Life In Paramakatoi – A Quiet, Scenic Retreat in the Heart of Region Eight (8)

Paramakatoi (sometimes spelt Paramakotoi) is a town in Potaro-Siparuni (Region 8) of Guyana. This place is extremely remote and the way of life is calm and simple. If you’d ever like a place to “get away” and be serene, then this is the place; it carries you way back in time where you can witness subsistence living. There are no restaurants and the main form of transportation is walking. Walking for two days through the rainforest to go to a neighbouring location is considered normal. The people are friendly and everyone is expected to be greeted politely.

Infrastructure

In Paramakatoi, you will find four major shopping centres and several smaller shops. The proprietors are made up of inter-married Portuguese from neighbouring Brazil and relocated coastlanders of East Indian ancestry. There are shops that are usually busy tending to those who are in a hurry to go to work or school. There is one shop called the ‘Brazo’ shop that many like to go to after the cares of the day. This shop offers great customer service.

When it comes to education, it is provided at the nursery, primary and secondary level. The highest-ranking school in the region is Paramakatoi Secondary. Approximately 400 students are accommodated at the dormitory; these students come from across the region and from Region Nine communities in close proximity. A few who are fortunate get to leave the community to pursue secondary and tertiary education on the coast. This is due to the poor quality of education offered and little or no motivation from parents.

Did You Know? Some of the most beautiful women live in Paramakatoi. Pageant diva Sandra Cheong copped the Miss Indigenous Heritage Crown in 2005 and in 2007 was succeeded by the talented Odessa Paul.

How To Get To Paramakatoi

You can get to Paramakatoi via air. Regular flights are provided by Local company Air Services Limited to reach this village. Do not forget your passport. Another way to get there is by trail. During the dry season, there is a trail from Lethem that can be used. It is mainly used to bring in supplies. Even though the distance may appear short on the map, the condition of the trail can make it into a two-day drive without the benefit of hotels, gas stations or restaurants.

Mode Of Transportation In Paramakatoi

The main form of transportation in Paramakatoi is walking. You will see persons of all ages, walking around the village, to get to their destination.

Economic Activities Of Paramakatoi

Paramakatoi can be considered as a farming community, its indigenous society’s economy is mainly focused on agricultural cultivation and cattle rearing which constitutes about 75% of the village economy. Twice per week, on Wednesdays and Fridays, farm products are exhibited and marketed. It is common for persons from small neighbouring villages to travel long distances to sell their products as well as intricate crafts and pottery on these days. Farmers would make it their duty to leave early in the morning to look after their cultivation before the beating heat and hot sun takes over.

Accommodations For Visitors In Paramakatoi

You can find accommodation at the community’s guest house. It is readily available to visitors. The guest house has four bedrooms and it is impossible to contact the manager prior to arriving, but space is usually available. You will also find a small bible college that may have space. Ask at the haberdashery, and you will find space. The lives of persons are simple and they are contented with their indigenous lifestyle. Their diet is mainly cassava products like farine and cassava bread along with wild meats. Other foods and meats are transported from neighbouring Brazilian towns at a cheaper price than meat sourced from the coast.

7 Things To do In Paramakatoi

1. Enjoy The Scenery – You can enjoy the beauty of the surrounding, unspoiled rainforests.
2. Explore Trails & Waterfalls – Take a walk on the trails leading to some of the surrounding waterfalls. The local residents will be happy to escort you for a few dollars.
3. Stop At Shops – There are lots of shops which sell the basic necessities and even cheap Brazilian beer.
4. Relish The Food – In Paramakatoi, pepper pot is a traditional meat dish, and cassava bread is a staple. Things like chicken and eggs can be purchased at any time of the year but other fresh items will depend entirely on the season. Sometimes during the year, it is possible to get delicious items such as pineapple, watermelon, mango, papaw and banana. There are no restaurants, but you can hire a cook to prepare traditional and local meals!
5. Have A Drink – You can enjoy water from a spring or it can be collected as rainwater. Bottled water is not readily available, so it would be wise to arrive with as much as you can. Alcohol is available (both rum and beer) along with other local fermented drinks such as parakari and cassiri, beer made from cassava.
6. Connect To The Internet – For $15 (US) you will be able to get Wi-Fi at Sherry Balkaran’s store.
7. Visit Kato – It is possible to walk to the beautiful, neighbouring village of Kato. This will take about four hours. It is better to hire an ATV which would cut the trip down to a little over an hour.

Tip: This Indigenous community is the home of Guyana’s first indigenous Pilot, Mr. Ovid Williams. His grandparents were among the founders of the village which was approximately 100 years ago.

Paramakatoi In Guyana

The population of Paramakatoi is estimated at 3000 and one-third of the populace are mixed ancestry of Afro, Indo and Portuguese. This is due to extensive infiltration of the other cultures in recent years. Paramakatoi, a community in the Potaro-Siparuni Region of Guyana, is located at 4°43′0″N 59°42′0″W, Altitude 970 metres. It can be found 11 miles east of Kurukabaru. One unique thing about Paramakatoi is that it functions as a regional centre for the catchment area. Paramakatoi is also the largest and most developed of Amerindian communities in the region. You can find an airfield (Airport code PMT) at Paramakatoi.

Article References:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramakatoi
• https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Paramakatoi
• https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2017/04/23/the-simple-life-of-villagers-in-paramakatoi/