…cultural activities to receive $210M boost

IN recent months, 22 hinterland villages have completed their sustainable village improvement plans, and in the months ahead another 31 villages are expected to complete their plans, a task which will see them benefiting through technical and financial support in the long term from the government.

“These plans are intended to encourage economic activities, while promoting sustainable use, protection and conservation of village lands,” Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan told the National Assembly on Monday during the 2019 National Budget presentation.
Jordan said that the government has prioritised development of hinterland regions as reflected in the increased investments in infrastructure, education and health. These interventions will directly and indirectly impact the lives of our hinterland people, the finance minister noted.

He said that under the APNU+AFC government, emphasis will continue to be placed on preservation of the indigenous peoples‘culture. He reminded parliamentarians that government has contributed $203 million in 2018 to support indigenous peoples ‘cultural celebrations.

Next year, government will contribute $210M to sustain the hinterland people‘s festivities and the events include the Heritage Pageant, the annual Rupununi Rodeo, the Rupununi Music and Arts Festival and the Upper Mazaruni District games.
Minister Jordan reported that in 2017 and 2018, a sum of $178.9M was expended on support to the education and training of persons from the hinterland. He said in 2019, the government will continue to support this initiative by contributing over $89.4M in support of the venture.

“This includes provision for uniforms and transportation,” Jordan said, as he noted that the intervention will directly impact the lives of 33,908 hinterland students as government continues to bridge the gap between coastal and hinterland access to quality education.
Jordan said too that more monies have been budgeted to complete ongoing projects in the Hinterland. This includes the flagship Hinterland Green Enterprise Development Centre, at Bina Hill, Annai in the Rupununi, which he noted will be completed in 2019.

He reported that two dormitories have been completed and are expected to house 120 students at the institution. He said too that a food processing facility will be built at Bina Hill. “This facility will conduct the post-harvest processing of the famous purple potato and other nutritional tubers like yam,” Jordan reported. He said that the research entity, the Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (IAST), will provide assistance in training residents in the utilisation of the technical machinery as well as conduct further processing into value-added products.

Jordan told the National Assembly that the initiatives will impact the development of the area, including nearby communities. “With the empowerment and skills transfer programmes, we can expect products coming out of this area to be ready for the local market,” Jordan said. He noted that the recently launched SAK purple potato drink has joined a growing list of authentic indigenous products like Rupununi Essence, Pakaraima Flavours, Sundried Tomato Ketchup and Salad dressing. The products can be found on the shelves of supermarkets across the city.

Between 2016 and 2018, a sum of $2.3 billion was provided in support the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) programme and a total of 2,054 small businesses were established and managed by hinterland youths through the intervention.
“Youths participating in this programme have benefitted from life skills training, which allow them to become entrepreneurs,” Jordan said. As such, he noted that in 2019, the government will continue to support the HEYS initiative by contributing over $176.1 million to provide support by means of monitoring, grants and mentorship to allow the hinterland youths to launch their micro-enterprises into vibrant economic activities.