AMERINDIAN Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai met with a contingent of 18 Region Nine students and two teachers yesterday morning at that ministry’s offices at Quamina and Thomas Streets prior to their tour of the ministry. Coming from the riverine villages of Rewa, Apoteri and Crash Water, this contingent travelled to Georgetown yesterday morning for a tour of the city, making their first stop at the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, where Minister Sukhai spoke with them.
“It is important that the young students become acquainted and aware of the work of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, and it is always a pleasure to have students from the hinterland and from our village schools visit us,” the minister said.
She said the ministry provides services in various fields, and that she was very happy to be a part of a team which works to address the issues and concerns of the country’s first peoples.
Minister Sukhai explained to the contingent that the Amerindian Affairs Ministry consists of various departments, including the Projects department which looks after the various programmes that the ministry executes, such as the Presidential Grant Programme. That department is currently planning the execution of the Community Development Project.
Minister Sukhai spoke about Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), under which Guyana has committed funds to address the transformation of the village economy.
“Every Amerindian village, hinterland community and settlement will be benefiting under Guyana’s Low Carbon Development strategy,” she said.
The minister said that, as they grow up, the students should aspire to be productive, engaging, energetic and ambitious young people.
“I do hope that, among you, some of you will one day aspire to be toshao of your village, and you will be able to serve your people and make a very (substantial) contribution to village development and your people’s security and livelihood,” she related.
She also told the delegation that if the students perform exceedingly well at the National Grade Six Assessment exams, they can be awarded hinterland scholarships to come to Georgetown to attend school.
According to the minister, a tour similar to this one is conducted every year, but was done this year to have participants visit closer to the launching of Amerindian Heritage Month. She noted that the contingent would participate in the inter-faith service and the grand launch of the Heritage Month, and said she hopes they have time to visit the exhibition, where they can see the arts and craft made by indigenous groups.
The minister said the art “tells the story of our people. Understanding our culture, practising it and embracing it help us to retain our identity as an important part of Guyana’s first people.”
She expressed hope that the contingent would aspire to learn the dances, sing in their own languages, and learn to love art and culture.
Some of the students from Rewa sang their village song for the minister, while those from Apoteri and Crash Water sang their school song.