Daily life in Paramakatoi

The crisp air of the Pakaraimas is just one of the major reasons for living in the picturesque village of Paramakatoi, which is located on the left bank of the Kawa River in the North Pakaraimas. The beautiful settlement is one of the largest and most developed of Amerindian communities in Region 8 and functions as a regional centre for the catchment area.
The village has just a little over two thousand residents from the Patamona, Makushi and Wapichan tribes and is bordered by Kato, Taruka and Tuseneng villages. The villagers is heavily dependent on subsistence farming, hunting and fishing for their livelihoods. In addition, some are also involved in cattle rearing, small-scale trade in local crafts and mining.
The people of Paramakatoi go far out of the title to hunt, fish and gather materials. They know that Siparuni is the key area for those activities and is described by the residents as their supermarket. However, the esidents are worried about the potential threat posed by extractive industries in Siparuni and Tipuru to their future food security.
The Village is a closely knitted one with everyone looking out for each other. Being one of, if not the, largest developed Amerindian settlement, the village of Paramakatoi has schools for their children as well as health care and makes it an ideal place to visit. (Photos by Ajay Mootoosami)