– MP Pearson-Fredericks tells National Assembly

— says land-titling issues resolved for several communities; more opportunities available for academic growth

IN just under 20 minutes, government Member of Parliament, Yvonne Pearson Fredericks, gave insights on the positive impact that Budget 2022 stands to have on the lives of Guyana’s First Peoples, especially those residing in the hinterland.

As Day One of the highly anticipated debates got underway at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, on Monday, Pearson-Fredericks said that many of the programmes contained in the massive $552.9 plan will bring direct benefits to Amerindians all across Guyana.

A person of Indigenous heritage herself, the Member of Parliament was quick to respond to her colleagues in the Opposition who were calling for economic development for Amerindian communities, even though the former David Granger-led government spared no hesitation in firing hundreds of Community Support Officers (CSOs) who were, as the title suggests, lending support for the development of their communities.

“Suddenly Mr. Holder knows all about the CSOs and the Amerindian villages,” Pearson-Fredericks jabbed.
She said that the firings by the then A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Government took a toll on not only the young Amerindians who lost their jobs, but also the villages that benefitted from that particular source of disposable income.

“It was taken away, so how are they going to cry now and say it is not enough? $30,000 means a lot when you’re in the village,” Pearson-Fredericks related.

REHIRED
She said that even amid the cynicism and negativity being peddled by the APNU+AFC Opposition, Amerindians from all corners of Guyana stand to benefit from every sector of the country, not just the rehiring of the severed CSOs. “All the talk about the Amerindians and poverty and the 2022 Budget; we will benefit from every sector; my people – the villagers, the locals, the ordinary people will benefit,” the PPP/C member insisted.

She argued that unlike the Opposition, the PPP/C will not be making empty promises. Pearson-Fredericks said that Budget 2022 contains realistic and achievable targets, such as commitments to address issues of Amerindian land titling, which were long promised by the APNU+AFC, but are yet to be remedied.

Pearson-Fredericks reminded that prior to assuming office, the APNU+AFC had outlined that it will not only be addressing matters relating to Amerindian land titling, but that it will be doing so in keeping with international standards and best practices. “But it seems that by the time they got there (into office), they forgot what are international standards,” the parliamentarian said with disappointment.

She noted that even before the 2022 Budget, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic administration had resolved outstanding land titling issues in at least five Amerindian villages. “We are committed to do these things, and it will be done, because we have already started,” Pearson-Fredericks noted.

She also touched on the fact that Amerindians have not been left behind or disenfranchised when it comes to furthering their education and accessing reputable programmes.

Pearson-Fredericks was keen on making specific reference to government’s 20,000 online scholarships programme, which has seen scores of Amerindians being enrolled into internationally-recognised universities to further their studies. The initiative, which is being administered via the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), features programmes ranging from certificates all the way to PhDs. “We (the PPP/C) are committed to ensuring that all of the country’s best education and training opportunities reach hinterland and Amerindian villages,” Pearson-Fredericks said.

GEARING UP
She noted that with the support of strategic government programmes and policies, Amerindian communities are gearing up to make significant economic contributions to the country. “We will not be left behind,” the parliamentarian noted.

She explained that while Amerindians will be contributing significantly to all of Guyana’s sectors, agriculture and food security would be given particular importance. “We have lands,” MP Pearson-Fredericks reminded.

She said that with support from the government, Amerindian villages are now being positioned to contribute significantly in several agriculture industries, including livestock rearing and aquaculture.

Added to that, the First Peoples will also have an important role to play as Guyana works towards the development of a massive, commercial-scale corn and soya bean farm. “We are not going to stay behind, we are going to progress,” pointing to the fact that dozens of hinterland communities have already benefitted from the supply of critical equipment such as brand new tractors and other implements as well as materials such as plants and fertilisers. “These are exciting times,” the hopeful Member of Parliament shared.

Also rising to vehemently defend the government’s proposed budget for the fiscal year 2022 was Kwame McCoy, Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Public Affairs.

He reminded that within the coming weeks, the PPP/C government will be launching a media and communications academy, in an effort to further professionalise the country’s State media and public communications apparatus.

During his zealous contribution to the National Assembly on Monday afternoon, Minister McCoy said that the project will be undertaken in partnership with well-established online learning platform, Coursera.

To inform the curriculum and needs of the State media, Minister McCoy said that a comprehensive capacity and competency review was already completed and that efforts are underway to retool and upskill the local communications and State media personnel.

Also throwing his full support behind the 2022 Budget was PPP/C Member of Parliament, Faizal Jaffarally, who brought the curtain down on Monday’s session.