…addresses community development and social concerns

Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai, Government Officials and Region One residents travelling to Lower Koriabo.

RESIDENT of Mabaruma Sub Region were given the opportunity to interact with Government Officials and provide feedback when a team led by Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai visited several communities including Hobodia, Hotoquai, Sacred Heart, St. Dominic, Yarakita, Arukamai and Lower Koriabo during the period May 15 through 19.

The team comprising Member of Parliament Donald Ramotar, Hinterland Coordinator of the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development Harripersaud Nokta and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health Hydar Ally addressed various concerns raised by the residents.

Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai and other Government and Regional Officials on their way to visit riverain communities.

Minister Sukhai highlighted some of the social developments in those areas which include health facilities and personnel. She also disclosed that the Ministry is in the process of compiling a database of communication means.

ELECTRICITY
The Amerindian Affairs Minister told residents of Yarakita that they are among the seven recipients of one of Government’s pilot programme, the Unserved Areas Electricity Programme (UAEP) which provides operating solar system power. Some of the other areas are Muritaro in Region Ten and Capoey in Region Two.

Minister Pauline Sukhai speaking with specialists at Hosororo. Among them are a food technologist, a business development officer and an aquaculture specialist.

The project which was funded by the Inter- American Development Bank (IDB), if successful, will influence Government’s decision as to whether they would seek more funding to expand it in the future. However, Government would have to provide financial resources to move the programme forward and as such there is no guarantee as to when it will be extended to all the villages.

Minister Sukhai observed that the communities that benefited from the (UAEP) seem to be enjoying the solar power and this could be examined further as those projects take off.

She added that Government expects to acquire 1000 solar units that would be used to provide minimum electricity to some homes. She said that the possibility of assigning these units to homes in some of the villages will be examined. The units will not be able to power appliances but will provide light for approximately four hours for each community which will benefit the children by extending their study time.

The new Yarakita Primary school, Region One.

BIRTH CERTIFICATES
Addressing the issue of the lack of birth certificates, Minister Sukhai said that approximately 400 were sent in to the Region and these are being checked and collated to be forwarded to the Toshaos for distribution.

Minister Sukhai explained that her Ministry depends on the General Registrar’s Office for assistance where the birth certificates are processed, and the Ministry is aggressively pursuing the issue.

HEALTH
Permanent Secretary Hydar Ally told the residents of the strides made in the health sector. He said for instance in maternal health care, deaths have reduced to such a level that it is even better in the Eastern Caribbean.

In Region One the malaria eradication programme is a huge success and these and other developments have all been made possible through the efforts of the Government.

Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health Hydar Ally speaking at a meeting at the Sacred Heart Primary School, Region One.

Ally also visited the Mabaruma Hospital and the nurses’ hostel where construction is ongoing.

EDUCATION
Yarakita one of the villages that was visited by the team is also the recipient of a new primary school which contributes to improved literacy among children in that community.

Member of Parliament Ramotar emphasized that Government has trained a lot of teachers who are occupying leading positions in their schools. However, there are still some difficulties in certain areas where residents complained that some teachers are absenting themselves from school for long periods. He assured that the issue will be raised with the Ministry of Education so as to ensure that the children do not suffer because of the absence of teachers.

The well being of children in hinterland schools will be given more attention as $710M was allocated to the national school feeding programme to benefit students from Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine.

The school feeding programme has brought about a marked difference in the attendance rate by about 5 to 10 percent as more children attend school especially in hinterland areas.

Residents turn out in their numbers to listen to a team of Government officials, led by Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai at a meeting at the Hosororo Primary School

HINTERLAND AGRICULTURE
The team also provided an update on the Secure Livelihood Programme that is slated for that Region.

Minister Sukhai stated that the Ministries of Amerindian Affairs and Agriculture and the Voluntary Services Overseas (VSOs) of Guyana are coordinating with a number of specialists who will be placed in the region to assist the 15 communities in the Mabaruma sub-region to benefit from specialists and experts’ skills.

She explained that the specialists will provide services to the 15 communities and even beyond. Services provided by specialists in enterprise development, finance and marketing along with a food technologist will be available to the residents in those communities to enable them to better market their products in a way that they will be adequately compensated.

Region One residents

The combined team’s visit covered more than 15 communities in Barima, Aruau, Aruka, and Koriabo Rivers in Region One. They also visited and met with villagers of Kamwatta, Whitewater, Wauna, Wauna Hill/Tobago, Almond Beach and Lower Aruka villages.
The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs during the visit also convened a seminar at Hosororo which involved community leaders and residents from the surrounding communities. (A GINA feature)