The Tapir is a vehicle named after the Tapir animal perhaps due to its appearance and sturdiness. The Tapir was forged through the late president Burnham’s push for greater self sufficiency. Although some components were imported, the Tapir was Guyana’s first attempt to produce its own automobile in the 70s and 80s.
President Burnham’s vision for Guyanese to produce more and import less was grounded in sound economic policies, but it was enforced in an impractical, inhumane, and brutal manner that resulted in economic stagnation, food shortages, contraband activities, and mass migration. While the dream for self-sufficiency might have been grounded in good intentions, it was not, in my opinion, suitable for a country as small and poorly industrialized as Guyana was at that time.
It is not clear why, but the Tapir can mostly be found in the upper Corentyne area in Region 6 of Guyana, South America. Although a few tapirs still ply the roads of the upper Corentyne area, due to the prolific importation of more modern automobiles, a prototype of the Tapir might be archived in the national museum as a relic of Guyana’s post independence struggle for self reliance.
So, what do you know about the Tapir? Tell us in the comments.
