…in design for new Georgetown Hostel

THE Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs will be consulting the National Toshaos Council (NTC) on a new design for the Amerindian Hostel in Georgetown. This was announced by Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe.
The sum of $5M was allocated in the 2017 budget for consultancy and design of a modern hostel in Georgetown to accommodate the country’s indigenous peoples.

During her address to the toshaos on Thursday at the NTC conference, Minister Garrido-Lowe, who has responsibility for indigenous welfare, said, “Some suggestions from you would be very good…We want to have your input in the design of this facility, you are the ones who benefit from it, so you will be better able to say what is needed and what is not.”
At the event, indigenous leaders were at the time raising concerns about the current state of the facility. Minister Garrido-Lowe explained that the ministry was aware of the challenges residents at the hostel were facing and the ministry was working to address those issues.

“We realise that the facility is not up to standard and we will fix it to ensure you have a comfortable place to stay when you travel to Georgetown to seek medical attention or conduct business,” she noted.
The minister said that the shortage of food has been another troubling issue at the hostel, and urged nearby villages to submit proposals to provide traditional staples such as cassava bread and farine to the facility.

“As a Government, we care. We are not promising you and not delivering, we know some of the issues and we are working on them. Development takes time, but we are working as fast as we can to meet your needs,” Minister Garrido-Lowe assured the toshaos.