By Margaret Burke
NEVER have we seen economic and developmental activity taking place on the scale we are seeing today in the hinterland of Guyana. When the government came to power in 2015, it faced many challenges when it came to the interior: Restricted access to quality education, poor supply of reliable electricity, and a lack of job opportunities.

Its success in developing critical infrastructure across the hinterland in the past four years has been remarkable. It is not only the progress that has been made, but the presence of a clear and demonstrable plan for development that bodes well for the people living in the hinterland. For the first time in almost three decades, Guyana is now seeing both the political and developmental will to address the disparities that exist across the country, and a push towards true unity, a view that all Guyanese should have equal access to services and resources.

The importance of this cannot be overstated; attention is being paid to addressing the structural issues that have restricted economic and social development across huge swathes of the country. The country cannot seriously provide job creation, business growth, and better public services until government has taken steps to address the challenges around infrastructure.

On Monday, President Granger celebrated his birthday by opening a new Hinterland Student Dormitory at Liliendaal, on the East Coast Demerara. This $186M state-of-the-art facility will give approximately 180 students in 16 apartments accommodation to study in the nation’s capital.

Many are currently pursuing higher education at the University of Guyana (UG), the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), the Government Technical Institute (GTI), the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), The Carnegie School of Home Economics, the E.R Burrowes School of Art and the Guyana Industrial Training Centre (GITC), among others institutions. For decades, hinterland students attending tertiary institutions were being housed at the Indigenous residence on Princes Street, or at the Secondary Student Dormitory at Liliendaal. However, with more and more young people benefitting from hinterland scholarships, the need for accommodation became even greater.

The coalition government of the APNU+AFC has stated very clearly that job creation is first and foremost on its agenda. Education remains the best means of helping prepare our young people for employment, and a better quality of life. Investment in critical teaching facilities will assist in bridging the gap between the Hinterland and the Coastland.

The 2019 Budget’s expenditure was detailed to ensure that there is full support for education and training, and that no community within the hinterland escapes this blueprint. It is for this reason that the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) programme received a government intervention worth $176.1M. This programme allows for hinterland youth to launch their micro-enterprises into vibrant economic activities. Another $89.4M was set aside to support the education and training of hinterland people.

As part of that programme, 33,908 students attending schools within the interior are being provided with uniforms and transportation. This act will serve to alleviate some of the hardships, thereby bridging the education gap between the hinterland and coastland. The Hinterland ‘Green’ Enterprise Development Centre at Bina Hill is being constructed at a cost of $200M, and, when completed, will accommodate and train 120 youths annually.

These young people will not come from the hinterland alone, but also from across the country. In addition, just recently, the President, in an interview with young Bishops High School (BHS) student, Shania Madramuthu expressed the view that instead of just five top schools, there will, in time, be 10 top schools, one for every administrative region in Guyana. He said that he would like to see children not having to come away from their respective regions and being separated from their families, just to get a better quality of education.

President Granger also stated that the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) should not be used as a way of labeling children as ‘bright’ and ‘dull’.

Calling it a stigma, he noted that the government is working on changing this situation, one in which there is “…the basis of equality; a more egalitarian society.” He added that there should be no distinction between the coastland and hinterland; between rich and poor; among ethnic groups; or between genders. He urged that all these be erased. He noted that the hinterland, as well as rural communities, have also seen much use of 5Bs Initiative, along with the construction of new and renovated schools, generally improving the environment of over 100 schools across the country.

The hinterland was neglected under the previous government, with little effort to make these communities economically self-sufficient. Since 2015, there have been real efforts to help grow businesses and increase employment. Business registration hubs have been established in Regions One, Five, Six, Eight, Nine and Ten to make it easier to start companies. The government is also working towards the launch of the Lethem, Region Nine and Belvedere, Region Six Industrial Development Projects that are designed to help companies grow in these areas, through the provision of business space, training, as well as advisory services in marketing, and legal and finance matters.

The government has also looked to help develop small community-based enterprise schemes. These range from the establishment of a $10M agro-processing facility in Maruranau, at Bina Hill, in Region Nine, to support fruit farms at Paruima (in Region Seven), Santa Cruz (in Region One) and a Lapidary at Monkey Mountain (in Region Nine), with the government providing between $3-5M in funding to help them increase their output.
Also, as part of the Hinterland Development programme, there is focus on diversifying the local economies away from agriculture, with the allocation of some $1B in funding for projects in 154 hinterland communities and villages. These projects, which are now underway, include village business enterprise, village infrastructure, agricultural production and processing, manufacturing, tourism and transportation. Products such as the recently-launched SAK purple potato drink, Rupununi Essence, Pakaraima Flavours, Sundried Tomato Ketchup and Salad Dressing are merely some items now on the market.

Many of the young people from the HEYS project are now utilising their skills in these projects.
Guyana has always been touted as the ‘bread basket’ of the Caribbean, and can also fulfil needs globally. However, in the past, many of these hinterland farmers struggled to get their produce to market due to poor transport systems, particularly during the rainy season. Under this government, there has been increased maintenance of 350km (217 miles) of major access roads and bridges in remote Indigenous communities, whether it be the Linden-Lethem highway, so essential to access to the interior; smaller roads in places such as Amokokopai-Phillipai (Region Nine) and St. Deny’s-Tapakuma (Region Two); or the construction of a $13.5M timber bridge at Papaya (Region One).

Greater electrification of the interior is vital for economic development. Initiatives like the Power Utility Programme has already benefitted Port Kaituma, Moco Moco, Lethem and St. Ignatius, with installation, extension and upgrade of the power distribution networks in these communities. Construction of a 400kW solar energy farm, and a 20kW hydropower plant at Hosororo Hill will also help supply electricity to hinterland towns such as Mabaruma.

A $101M electrification programme was added to the developmental plans in the hinterland, a programme which seeks to aid in the continuation and extension of electricity to Orealla, Kwakwanu, Siparuta and Waramouri among other communities. **Across Guyana, more than 100,000 people have had access to clean drinking water for the first time. The Hinterland has received particular attention, where there is a continued effort to increase the number of water wells, with additional sites helping 200 Indigenous communities.
The government has also embarked on a $100M Hinterland Sustainable Housing Programme, which is realising the construction of 115 subsidised housing units and 45 roof and water catchment system subsidies in Regions One and Nine. Four radio stations at the cost of $150M were made available to hinterland residents recently. These will allow for the disseminating of faster and more reliable information-sharing in the respective native languages. These four radio stations are in addition to stations already there, such as Radio Mabaruma, Radio Lethem, and Radio Paiwomak.

All of these improvements to basic infrastructure will ensure a better quality of life for these hinterland communities. Without a reliable electricity supply or good quality roads, there is no chance of providing the jobs that will ensure these communities can provide for themselves. This government came to power with a plan that continues to deliver for all Guyanese, particularly those in the interior, who experienced two decades of neglect under the previous administration.

Much has been done since 2015; this government has dramatically improved the lives and lot of hinterland areas in a short space of time. There is still much more to be done, but, judging by the government’s track record, we can be sure that President Granger and his team will continue to deliver for these communities and the rest of Guyana.