RESIDENTS of the North West District community of Baramita have been assured that the APNU+AFC Government intends to address the social and other ills affecting the village.
On Friday Vice-President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock, during an outreach, told the residents of the community, that the administration has recognised the many issues affecting the village but for change to be realised everyone must work together.

According to a release from the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Allicock was accompanied on the outreach by Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams, and other officials took the “Government Comes to You” Outreach to the village.
“Work together in achieving things, support one another with the aim of getting things right as we move forward…since government has been supporting communities towards development,” Allicock said.

The minister also encouraged the students in attendance that they “need to be in schools so that you could help this nation in its development.”

Highlighting the success of the life-changing Hinterland Employment Youth Service (HEYS) Program, Minister Allicock said “in communities we have young people who are excelling which is very good for the program. Some of them say when they started they were timid, shy and didn’t know what to do but with the training, I’ve learnt to become my own boss; I’m making my own money and putting it in my pocket; I’m using it to extend my business and I’m now employing other people, helping my family which are really, really good stories.”

The vice-president also encouraged residents to let their voices be heard by fully participating in the ongoing Revision of the Amerindian Act which is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Among other developmental programs highlighted by the minister is the completed extension to the Indigenous Residence in the city, the Hinterland Tertiary Student Dormitory at Liliendaal, the six new radio stations established across the country as well as the information technology hubs established across the country.

Minister Hastings-Williams, while addressing residents, noted “Baramita which means – Rich Village, and you are indeed rich in your culture, forest and other natural resources but you must know what to do with the riches you have.”

While zooming in on the social ills affecting Baramita, Minister Hastings-Williams said “I know you have your issues which we, together as a government and your Village Council, the Guyana Police Force and all other stake holders, we will continue to work together to improve that situation.”

Minister Hastings-Williams also encouraged the students to remain in school and get a sound education as she deemed it “a vehicle for development” and that education is key to a successful future.

The village council of Baramita, which is led by Toshao Sharmaine Rambajue, has already completed the village’s ICT Hub and is now awaiting the instillation of the computers so that all interested villagers can become computer savvy.
As regards the imminent National Voter Registration Exercise, the Minister of State encouraged villagers to get registered since this not only ensures them voting rights, but access to an Identification Card.

Residents were also updated on President David Granger’s “3B’s Initiative” where some 27 school busses are used to transport children to and from school on a daily basis, a number of boats and thousands of bicycles which were all handed over since the program was initiated.

The village of Baramita is among beneficiaries of a school bus which provides assistance to the more than three hundred and ninety students attending the primary school.
Since taking office in 2015, the coalition government, led by President David Granger, has given priority to address the many social ills affecting the village of Baramita which has recorded a large number of suicide cases, drug and alcohol abuse, teenage pregnancy, among other issues, most of which were largely ignored by the previous administration.
To this end a Ministerial Task Force was established to address these issues and to date, significant strides were made with support from villagers, to tackle the abuse of drugs and alcohol which is recognised as the main cause of the afore mentioned issues.