INDIGENOUS villages are now being outfitted with a framework aimed at ensuring that they are strategically positioned on a sustainable developmental path.The Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs over the weekend rolled out the Sustainable Development Agreement Framework (SDAF) in 27 villages in Region Nine (North Rupununi).

Meetings were held in Annai and Lethem which saw the Regional Chairman, Brian Allicock and Chairman of the National Toshao’s Council, Joel Fredericks attending both meetings.

Representation came from village councils, the National Toshao’s Council, community development officers, the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry, Conservation International Guyana and the World Wildlife Fund.

Under the Sustainable Development Framework, villages will be required to produce a long-term (10-year) Community Development Plan (CDP), where programmatic areas will be outlined, projects and targets will be prioritise based on the respective CDPs and an effective feedback mechanism employed.

Once that aspect is completed, an annual village plan will be produced, a stipulation in the Amerindian Act of 2006 and submitted to the Ministry and the Regional Executive Officer by May of each year so that same will be used to inform the annual national budget.

When approved by the National Assembly, the Ministry will then begin processing project documentation for respective village councils for the sums approved.

During the Lethem consultation, Project Coordinator in the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Jude Da Silva pointed to a number of challenges faced by villages in the development of their village plans and the implementation of the SDAF will create that enabling environment to curtail such inefficiencies within the villages and put them on a continuous developmental path.

“We have all the players coming together so that we can be able to put our resources in the right community for the right purpose so rather than somebody coming in giving you what is not in the plan then we will not be able to see much progress,” Da Silva added.

Meanwhile, partnering with the Ministry for this cause is Conservation International Guyana, whose mission is to demonstrate the very meaning of the word “partnership”.

Conservation Guyana Executive Director, Dr David Singh in briefing village leaders and other partners who attended the session, said “if we focus on our sustainable development, our green economic development, our low carbon economic development, we will in fact be helping ourselves not only because we will be developing sustainably, but we will be helping the world. So this whole framework is in meeting those goals. ”

REMAINS RESOLUTE

Dr Singh added that Conservation remains resolute in its efforts to assist the Ministry in effectively and efficiently executing the SDAF countrywide.

This strategic initiative was further augmented by Region Nine Regional Chairman, Brian Allicock who in no uncertain terms said “this framework that we are developing here together augers well not only for the villages but for the entire country…. We are not starting from the top and handing it down to you we are starting from the grass-root level so these things we are working out together is for that purpose and leaders are getting a better opportunity, they are being guided.”

A similar exercise will be conducted in Mainstay/Whyaka, Region Two shortly and that village’s Toshao Joel Fredericks has indicated that “I see the Sustainable Development Plan or framework is fitting in with what the NTC’s mandate is all about for every villages because in the past villages did projects but it wasn’t really structured like how the plan is catering for it, so I believe it is something good for every village.”

He added that “leaders come and leaders go and you might find that a new toshao coming with a new plan or vision the village can either develop or the rate of development can drop but when you have the sustainable development plan, a five or ten year plan, you can work with that and it is also good for the village because you don’t have to wait on the Ministry to Finance, their project they can look to other stakeholders so I see it is something very good.”

The WWF, which is also a partner in the implementation process, has already begun working with villages in the North Rupununi to develop their Community Development Plans.

Additionally, the SDAF also sets out to meet the 17 International Sustainable Development Goals which were adopted by world leaders just over a year ago and over the next 15 years those goals will apply to all countries.

Together, efforts will be made to combat ending all forms of poverty, fighting inequalities, and tackling climate change.