At National Toshaos Council Meeting
Arrangements for the implementation of the National Hinterland Secure Livelihood Programme for Amerindian Communities are gaining momentum, Minister of Amerindian Affairs Ms Pauline Sukhai said last week.

This disclosure was made on the eve of the biennial National Toshaos Council Meeting which starts today at the International Conference Centre at Liliendaal East Coast Demerara.

Minister Sukhai disclosed that the $88M budgeted by Government has been released for the programme which aims at developing economic activities and improving the livelihoods of Amerindian Communities countrywide .

Minister Sukhai had earlier explained that the Secure Livelihood program is part of a new focus which her Ministry had been developing over the last couple of months, a focus to support and encourage Amerindian leaders and the communities to begin to seriously address community development.

Minister Sukhai had earlier described the programme as a very significant one which was the first step in providing one sub-region and 15 communities with resources to move ahead in the transformation of their economies.

The Ministry has already placed specialists in Region One (Barima/Waini) sub-region Mabaruma, where this programme will kick off

The team includes an aquaculturist, an agriculturalist, a pest control specialist, a food technologist, marketing and finance specialists, a project management and networking specialist, and a business development specialist.

The experts will be looking directly at supporting communities in developing enterprises that are unique to the sub-region, that have a good comparative advantage in that region.

They are already working in the field with 15 communities and others are expected to join them.

She said last week that the volunteers have all been placed in the Mabaruma Sub Region and they have been actively meeting with stakeholders, including the residents of the Region and primarily the Amerindian Councils.

She disclosed that Ministry had begun procurement to support the various components of this strategy which includes development of sectors such as aquaculture , handicraft , crab fattening and adding value to products like ginger, peanuts, and passion fruit.

The program is expected to last two years, during which the specialists will be working with the communities to ensure that whatever venture is established is sustainable.

She had emphasized too that young people in the targeted communities would be attached to the specialists to enable them to develop related skills.

She had said that the objective is in accord with the low carbon development strategy being presented by President Bharrat Jagdeo.

The National Hinterland Secure Livelihood Programme will be a major item on the agenda of the National Toshaos Council Meeting starting today at the Guyana International Conference Centre at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.