Last week a new Tour Guide training course got underway here in Caye Cauker. The course was put together by the Forest and Marine Reserves Association of Caye Caulker (FAMRACC) on behalf of the Belize Tourist Board and is being co-ordinated by our own marine bioligist and eco-warrior, Ellen McRae.

Thirty five candidates commenced the course (a much higher turnout than usual) all hoping that at the end of the course, they will be a fully fledged Tour Guide.

The course will require the students to be present from Monday to Friday (inclusive) until August. The course will cover 7 Chapters (each with an exam that the students are required to pass), a CPR course, a swimming exercise and a fieldwork. The students are required to learn in detail about Belize’s history, geography, population demographic and its politics. The course will also include a Chapter on presentation including both presenting to a group and about their presentation as a Tour Guide.

Shane Anderson (or Big Shane) as we often call him, has already passed with flying colors the first three exams as in his eagerness to become a Tour Guide he has been traveling to and fro from San Pedro to take exams. He will join the course at the appropriate time and will be joined with Shane Sho (Li Shane) and Dylan Blease too! Although the success rate for these exams is often very low we are confident that all our candidates will achieve their goal!

Good luck to all concerned and thank you Ellen McRae and FAMRACC for putting together this very much needed course together!

Raggamuffin Tours

I hope that identifying unsafe conditions at Hol Chan is part of the course.