AMERINDIAN Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai yesterday donated an outboard engine, sports gear and garden facilities to the Wikki Calcuni Amerindian community in Region 10, and to the Mainstay/Whyaka community in Region 2 (Pomeroon Supenaam). The presentation was made during the Amerindian Ministry’s annual Christmas Luncheon, held at the Hostel in Princes Street, Werk-en- Rust, Georgetown, where the mood was most festive as Minister Sukhai handed over the items.  

The boat engine and a brush cutter were handed over to Wikki Calcuni Village Toshao, Anil Wilson, while Toshao Joel Fredericks of Mainstay Whyaka received the farming implements and a quantity of cricket gear.

Minister Sukhai noted that the boat engine would assist community transportation and provide basic equipment to keep areas clean. She asked villagers to take special care of the equipment so that it might last them for some time; and said they can do private jobs with the engine in order to receive fees to pay drivers and assist in purchasing gas, but she cautioned that exorbitant fees must not be charged for those jobs.

Minister Sukhai specifically told Joel Fredericks that his agriculture-producing village would benefit from the gifts received. She said the use of those tools would develop the agriculture sector, and the young population living there would be energised with the sporting gear.

Each toshao thanked the minister for the gifts received for his respective village; but Toshao Wilson said he was excited to receive the sporting gear for the youths of his village, because they can form a club/team and arrange a competition next year.

He noted that his is a small community with a total population of approximately 220 persons, whose main occupations are farming, logging and selling lumber.  

Besides the donations, the minister distributed gifts, including cosmetics’ hampers, to the patients at the hostel.