-gradually transforming hinterland lives and communities

 A GINA FEATURE
ALTHOUGH the general living conditions of Guyanese had deteriorated during the 28 years of the People’s National Congress (PNC) regime, and such had warranted immediate attention when the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) assumed office on that momentous occasion in 1992, it is fair to say that no other segment of Guyana deserved it more than the Amerindians.

It was a fact long recognised by Dr. Cheddi Jagan prior to his election as President, and had formed part of his campaign promise of correcting the historical wrongs of utter neglect and discrimination suffered for decades by our indigenous peoples and their communities.
Whether due to difficult geographic terrain and/or remoteness of Amerindians and their communities, these ought not to have been the reasons, often inferred, for the manner in which the nation’s First People had been treated. It is well documented that up to this period, that there was an abysmal lack of social and economic infrastructure throughout Amerindian communities. Take for instance education: there was a high incidence of absenteeism and dropouts among Amerindian children due to the far distances they had to travel to schools, and the non-existence of schools in their immediate locales. With respect to health, there were issues, such as malaria, malnutrition, water borne diseases, while diarrhoeal problems were endemic. This was compounded by the absence of medical facilities in most areas.

Amerindian Affairs Ministry

Among the first Cabinet offices to be established on the PPP/C’s ascension to government was the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs. This Ministry was adequately funded, and is responsible for the execution of the many socio-economic Hinterland Development Programmes that were specifically designed to usher in a new life for Amerindians and their communities.
These programmes, because of the consequences of dire neglect, experienced for so long by these people, were specifically tailored to suit the circumstances, but with the long-term goal of closing the socio-economic gap between hinterland communities and the coastland.
Any understanding of Amerindian development must begin with the dynamic Hinterland Scholarship Programme that can be described as the flagship of Amerindian development. This facility, now adequately funded, and supported by the hostel at Liliendaal for housing students away from their communities, affords students exposure to secondary, technical and tertiary education. This initiative has so far benefitted more than 600 persons at a

cost in excess of $750M, and has helped produced doctors, nurses, midwives, medex, engineers, teachers, IT specialists, agriculture scientists, who after their initial training return to their respective communities to serve their people, while sharing their acquired skills. There are also Amerindians in Cuba on scholarships, ranging from medicine to information technology.
There is now double the increase in entrants from the hinterland communities into the Cyril Potter College of Education that has impacted on the number of poorly trained and unqualified teachers. There is also the Guyana Basic Education Training (GBET) that has to date via distance learning, trained in excess of 1,500 teachers and over 500 headteachers in Regions 1, 7, 8 and 9. This is especially remarkable, given the fact that there was just a single school in Region 9 prior to 1992.

Health

It is well known that access to health care services and delivery of such, posed an acute crisis throughout Amerindian communities, due to their scarcity.
Kumaka and Mabaruma now have newly built multi-million dollar hospitals, whilst the strategically located Lethem Hospital Complex is outfitted with modern equipment and facilities, including operating theatres, in-patient and out-patient facilities, pharmacy and a laboratory. There are now new health centres, where none had previously existed, staffed with adequate medical personnel in every hinterland area, that offer health care services. There is also a roving team of surgeons that perform operations throughout hinterland communities.

Electrification
This component of Amerindian socio-economic development is part of the Unserved Areas Electrification Project (UAEP). This priority has already started to realise Government’s plan to provide clean and renewable energy to Amerindian communities throughout the hinterland. It is one of six priority areas in accordance with the climate services agreement concluded with Norway.

So far, 11,000 fully fitted solar home panels have been distributed to Amerindian households in 135 communities. More systems will be supplied to ensure those who haven’t benefitted are catered for.
Each village has trained persons who are responsible for the management and maintenance of their respective systems.

Water
Residents in hinterland areas are now receiving potable water, made possible because of the visionary Ten–Year Strategy (2001-2012). Gone are the shallow wells, the traditional manner of hinterland water source. With an investment of $500M in hinterland projects that extend from Regions 1 to 10, there are now water trestles, bore holes, PV systems, elevated water storage facilities, hand pumps and rain water catchment.
Also, over 100 multimillion dollars of new sources of water have been constructed at Mabaruma settlement in Region 1; Laluni and St. Cuthbert’s Mission in Region 4; Moraikobai in Region 5; Orealla in Region 6; Mahdia in Region 8; Bina Hill(Annai); Fairview, Massara, Apoteri, Karasabai and Potarinau in Region 9. Similar systems have also been installed at Hotoquai in Region 1; and Riverview and Kartabo in Region 7.

Roads
Travelling through hinterland communities has always been extremely difficult because of the geographically tough terrain along which hinterland residents have had to traverse. This is further compounded by the traditional rainy season that renders many areas impassable. This explains why Government has invested billions of dollars in this project, so that increased connectivity via quality roads for improved transportation can be realised throughout the hinterland. This has created over 600 miles of roads within the interior that has allowed for linkage among several points such as Santa Rosa to Kwebanna Road, and also that from Aishalton to Waramuri. This has resulted in the communities of Matthews Ridge and Baramita now linked, thus reducing transportation costs. This development has reduced travelling time between the two locales to one and one half hours, instead of the former four hours. Also, residents from the surrounding areas now travel from Baramita to Matthews Ridge for medical treatment.

Community Development Plans
The Community Development Plans form an important component in the development process that seeks to create self-sufficiency within hinterland communities. It is very innovative because of the collective methodology among residents that is employed towards consensual agreement on socio-economic projects.

This initiative underlines the democracy that now exists within Amerindian communities, through which residents determine and chart their communities’ socio-economic advancement.
Already, 27 communities are in the process of implementing their approved projects. This vehicle for Amerindians is funded through the Amerindian Development Fund (ADF).