ECONOMIC activity in Guyana’s hinterland has grown steadily over the past five years as Indigenous villages continue to invest in productive sectors that create employment and generate long-term income.
Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, made the remarks on Tuesday while addressing toshaos at the National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference 2026 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.
He said the transformation taking place across Amerindian communities reflects sound leadership, careful planning and sustained government support, with villages expanding beyond traditional livelihoods into mining, agriculture, tourism and value-added forestry.
“Over the last five to six years, we have seen an expansion in economic activities in almost every single village across the country. This did not happen by mistake. It happened because of good planning, it happened because of your leadership, and it happened because of support from government at all levels.”
Minister Bharrat said villages have been encouraged to use their Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) allocations to establish income-generating ventures that provide employment and create lasting economic benefits for residents.
He noted that several communities have already invested in mining, tourism, agriculture and downstream forestry, allowing them to diversify their economies and increase village revenues.
The minister said communities interested in mining should pursue the sector responsibly by protecting the environment, complying with national regulations and selling their production through legal channels.
He said, “We can achieve safe mining while still respecting and caring for the environment. We will encourage all communities that are desirous of engaging in mining activities to do so in a safe and responsible manner.”
He added that the ministry is supporting communities through traders’ licences, technical assistance and initiatives to establish small furniture manufacturing facilities that add value to timber harvested by village enterprises.
Minister Bharrat also pointed to the contribution of Guyana’s natural resources sector to national development. He also said revenues from oil production are funding major investments that benefit citizens across the country.
“When we can deliver to every citizen of our country cash grants, when we can make the University of Guyana free and have GOAL scholarships available to all of our people, it is because we have additional revenue flowing into our country,” according to the minister.
He said the government remains committed to ensuring that the country’s natural resources continue to support sustainable development and improve the quality of life for all Guyanese. (DPI)