OVER the weekend, the Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, visited Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) to make a timely delivery of printed learning materials for the Christmas term, to students and pupils in Mahdia, El Paso and Micobie.

The materials were made available by the Ministry of Education with the aim of ensuring that pupils and students in the hinterland, who do not have access to the internet and the Learning Channel, are actively engaged during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During a small community gathering in El Paso, Minister Sukhai explained to residents that education delivery has been severely affected, especially in far-flung areas, and therefore, the government has ensured that the hinterland areas are provided with learning materials so that students can move forward with their academics.

She reminded teachers, parents and village leaders of the critical role they have to play in ensuring that students are fully engaged during this time.
“We want the children to get back to doing some level of school work because by the time school is reopened, we don’t want to go back from the start, so we have to keep the children occupied…The teachers can also look at different means of engaging the students; you can get them under the biggest tree and help them while practicing social distancing…Those persons in the village who, maybe, have some CSEC subjects can also assist the children and engage them in reading along with the parents,” she said.

The Minister said the government has increased the cash grant, which was discontinued under the previous administration, from $10,000 to $15,000. All parents with school-aged children will benefit from the cash grant.

Meanwhile, at Micobie, the minister, during a meeting with the village council, outlined what the recently passed emergency budget has in store for the Amerindian people for the remainder of this fiscal year. One of the major initiatives is the re-instatement of the Community Support Officers (CSO) programme that will target 40 villages, including Micobie, in the initial stages. The initiative, costing in excess of $60 million, aims to develop young Amerindians in the various villages and communities, through job creation, capacity building and the strengthening of their individual interests and skills.
Minister Sukhai noted that the $800M Amerindian Development Fund (ADF) will also see communities receiving funds to execute sustainable development projects aimed at creating job opportunities and enhancing village economies.

The ITC Hub programme has also been restored and Micobie village, which has an existing building, will benefit from approximately $1M to refurbish and furnish the hub; 25,000 solar units will also be procured for the hinterland.

Other measures covered in Budget 2020 to support Amerindian development, include the removal of VAT on hinterland travel, the new ferry for North West, the $25, 000 for old-age pension, the $1.5B for hinterland, urban and rural roads and the $25, 000 per household for COVID-19 relief.
“We are just two months in office and our task is to ensure that the commitments made to the people of this nation are fulfilled. In three months, we would not be able to do all that we have promised the nation. However, the immediate move is to address the issue of the COVID-19 pandemic which has affected the livelihood of the people…Next year, the other areas that were promised and need to be addressed will be addressed,” Minister Sukhai said.