AMERINDIANS from indigenous communities across Guyana turned out in the hundreds recently braving the rain outside Public Buildings to protest the combined Opposition’s devastating $1.1B cut to the 2014 budgetary allocations to advance their development.Amerindian Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai, stood in solidarity with the protestors and told the media that the protest demonstration is a clear indication of the objections and anger at the cuts.
Summary of APNU, AFC cuts to Amerindian Budget:
• $796M provision for YEAP
• $12M for construction of village offices and multi-purpose buildings
• $5.6M for the purchase of sport gear, musical instruments
• $30M for implementation of drip irrigation systems and purchase of tractors
• $1.5M for eco-tourism programme
• $200M for 2014 Presidential Grants
• $5M for Secure Livelihood programme
• $4M for language revival programme
According to her, the disapproved allocations will affect not only young Amerindians, who contribute to the development of their communities, but also impact significantly on the socio-economic development of Guyana’s first people on a whole.
Last Thursday, the combined Opposition in the National Assembly, comprising the APNU and AFC, voted down $1.1B for the Amerindian Development Fund (ADF), $6M for rehabilitation of buildings, $13.5M for the purchase of boats and engines, $20M for the purchase of vehicles and motorcycles and $3M for the purchase of furniture and equipment – the entire capital budget of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs. Also