Certified lifeguards elevating Guyana’s tourism sector
Just a few weeks after completing a Junior Lifeguard Training Programme, Marley Campo from Santa Aratak in Region Three became equipped with the skills and confidence needed to respond in life-threatening situations.
Campo has been working in the tourism sector for over eight years at Arrow Point Nature Resort.
She highlighted that for the first time in her career, she can proudly say she is a qualified lifeguard, which she noted transformed the way she cares for her guests.
The training facilitated by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) in collaboration with the Guyana Lifesavers Association (GLSA) provides citizens with a foundation in water safety and practical lifesaving skills.
After completing the training, Campo said her skills were tested and explained that she saved a young woman who lost her balance and fell overboard.
“With the technique I learned, I put my hand over my head and just grabbed onto her and swam onto shore. She felt safe knowing her life had been saved.”
She noted that the techniques acquired made the rescue process far easier and safer for both herself and the person in distress.
Learning how to swim and perform water rescues has become an important asset in Cindy Robertson’s work as a tourism operator. She is a certified tour guide and operator of Oscika Transportation and Tours.
“I was able to acquire a lot of knowledge that is beneficial not only to myself, but also to the people I am responsible for when I am on the water,” she expressed.
Robertson underscored the importance of lifesaving training. She noted that trained individuals have the potential to make a critical difference in emergencies.
Like Campo, Robertson recalled an incident where the skills she acquired allowed her to save a young boy’s life.
President of the Guyana Life Saving Association (GLSA), Paul Mahaica, said the association plans to conduct additional training programmes in all regions in the coming months.
He explained that more than 3000 youths and adults learned how to swim through ongoing programmes offered by the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport.
As Guyana continues to attract more visitors to its riverine areas, initiatives such as the Junior Lifeguard Training Programme are actively building a safer tourism workforce, equipping tourism workers with critical water safety and rescue skills.
The association’s goal is to reduce Guyana’s drowning rate and boost tourist confidence. Several training courses will be conducted over the next few months to educate people on how to swim, among other things.
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