– Minister Sukhai during panel discussion
AMERINDIAN Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai, during a broadcast on the National Communication Network (NCN), pointed out that the 2011 national budget reflects government’s commitment towards enhancing social and economic development.
She added that while it cuts across race, religion and locations, it is an all inclusive budget which focuses on various components of national development and social cohesion. Amerindian development
Minister Sukhai said that through the implementation of special programmes to foster development, Amerindians were provided in 2010 with opportunities to address their needs and further foster development.
She added that the ministry last year was successful in implementing its programmes. As it relates to the National Secure Livelihood Programme, 200 farmers in 15 communities benefitted.
Of the $31M allocated to the ministry, farmers also benefitted from the establishment of farms and the training to further boost capacity-building. In this regard, farmers were trained to better manage crops, cultivation and pest control.
“We also shared technologies in terms of value-added products, while buildings were constructed for ginger production, crabwood cream and oil production,” the minister added.
According to the Amerindian Affairs Minister, equipment was also acquired to assist in the processing aspect to better enhance hinterland agriculture.
The Secure Livelihood Programme (SLP), which was launched in 2009, is aimed at working with individuals and farmers’ group to provide technical training to farmers to make them astute in terms of market realities. This will empower farmers against middle-men.

Educational opportunities
The Hinterland Scholarship Programme has been significantly boosted as large sums continue to be injected by government to prepare particularly the youths for a technologically-advanced future.
A significant development was the commissioning of a $94.5M dormitory at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, which has the capacity to house approximately 160 hinterland students.

Improving village economies
Government has been working assiduously to ensure that additional support is provided to Amerindians, to develop the economic aspect of village life. Minister Sukhai said that 134 project proposals were received and these will commence shortly.
“We have selected 100 priority projects and so we see there is going to be a full year for Amerindian development; and this again strikes the button that the PPP and all its manifesto promises have materialized over the last five years,’ she said.
Approximately, 100 projects will also commence shortly in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine.

Land demarcation
The issue of land demarcation was also emphasised by the minister who pointed out that this is nearing completion, while the issue of extensions will be addressed shortly.
Thirty-six communities have applied for extensions and eight have been addressed by the ministry, while the remaining 28 will be looked at this year.
“I think we have had a very productive year in addressing the irritants that are affecting Amerindians, in health, education, water and agriculture. There has also been much support presented to them during the crisis caused by the La Nina and El Nino weather conditions,” she said. (GINA)