Stakeholders’ stories of Barima Mora passage told through gripping “The March Onwards” documentary

As agricultural activity advances countrywide, the Barima Mora Passage – the country’s largest intact mangrove ecosystem, located in Region One (Barima-Waini), is set to undergo development, placing the Indigenous communities and local farmers at conflicting ends of the spectrum.
Through their new film, which is set to be released on Sunday, local documentary company REEL Guyana is seeking to highlight these very stories in what they’ve previously described as a contrasting look at the Indigenous communities who continue to engage in crab-catching activities and preservation of the natural environment, and local farmers who have an opportunity to exploit a state-sponsored drive for large-scale agriculture.
In partnership with the Guyana Marine Conservation Society (GMCS), and through the support of Republic Bank, REEL Guyana on Thursday showcased the 25-minute documentary through a private screening at MovieTowne Cinemas at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara (ECD).
GMCS Project Director Annette Arjoon-Martins explained that while the area is populated by several Indigenous communities, it consists mainly of Warraus who, as indicated by carbon-testing, have been occupying the area for over 11,000 years.

“The Warraus depend on everything that is found in the mangrove forest for their survival, whether it’s the crab they catch for their main protein source, the non-timber forest products they use for their medicine, or the fishes in the rivers and the creeks. It’s what they’ve been using for 11,000 years, and what they need to be able to continue using,” Arjoon-Martins said.
“We also have people other than Warraus who have moved into the area, who also use the resources of the area, (but) not as long as the Warraus have been using it; [and] in some cases, not in a sustainable manner,” Arjoon-Martins said.
Republic Bank Managing Director Stephen Grell commended the documentary, noting that is ensures there is public and institutional understanding and engagement with the joint needs to conserve this unique ecosystem.
“[The film] really highlights the varying ways people value and utilise their resources in order to pursue their livelihoods. Economic development, as important as it is, must be balanced with sustainability. The importance of this grows, as we’ve seen record heat around the world through the month of September,” Grell said.
Notably, the documentary was funded through the Bank’s “Power to Make a Difference” programme, which aims to encourage positive changes within society.
“The power to impact lives and change fortunes for the better is why we make these partnerships. It is why we see it as a worthwhile social investment. It is our fervent hope that this production will raise awareness, and ultimately add significantly to ongoing global climate action initiatives; gain national, regional and international interest; and facilitate advancing the valuable contributions of the Indigenous communities,” Grell said.
“The March Onwards” will be available to the public on Sunday at 18:00h on all of REEL Guyana’s social media platforms.