Our guide

This is our guide Gary Sway. He is 23 and of mixed tribe being both Arawak/Warrau from his father and Makushi from his mother. His partner Lisa is 21 and is pure Makushi. She is very knowledgeable about the use of herbs, shrubs and plants and all the medicinal properties they contain. She was orphaned as a child and brought up and taught by her grandmother. They are not married but have lived together for 4 years. They will marry when the elders agree to it. They are observed by the elders and advised by them until then. They have two boys Raul aged 4 and Delroy aged 10 months. The people of the village looked healthy and well although diabetes, high blood pressure and cervical cancer are increasing. They believe that the cancer may be related to the starting of a family planning programme about 20 years ago and I think the Remote Air Medics who visit the village a couple of times a year are trying to research this for them.