UNDER the theme “Steadfast Against All Challenges, Resolute in Building Our One Guyana”, Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, has announced that in excess of $3.1B will be injected into the development of projects in Amerindian and Hinterland communities across the country.

Delivering the budget speech at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Dr Ashni Singh said that the government is committed to ensuring that all Guyanese participate fully in the economic transformation that is currently unfolding in Guyana.

He added that the government is cognisant of the unique challenges faced by the indigenous peoples, particularly those residing in remote communities. Budget 2022 will be addressing many of those challenges.

“We are committed to ensuring that Amerindian and hinterland villages are economically empowered, first and foremost through the land titling programme and secondly through development of the village economy,” the Finance Minister said, adding: “We are also committed to ensuring that all of the country’s best educational and training opportunities are as available to our hinterland brothers and sisters as they are to those on the coast. And we are committed to ensuring that the quality of social services delivered to all villages is improved markedly.”

In 2021, a total of five demarcations were completed. The Certificates of Title for these demarcations are currently being issued, and persons who reside within the Capoey Village would have been the first of these five villages to receive their Certificates of Title.

In 2022, the government will continue to support the rights of indigenous peoples by accelerating the land titling programme at a cost of $561.6 million that has been allocated in the budget; this will a target a total of 20 Certificates of Title.

Meanwhile, to support sustainable livelihoods of hinterland communities, in 2021, the government had expended $673 million for tractors, implements and economic projects aimed at enhancing the development of agriculture, tourism, women and youth.

That saw 112 tractors and trailers, along with implements distributed to Amerindian communities, to help promote village agriculture as well as for use in transport.

In 2022, $411.2 million will be allocated to see an additional 71 communities benefitting similarly.

HINTERLAND ROADS
Additionally, to improve connectivity, a sum of $3.4 billion is budgeted for the hinterland roads programme.

In 2021, $666.5 million was expended on stipends to engage 2,000 Community Service Officers (CSOs) under the Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Programme, and a further sum of $115.6 million was expended towards the training of 420 CSOs in areas such as ICT, tractor driving, licensing and maintenance; and solar panel installation and maintenance.

In 2022, the number of CSOs will be increased to 2,500, creating an additional 500 jobs for young persons in Amerindian villages and a sum of $60 million will be spent on training 650 CSOs to serve in 220 communities within all 10 administrative regions in areas such as: tourism and hospitality; development of business plans; food safety pre-requisites; good manufacturing practices; ATV and outboard engine repairs and licensing; as well as garment construction.

“Through these interventions, this administration will continue to drive employment and opportunities for our Amerindian youth,” the Finance Minister said.

To improve the access to education and skills in Amerindian communities, a sum of $93.3 million is budgeted towards the hinterland scholarship programme which will see 805 students benefitting extensively.

The minister also revealed that with other students countrywide, 31,295 hinterland students are expected to benefit this year from the “Because We Care” cash grants to students.

The minister noted that the sum allocated to the ministry along with other major investments slated for 2022 will set the stage for the rapid improvement and wellbeing of Amerindian and hinterland villages across the country.