the Department of Public Information, (DPI) that construction of the benab (which will be similar to the Umana Yana in Georgetown) will begin this year and will utilise local woods such as Locust and Kabakali. Smith explained that the structure will showcase the Indigenous culture and will also serve as a meeting point to host significant town events.

Additionally, the Mayor pointed out that a market will also be constructed in the green park. This he noted, will provide ease of shopping for “the people from that area, it will accommodate persons from the entire town but will cater for persons in the Hosororo, Bumbury, Kuriabo and Wainaina areas among others”. A caretaker’s house has already been constructed at the green park. These initiatives are part of the Mabaruma Town Council’s 2018 plans aimed at enhancing tourism and taking the region forward.

Mabaruma was officially declared a town on October 21, 2015. Mayor Smith said following a mandate by the government, the region has already begun crafting a design for a regional flag.

“We were able to have discussions with people and we arrived at a flag. Now there is a competition among the school children for the symbol on what to use, but the Regional Administration is undertaking that process and we’re getting there,” Smith explained.