TOSHAOS in over 20 Amerindian communities in the Rupununi, Region Nine had their long awaited requests for assistance from the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs granted on April 23 corresponding with a visit of President Bharrat Jagdeo at St Ignatius. The assistance included tractor trailers, harrows, plows, sewing machines, laptops chainsaws, one solar panel, outboard engine, motorcycle radio set and microscope.
Among the villages benefiting were Rupertee, Parabara, Shulinab, Kwatata, Kumu, Annai, Karasabai, Shiriri, Sand Creek and Masakanari.
The presentations were made by Presidential Candidate of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Donald Ramotar and Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai to the Toshaos from the various villages.
In an invited comment, Ramotar told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that capacity building is the main objective behind the initiative, particularly in the area of transportation of goods and services.
During the meeting with President Jagdeo earlier, the Toshaos were told of initiatives undertaken by the administration to install solar panels in all homes, the setting up of computer training hubs in every village and the coming of the  newly-launched learning channel.
A massive infrastructure project valued at approximately $600M is underway to fix the main road to Lethem and connect Region Eight to Nine. Four different contractors are at present working simultaneously on the project and renovation of all the bridges on the trail is also on the cards.
President Jagdeo explained that the project has a two-fold objective of improving access to the Rupununi and improve the lives of Amerindians who have been facing challenges as a result of the absence of such services.
He reaffirmed Government’s commitment to supporting the indigenous population in Guyana with an ultimate goal of redressing some of the wrongs that historically have been done to them.