-PM says much in store for indigenous people

GOVERNMENT has accelerated development in hinterland regions over the past four years and intends on continuing with the same pace going forward, said Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo.

“Every administration tried a little to focus on indigenous people, to improve living standards…but since this coalition government came in, in the last four years there has been an accelerated pace in which things have been done,” said Prime Minister Nagamootoo during an on-air interview with the National Communications Network (NCN) on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister believes that there has been a general improvement in the lives of indigenous people, who reside mostly in the hinterland communities.
He said development has been interlinked, in the sense that certain amenities were provided in order to ensure a smooth flow.

For instance, the Prime Minister said government has been focusing on improving the electricity supply system in the hinterland.

Places like Mathews Ridge, Port Kaituma, Siparuta, Moco Moco, Culvert City and Mabaruma have benefitted so far. According to the Prime Minister, two of the major projects include the establishment of two massive solar farms in Mabaruma and Annai.
He said government has invested over $270 million in developing a solar farm in Mabaruma and there has been an allocation of $200 million to develop a solar farm in Annai.
Speaking more about the provision of electricity, Prime Minister Nagamootoo said Government has in place a programme for a $450 million hydro project in Kato. This project is geared at supplying electricity to the Kato Secondary School.
He said when the coalition government got into office in 2015, they found that the Kato Secondary School was unusable.

“The billion-dollar school we inherited was not done to specification…we had to do it from the start…so as part of that we want to develop hydro to provide electricity,” said the Prime Minister. Hydro projects have also been approved for Moco Moco and other areas.
He said improving electricity supply systems is just one aspect of development, noting that once electricity is available, government will be able to provide other services.
“These things will be commissioned so that you have the power to support activities…We have the learning channel that reaches 16 locations through radio but we want to provide television communication to the 16 locations, starting with schools, but you need supplies of electricity,” said Prime Minister Nagamootoo.

Government has been working to ensure that development is widespread so that everyone can feel the benefits. “We have to bridge the coast with interior and integrate rural with urban… we cannot leave people behind,” Nagamootoo asserted.

As part of picking up the pace in the hinterland, government has also looked at improving the quality and accessibility of healthcare and education. Prime Minister Nagamootoo said all of the existing health facilities have been upgraded and government is also improving the services which are offered. Health is, however, seen hand-in-hand with the programmes in education, he said, adding that much is yet to be done. The Prime Minister said a lot more will be done during the “decade of development 2010-2029.” During that decade, Government will ensure that development is constructed on the platform of education and health.