Batavia to invest carbon credit funds in tourism, other ventures – Toshao

– as village collaborates with neighbouring communities

The Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) village of Batavia is home to much tourism potential and according to the Toshao, Orin Williams, the village is putting its carbon credit allocation towards developing its tourism products.
Batavia was among the over 240 Indigenous villages that received a share from the $4.7 billion (US$22.5 million), which is 15 per cent of the US$150 million initial payments from the sale of Guyana’s forest carbon credits to Hess Corporation. In an exclusive interview with this publication, Williams spoke of how the money is being spent.

“Now that we’re actually working on our ten-year village plan, at the first stage, we’re now preparing major projects. We’re doing projects presently to put the village into the first phase of establishing a tourist resort,” the village leader said.
“An eco-tourism site within our village here. With the neighbouring communities, we can all join together. Because close to my village is the White Water resort, which is very close to Bartica. So, by working together with them also, it can even make things easier for people to enter into the village.”
When it comes to tourism potential, Williams pointed to the waterfalls at Batavia, which include the Five Star Falls and the Small Matope Falls. In addition, Batavia also teems with wildlife, including the majestic Harpy Eagle. He also noted the extensive forests surrounding the village, offering an eco-tourist the experience of a lifetime.
“With the carbon credit funds we’re having; we want to invest in tourism. Bring people here. Because we know we have the potential… we received $24 million. We’re now in the second phase. It really helped my village to move from one stage to another.”

“With the new projects that are already complete, like bridges, roads, we’re now venturing into lighting, electrical system within the village, housing. Some of the things we have done is to enhance education within my village.”
This includes providing transportation for the school children and setting up boathouses for the children to be comfortable while they wait for the school boat. The village also intends to rehouse some residents who live in the low-lying areas close to the river. There are also plans to implement river defence systems, since erosion is a bugbear for the villagers.
“Water is something we’re suffering from because the Cuyuni River is presently, especially in the dry season, polluted because of mining. And we don’t have potable water in the village presently.”
“Next year the Government will be setting up a potable water system in the village. And I’m very happy about that. And I have a lot of confidence in my Government. They are a Government of their word. And I know this will happen for us next year,” the Toshao said. (G-3)