| Annette Arjoon-Martins is a ‘Special Person’Caption: “I see myself as an Amerindian first, a conservationist second, and an aviation manager third, but my most important role is as a mother to Alex and Vicky, my two proudest accomplishments.”By Leonard GildarieIt is an irrefutable fact that man adapts to the environment. It is a natural thing.Whether it is the deserts of Africa or the jungles of Guyana, becoming accustomed to the surroundings and learning to live in harmony with it becomes a must for survival.Annette Arjoon-MartinsDuring my time as a reporter, I have had the opportunity to visit quite a number of hinterland areas. I saw residents of Kwakwani waterfront, Berbice River, who despite being flooded year in and year out refuse to move, despite knowing it will happen again in a few months.I went to Region 9 for the recent floods and saw people using a stationary bicycle to grind cassava and Amerindians paddling for miles in canoes to get to school or attend to their businesses.A city man like me might find it a tad difficult to adjust to a life like that.Then I met Annette Arjoon-Martins. I believe there are few Guyanese not familiar with her name. Never mind she is now married to the famous former Tradewinds frontman, Dave Martins,Wholesale Jerseys, or her family owns the Air Services Limited charter company.Her name has become synonymous with turtles and mangrove protection. She has won several awards and is a licenced pilot. Now she is about to launch a multi-million-dollar scholarship fund for young Amerindian girls.I was quite taken aback by Mrs. Arjoon-Martins and her assumption that everybody loves conservation of turtles and mangrove. Her enthusiasm was almost like a fixation.Annette’s mother was an Amerindian and her father, none other than Yacoob Ally, one of the founders of the aviation business in Guyana, and of the ‘Mahazarally’ fame.AMERINDIAN FIRSTShe grew up in Pomeroon, a mainly Amerindian community with her grandmother, a simple Arawak woman. Annette remembers paddling half of a mile to go to school in a dugout canoe. There were no roads.To visit someone across the river, one had to more than likely swim across. It was where the little Amerindian lady at an early age learnt not to fear the water, something which was highly helpful in later days in her work.Her introduction to electricity was being shocked by an electrical eel while in the water.She moved to the city to continue her education before attending Codrington, a boarding school in Barbados,Jerseys NFL Cheap, and after that followed the calling of her father’s business by earning her private pilot licence at the Flight School in Trinidad operated by Briko Air Services.Discussing turtle protection with a fishermanAnnette recalled an incident where after being asked to help run the family logging business, she expressed her reservations.“I told them I don’t really like this tree-cutting business. My father pointed out that it was the same business that paid for my education and made me a pilot.”The petite lady was soon flying across Guyana. It was during one of these charter flights that she met Dr. Critchlow, an English scientist, who introduced her to Shell Beach.It was on that beach that Annette discovered the sea turtle and fell in love with them. Her passion for protecting them was what later gained her more prominence than her flying.“I wanted to protect those turtles that nested there. People were using the eggs and turtle meat for food. But how would one ask the Amerindians to stop using the food if there are no alternatives?”She fought her way, muddied her clothes, and challenged and harassed the authorities to do something for the turtles which travelled thousands of miles to nest on Shell Beach. She courted fishermen, enticing them to pay attention to the turtles.In 2000, Annette,Jerseys NFL Wholesale, then 36 years old, founded the Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society.Determined to protect the turtles yet cognizant of the fact that the Amerindians were dependent on Shell Beach for food, she actively pursued the possibilities of finding a source of income that would reduce the dependency on the turtle eggs and meat.She spoke to Guyana Stockfeeds Limited and was given a commitment that they would buy the coconut copra, something which the Amerindians had in abundance. She asked her business friends and received ice boxes to help the Amerindians store their fish, with the agreement that no fishing nets would be set during the period when the turtles were nesting. She also helped established North West Organics, which created an avenue for cassava bread to be exported to Trinidad and St. Lucia.WANTEDAnnette did not escape the eyes of government. When the administration was exploring ways to shore up their sea defences, it was decided that it would be cheaper to replant the mangroves – trees that protect the shorelines from the waves and resulting erosion.Naturally, they turned to Annette, appointing her as Chairperson of the Guyana Mangrove Restoration.She is now charged with planting more than 65,000 seedlings over 3.8 km of shoreline, in a nationally coordinated project,Her beloved Shell Beach has been identified as a protected area.Assisting with mangrove planting.Now Annette is expertly juggling two children, family life, over 20 years in the aircraft business, her NGO and the mangrove society. Her two children, Alex and Victoria, are squash champions.“I see myself as an Amerindian first, a conservationist second,cheap nfl jerseys, and an aviation manager third, but my most important role is as a mother to Alex and Vicky, my two proudest accomplishments.”In 1995, she successfully lobbied the Government of Guyana to end the proposed beach mining project. In 2000 to present, she lobbied the Minister of Fisheries to impose a yearly no netting zone on sections of the nesting beaches to minimize drowning of turtles.Annette has also produced a 15-minute documentary on the Guyana Sea Turtle Conservation Project, which has been distributed to schools and aired.She has produced a fisheries awareness video, which was commissioned by the Ministry of Fisheries, targeting the industry to enlist the support of fishermen in saving sea turtles that become entrapped in nets.Annette has published several works including pieces for NBS, BWIA’s magazine and producedGuyana’s first coffee table book “The Amerindian Way.”RECOGNITIONBut her work has not been unrecognized.In 2000, the local tourism association presented her with an award for her contributions to saving the environment. She has also been honoured by the Guyana Chamber of Commerce, Shell Antilles Guyana, United Nations, Commonwealth Foundation Fellowship and from IVP.In 2008, she received the coveted Anthony N. Sabga Caribbean Award for Civil Service.“Why do I do what I do? I truly love my country. I gave up the opportunity of moving to the Cayman Islands where my husband has a beautiful home. Guyana is my home.”She has been featured in a number of regional magazines.Perhaps one of her most recognizable attributes which has served her well is her ability to understand that alternatives must be found to situations. Her grip on management and her easy way with people have helped.I could not pass up the opportunity to ask about the inimitable Dave Martins, her husband,Wholesale NBA Jerseys, who is popular for his “double-edged songs”, as I called them.Annette has a funny story. She is not a music lover. In early 2009 she bumped into Dave after a presentation of some photos she had taken of the hinterland.“For both of us, it was instant love; we would talk on the phone for hours. Guyana was a powerful bond between us, and we were determined to live together as a couple.”She managed to convince her husband to return home from the Cayman Islands where he had a home.“Both of us were single, and one year later we were married in a lovely ceremony at Baganara Resort, the most beautiful place on the Essequibo. It was as if the two of us were just waiting for each other; we are both devoted to Guyana.”One year later, to celebrate their first anniversary, the couple co-published a coffee table book called ‘The Amerindian Way’. The proceeds of the book, which is available at the Craft Shop, Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, is to be used to establish a scholarship fund for young Amerindian girls.“I see myself as an Amerindian first, a conservationist second, and an aviation manager third, but my most important role is as a mother to Alex and Vicky, my two proudest accomplishments.”Annette is a go-getter.“I can’t stand a lot of talking without doing,China Jerseys Authentic, I am upset by tardiness,Cheap Jerseys Store, and I particularly have no patience with superficial conversation, or with platitudes. I like spending time with grass-roots people; they’re pure; they have no hidden agendas. My idea of a great evening is to have some friends over to our verandah, with curry crab on the table, the soothing East Coast sea breeze rifling through, and the engaging banter of a few close friends David and I have acquired in our life here.”Regarding her work, Annette was blunt.“I like turtles and mangrove because they have no agenda.” |
