-job creation, income-generation among focus areas

By: Indrawattie Natram

MINISTER of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, on Wednesday, distributed sums totalling $105M to 10 Amerindian villages in Region Two to boost economic activity and generate income during the COVID-19 pandemic. The grants, which were sourced from a special COVID-19 fund established by government, will also be used for infrastructural projects in Amerindian communities.

Leaders of Bettany, Mashabo, Capoey, Mainstay\Whyaka, St Denys/Tapakuma, Kabakaburi, St Monica, Karawab, Wakapoa, and Akawini were presented with grants during a simple ceremony held on the lawns of the regional State House. The amounts given were dependent on the population size of the respective villages. In her address, the minister explained that she was in the region to distribute monies from the COVID-19 investment fund which aims to help communities deal with the devastating economic impacts of the pandemic.

“The impact in Amerindian villages has been very difficult. Even those communities that have not been severely affected have had an impact because their neighbouring villages in many areas of the hinterlands have had to be on lockdown and when communities are on lockdown the government supports that community,” Sukhai said. The Amerindian Minister said that the pandemic had a negative impact on the hinterland communities and as such the government decided to allocate $1.73 billion to stimulate economic activities in those communities.

She said the government under the presidency of Dr. Irfaan Ali has recognised the hardships Amerindian villages are facing and to cushion those impacts, an investment fund was established to stimulate economic activities. The minister explained to the leaders that while they do not have to repay any money, the ministry would like to see evidence of the money being utilised effectively and in a transparent process.

Toshao of St Monica/Karawab, Thomas Charles, thanked the minister and her ministry for the funds. He assured her that his village council will be fully utilising the funds for community development. Villages in Regions One, Three, Four, Five, Six, Eight, Nine and 10 will benefit from the fund. Meanwhile, Minister Sukhai reminded that government had made a lot of commitments to the Amerindian people, one of which is ensuring that 200 communities are connected to the Internet.

She urged community leaders to invest in or refurbish projects within their community that can aid in providing quality internet services to those living in the hinterland areas. According to the minister, the learners need access to the internet.  “Those communities that are building new infrastructures can use up to $2M to facilitate the ITC hubs. It means you have work to do when the funds are disbursed. The remaining of the fund will be used for income-generating projects. This fund is not to be parted up or distributed to households but to be used as an investment into an enterprise that will employ a few villagers and provide income,” Sukhai.

Regional Chairperson, Vilma De Silva, welcomed the initiative. She said the grants were being distributed at an opportune time when many villagers are suffering due to the pandemic. De Silva called on the community leaders to rally together and to properly manage the funds to ensure that they generate income and job opportunities in the respective communities. In his remarks, Regional Executive Officer, Devanand Ramdatt, noted that the region’s Regional Democratic Council (RDC) supports the initiative. He used the occasion to call on the community leaders and councillors to conduct beneficial projects, particularly to boost the education level of residents.

Ramdatt said that the RDC is working rigorously to enhance every sector within the Amerindian communities by ensuring that the services offered on the coastland are available in the riverian areas. He informed leaders that their communities will soon benefit from additional medical outreaches. Also present at the event were Member of Parliament (MP), Yvonne Pearson and the Prime Minister’s representative, Arnold Adams.