SOME 35 organisations representing Afro-Guyanese communities across the country received funding totalling just over $1.8 million each for a range of projects.
The cheques were handed over by Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, in the presence of Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sport Charles Ramson, during a simple ceremony held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) on Thursday.

Among the projects presented and approved by the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport for funding are: Agriculture ventures, including shade houses; cash crops, and livestock.
Other projects include training in areas such as drumming, craft, garment construction, culinary arts, and women’s empowerment, while educational initiatives focused on the teaching of history and literacy.

In December 2013, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 68/237, by which it proclaimed the years 2015 to 2024 to be the International Decade for People of African Descent.
Funding was allocated within national budgets to support this initiative. In 2018, the sum of $68.4 million was allocated to the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly – Guyana (IDPADA-G). Subsequently, funding was increased to $100 million annually, for 2019 through 2022.

This year, the government allocated another $100 million to support a total of 55 groups, a part of which is IDPADA-G. Out of these groups, only 35 submitted project proposals to access funding.

Prime Minister Phillips explained that after a thorough review of how the funds were distributed, the government made the decision to directly disburse the monies to the groups in order to achieve the objectives set out by the UN.

He noted that in the previous arrangement, a significant portion of the funds was allocated to administrative costs, resulting in only a few groups receiving the funds. This approach aims to ensure that all groups representing Afro-Guyanese interests equally benefit from the designated funding.

“What we are doing here today represents an important decision to ensure that you the people of African descent and the organisation you represent benefit from the prosperity of this country,” Prime Minister Phillips underscored.

The Prime Minister emphasised that regardless of one’s location or political orientation, the government’s policies are aimed at fostering development for all citizens of Guyana, in alignment with President Ali’s ‘One Guyana’ agenda.

While congratulating the groups, Minister Ramson commended them for the well-crafted projects that align with the goals of the International Decade for People of African Descent.
“We are going to continue to engage; you have my personal commitment in relation to the government’s interest to continue to engage in seeing the success of your projects,” he assured the groups.