RESIDENTS of three Pomeroon River communities in Region Two recently met with the Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock, and a team from his ministry when visits were made to the predominantly Amerindian communities of Akawini, St. Monica and Wakapao during July 20-21.The visits were intended to give residents opportunity to discuss the issues affecting them, the Government Information Agency (GINA) has stated.

“This will help us to be able to work with you, be able to listen to you…. We are fixing anything that you decide upon together,” GINA quoted the Minister as saying.

Apart from the minister, the team comprised Region Two’s Regional Executive Officer (REO) Rupert Hopkinson; Chairman Devanand Ramdatt; Chairman of the National Toshaos Council (NTC), Joel Fredericks; Advisor to Minister Allicock, Mervyn Williams; Legal Advisor to the Minister, David James; and officials from the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs.

Minister Allicock said officials many times sit behind their desks and think they know the needs of the people, but it was important to him to get out to the people to know what’s going on in the villages.

He cited the need for a better working relationship among the communities, the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and Central Government.

And Fredericks called upon residents to have a vision for the development of their community. He said that working together is the only way development can be achieved.
The NTC Chairman said, “There will be no government that can address all of our issues…so that is where the village council comes in, and they must have plans.”

Regional Chairman Ramdatt told the residents that they are in good hands as the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs is working assiduously to effect development of indigenous communities.

Residents of Akawini, which has a population of about 1200 people, raised the issue of senior citizens not receiving their old age pension payments in a timely manner. They said the situation has become burdensome, since many depend on the money to survive.

The matter was addressed by the Regional Chairman, who assured residents that the RDC would find ways to ensure that officers visit the village and pay the pensions on time.

Barbara France, a resident and teacher of Akawini, raised concerns about transportation for students to get to and from school. “I am a widow and I have children going to Charity Secondary School, and I would also like to…have a secondary department here in Akawini,” France said.

The Regional Chairman responded by explaining, “We would have to have our technical people do a feasibility study, because we have also seen cases of schools being developed, but there were difficulties with the sustainable management.”

Wakapao, consisting of over 2000 residents, is one of the fastest growing indigenous villages. Its residents called for the development of the community’s roads.

The Minister’s Advisor, Mervyn Williams, explained that government is currently working to have construction of three bridges and a road in the community included in the 2017 National Budget.

Roxanne Williams, a Wakapoa resident, said: “The disabled people in my community are finding it difficult to travel, and they are not getting assistance; and I see this as a big issue in my community.”

Minister Allicock assured the resident that he would be looking into the matter, to make available a boat which can transport those who are differently-abled.

Wakapao is an Arawak village, and the minister said efforts would continue to revive the use of that language.

St. Monica, which also has a population of over 2000 residents, called upon government to provide trained teachers and have the primary school’s sanitary block and fence built.

Requests were also made for extension of the school and the health post, and for a solar panel for the latter.

All concerns and needs were noted by Minister Allicock, who explained that the residents’ proposals would be submitted for consideration in the 2017 National Budget. He said that considering there are 212 indigenous communities, not all their submissions would be addressed in the Indigenous Peoples Affairs’ budget. However, the Minister noted that due to the overlapping responsibilities by other ministries, all communities’ concerns would be addressed.

Additionally, Minister Allicock urged the toshaos from each village to be more engaged with the residents. They were advised that when problems arise, they should find ways of contacting the relevant officials to assist in resolving them.