– with $375M investment in ICT hubs in hinterland communities

THE government will be bridging the information gap between the hinterland and the coast with an investment of $375M.

The money, Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock told the House on Thursday, will be used to equip hinterland communities with ICT hubs, via satellite, and by so doing bring a wealth of benefits to over 11,390 residents.
He said that another $38.5B has been earmarked for the expansion and maintenance of key infrastructure in those communities.

“This will result in improved movement of people and goods, enhanced resilience of the coastal and riverine communities, and the bridging of the divide between hinterland and coast,” Minister Allicock said.

He explained that Budget 2019 will see approximately $101M being allocated to continue and extend the electrification programme in Orealla, Kwakwanu, Siparuta and Waramouri among other hinterland communities, as well as the drilling of wells in well over 200 Indigenous communities.

“The situation left by the previous administration is one of distrust, dependency and political manipulation of Guyana’s heartland people,” Minister Allicock said, adding:

“We have had to rebuild a foundation of trust, and teach growth. This is an ongoing exercise that we remain true to.”

In order to build that trust, approximately $1B was injected into 154 communities and villages through the Amerindian Development Fund (ADF), and funding projects in agricultural production and processing, village infrastructure, tourism, manufacturing, village business enterprise, and transportation amongst other initiatives.

This fund, Minister Allicock said, exemplifies how even in extra-budgetary resources, the government, through his ministry, is committed to the development of villages.

Through it, a number of projects were successfully executed to the tune of $5.8B, and in 2019, he said that the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs will continue to provide training in financial accountability, leadership and capacity building to overcome challenges some villages face in these projects, while strengthening the positives such as knowledge of project implementation and business management among the beneficiaries.

Minister Allicock said his ministry is firm in its partnership within the Bina Hill Green Enterprise Development Centre, a laudable initiative that has as its core the holistic development of hinterland youths.

The Centre, he said, is being constructed at a cost of $200M, and comes equipped to accommodate and train 120 youths from across the country annually who will benefit from training in ‘green skills’ such as Natural Resource Management, Community and Village Rangers, Ecosystem Management, Forest Rangers, Village mapping and eco-tourism guides among others: all in readiness of the development to come in that Region.

“The Centre provides our Indigenous out-of- school youth with skills and academic training in areas which are in demand within their respective communities, thereby reducing the need for relocation in search of jobs and other economic opportunities,” he said.

“It also provides youth the option to pursue higher levels of training, or to market their skills in the world of work,” he added.

Minister Allicock said that the Bina Hill Green Enterprise Development Centre will enable hinterland youths to become more competitive and productive in the national workforce and increase the number of young entrepreneurs within the villages and communities who are geared for success like never before.

“Budget 2019 provides these young people greater scope and improved opportunities through the Green Centre, to be fully involved and prepared for the transition from the ‘business as usual’ path into the good life within our future Green State,” Minister Allicock said.