A TEAM of officials and stakeholders from several Government agencies will soon visit Masakenari and Parabara villages in Region Nine to conduct a needs assessment.This is a follow-up to a meeting held between the toshaos of the villages and President David Granger on March 14, 2016.

In an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), Advisor to the Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Mervyn Williams, said that during the meeting between the President and the toshaos, at which he was present, several issues were discussed.

Some of these include the construction of a road, delivery of health care supplies, installation of Information Communication Technology (ICT) connections and hubs, and support for agriculture.

Williams said contact was made with the leaders, following their return to their villages, to discuss the next steps. Masakenari and Parabara are two communities that are close to Guyana’s bvorder with Brazil.

“We heard from Toshao Paul Chekema, and immediately following that, a meeting was convened and attended by representatives of various ministries with responsibility of doing the research and report; so we are on the road,” he said.

The Ministerial Advisor assured that Government will continue to work to address the needs of the country’s indigenous peoples.

“The intention now is to ensure that services are delivered and that the villages are no longer seen as being divorced from the rest of Guyana, but to be an integral part of the national fabric,” Williams added.

The team is currently working on scheduling a date for a visit to the communities for the assessments, following which a report will be prepared and presented to President Granger.