Government, , practicing participative democracy, Saturday visited several communities in Region Ten to inform residents of the Administration’s policies and programmes for further development of the country and their area, and to ascertain their needs and gather feedback.
Residents of Wiruni and neighbouring communities, including Wikki Calcuni, were engaged in an interactive meeting with the Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, at Wiruni Multipurpose Complex, where a number of pertinent issues were discussed.
Also in attendance at the meeting were Liaison Officer to the Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Norman Whittaker; Wiruni Toshao Rohan Fredericks; and Region Ten Assistant Regional Executive Officer, Devon Bremner.
Minister Sukhai highlighted that it has been several months since the presentation of the national budget and most projects earmarked are in progress; and as such Cabinet is visiting communities to establish whether citizens are satisfied with services provided.
Speaking on the development of Amerindian communities across Guyana, Minister Sukhai emphasised that Government has been dedicating resources towards the enhancement of the lives of Amerindians.
She observed that President Bharrat Jagdeo has demonstrated Government’s commitment to Amerindians through donating his financial reward of US$40,000 from the Champion of the Earth award from the United Nations Environmental Programme towards Amerindian development.
As part of Amerindian development, Government is encouraging the promotion of food security and transformation of village economies. Food is an important, scarce commodity, and as such Government is encouraging Amerindians to engage in sustainable farming practices.
Government will continue to support the transformation of village economies, but residents need to play an integral role in the process, Minister Sukhai noted. She highlighted that the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs has been engaging residents, but slow responses from communities are affecting meaningful development.
One such instance of slothfulness is the non-submission of Community Development Plans (CDPs) by many Amerindian communities. The creation and submission of CDPs are essential to the further development of village economies since they outline key developmental projects.
Minister Sukhai indicated that to aid the process, the Ministry created and distributed templates of a CDP to communities.

She noted that late submissions are causing setbacks for villages, and village management needs to be boosted. Minister Sukhai further noted that the President has given one month for the development plan to come on stream.
She indicated that $5m will be distributed to each community for the financing of the plan.
Another initiative by Government to aid the development of Amerindian communities is the issuance of Presidential grants. Minister Sukhai noted that some villages are late in uplifting the grants which is contributing to slow development.
She highlighted that Government provides $160M every year for the expedition of projects and that Wiruni is one of the communities that is yet to uplift its 2009 grant.
Amerindian communities are governed by the Amerindian Act, and as such, leaders as well as villagers, should learn about the Act. Minister Sukhai noted that the only way communities will successfully address issues in their communities is if they work within the legislative framework.
She highlighted that some villages do have weaknesses with respect to governance and Government is prepared to work with them.

Ownership of land has enabled Amerindian communities to benefit from many developmental initiatives. Minister Sukhai noted that Government has pledged to accelerate its land demarcation process. To date the Ministry has demarcated 70 villages, with only 26 remaining. Five are being demarcated, six will be embarked upon, and 12 are ready for titling.
Interaction with the residents revealed that there is a desire for the construction of a secondary school in Wiruni. Residents noted that although there are secondary schools available to children, they will prefer one within their district, as this will allow them closer access to their children and readily available parental guidance.
Fredericks noted that students are utilizing daily the boat the President gave to them.
Another issue of concern raised by citizens was the non-distribution of National Identification Cards by GECOM in the area, although Whittaker had spoken to the Commission on the matter.