A Guyanese man early Tuesday morning set out on a journey to walk from Georgetown in Region #4 to Mabaruma and areas in North-West Region #1.

Ric Couchman said he expects to complete the challenging journey over land and water within 14 days and could not be worried by the potential risks and dangers involved.

“I anticipate that some people may be thinking about wild animals but there is a way to co-exist with wild animals. We need to move away from that fear that we have about wild animals and try to strike a happy medium of co-existence,” an unbothered Couchman related.

With a bit of nervousness, Couchman said he was excited that he can use the journey as a forum for putting the spotlight on some of the worrying issues in Guyana such as crime, racism, domestic violence, bigotry, and suicide, among others.

“This is pretty intricate but certainly doable. It will be particularly challenging but I’m up for it,” he said and relatives and friends gathered to send him off with prayers and well wishes.

He departed from the International Language Institute in Queenstown at 6:30 A.M.

Having lived abroad for several years, Couchman wants to also use the journey to reconnect with the heart and soul of Guyana, that being the land on the one hand and the people on the other hand.

“It’s a truly beautiful country with benevolent people,” He added.

Couchman explained that the trip was not an adventure for him but said it is a way of also rediscovering himself.

“More importantly I want to use the walk to sensitize our national consciousness to a lot of the issues that we face here on a day to day basis… I am not saying anything but I am listening to people as I walk and interact with them,” he added.

“I will be walking along New Garden Street to High Street, turning on High Street through La Penitence in order to pass by Banks DIH Limited. Then I will continue on the East Bank road to the Demerara Harbor Bridge and cross the river en-route to Vreed-en-Hoop and Parika,” he explained.

Once he reaches Parika, Couchman will take the boat to the nearest footpath and continue his journey by land and sea.

He will pass through several Amerindian villages and settlements in the process.

Couchman had previously walked from Georgetown to Lethem in 23 days.

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