ONE of the major givens of any national election campaign is that it gives respective contesting party leaders the opportunity to visit their country in a holistic manner, as no other occasion would provide.

Of course, it is about outlining their individual party’s socio-economic development programmes, while at the same time canvassing for the important political support and votes that are so vital for either retention of office or being elected for the first time.
But these on-the-spot campaign visits also offer a very unique opportunity for observing the socio-economic conditions by which citizens exist on a daily basis. It is these socio-environmental dynamics that would be very critical in influencing the formulation of essential policies for improving the lives of affected citizens when these leaders and parties are elected to office.

Undoubtedly, one of the most informing experiences of then leader of the coalition–A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (AFC)–was his first-hand view of the abject circumstances under which our indigenous peoples lived. What he observed during his numerous campaign tours were conditions that were less than desirable for any human category, much less Guyana’s first people, who deserved a better existence than the one they have had to lead for most of their historical experience.

As of recent time, for all of the billions that the former PPP/C administration did purport to have spent on hinterland socio-economic development projects, indigenous livelihood, in relation to community self-sufficiency, sustainability and livelihood, were at best far from desirable. Too many communities were still doing the traditional cassava and cassareep production without any agro-processing input that could have taken advantage of the grand opportunities for agricultural crops production and value added marketing, and dairy farming initiatives.

In fact, too many indigenous communities were still without the main props of modernity: good roads and bridges for connectivity, especially in such a vast geographic space that become impassible during the rainy season; and potable water. There were still too few schools; and this was further exacerbated by transportation difficulties for children having to travel distances to school, many of them barefoot.

In essence, the hinterland was nowhere near the coastal areas, in terms of even having basic public service amenities. It was these vivid examples of criminal neglect throughout hinterland communities that have informed the Granger administration’s approach to socio-economic programmes for hinterland development.

For example, the Five Bs programme of boots, buses, books, bicycles, and boats, although benefitting many coastal communities, have been a timely, strategic intervention in remedying the challenge of ensuring that children in indigenous communities are supported in their quest for education. The boats and buses have been enabling indigenous children to commute from their homes to school, and back, with the most recent being a bus given to the Santa Rosa Secondary School for transporting its students.

However, the recent UNICEF Study on Indigenous Women and Children, although underlining the still many challenges which face hinterland communities and their citizens, also co-incidentally give credence and vindication to the Granger administration’s Hinterland Development plan.

Prominent were the issues surrounding registration of births, already being remedied by the Ministry of Citizenship through the General Registrar’s Office (GRO) which has been providing registration services in at least two hinterland regions which have resulted in Birth Certificates being issued to those persons. Mentioned also, were the low percentage in the number of hinterland children making the transition from primary to secondary school as well as their completion.

Already, under the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) component of the administration’s programme for hinterland communities, Amerindian youths are being trained in skills for employment, rather than being paid a stipend for propaganda work, as was formerly done under the past government. This can only redound to their personal development, and that of the community.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hubs have been established across the country over the past year; the hinterland has benefited from 18 so far and the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) intends to shift its focus to establish 212 hubs in the hinterland communities.

Additionally, the visionary concept of capital towns is already taking shape with the establishment of radio stations. The Government considers connecting communities in the hinterland as vital to improving people’s lives and creating more opportunities for them, and has already connected many communities in Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region Nine), through the establishment of Radio Lethem, Barima-Waini, (Region One) with Radio Maburama, Radio Mahdia, Potaro-Siparuni (Region Eight), Radio Bartica in Cuyuni-Mazaruni (Region Seven) , Radio Aishalton in Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region 9) and recently Radio Orealla in East Berbice (Region 6).

Indigenous people and their communities are on a trajectory path of development which will not only have the effect of elevating them from mere political conveniences to economically viable regions, but will also enable them to be informed of important national affairs of concern to every region, and their role as a region in national development.
Agriculture is slated to play a pre-eminent role in hinterland growth and development. Through this notable economic earner, communities will be able to acquire self-sufficiency through large scale agriculture farming. As evidenced with agro-processing facility established in Region One for the Hosororo Turmeric Factory, the Pakaraima Flavours Sundried Tomato Project of Region Eight has seen the establishment of the first modern sun-drying, post-harvest facility in hinterland Guyana; introduction of the first organised, commercial, organic, farming of tomatoes in the Pakaraimas under a cooperative structure; development of the first commercial Sundried Tomato Salad Dressings and Sundried Tomato Ketchup and establishment of the first modern food plant to do so.
There are also dairy farming and aquaculture initiatives underway. These will not only bring economic activity in the form of sustained economic development to hinterland regions, but will also elevate both the social and economic stock of indigenous citizens, through employment and self-employed ownership.

The UNICEF study did allude to other systemic challenges which on the surface are of a cultural nature. Of course, in their present form, they can be hindrances to the advancement of hinterland communities and their citizens. They further underline the mammoth work which has to be undertaken in advancing socio-educational programmes of an awareness type, with a view of enhancing individual development and understanding of roles in both social self- development and that of the community.

The current Hinterland Development Programmes, in their specified form, are designed to remedy the very challenges to which the UNICEF study has alluded. For it is time that indigenous people and their communities be given every opportunity as their coastal fellow Guyanese, to realise their dream and potential as a segment of the national family, capable of every achievement. They are now being empowered to that effect.