PRIME Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, has emphasised that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government continues to invest significant resources towards hinterland development.

The Prime Minister was, at the time, speaking at the opening ceremony of the Sunrise Bakery at Capoey, an Amerindian community in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) on Friday.

While addressing residents, the Prime Minister said the PPP/C has maintained hinterland development as a priority by committing to investing significant resources. He highlighted that the 2021 budget has an allocation of $620 million to expedite the granting of titles to Amerindian villages.

He said other initiatives of the government include $196.6 million for boats, engines and equipment to empower those communities; $1.75 billion to improve the hinterland roads and the distribution of 196 scholarships, thereby helping to bridge the educational disparities between the hinterland and coastland areas.

“Globally, more and more countries are recognising the importance of strengthening the economies of their rural communities to provide better quality of life to the people through increased investments, policies and programmes that can support these communities to become economically vibrant and sustainable,” the Prime Minister explained.

He made it clear that he was not using the event for political purpose, but rather, reminding residents of the government’s commitment to improve the lives of the people.

As such, the Prime Minister said the Sunrise Bakery project highlights the importance of community development, noting that hinterland communities require the collective involvement of both private and public sector to economically survive.

“The government, therefore, extends gratitude to the partners of the Sunrise Bakery project, who saw the need to be part of implementing positive change in this community through this initiative,” Prime Minister Phillips said.