THE Ministry of Amerindian Affairs (MoAA) has expanded support for economic development, youth empowerment, community livelihoods and indigenous rights during the first year of the current administration, with greater emphasis being placed on village-led development.
Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Sarah Browne-Shadeek, in an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), said the Ministry’s work over the past year has focused on responding to the needs identified by Amerindian communities while strengthening programmes designed to create sustainable opportunities.
She said the Ministry’s mandate extends beyond development projects to include advocacy for the rights of Amerindian peoples, addressing social issues, including various forms of abuse, and providing support to Amerindians who travel to Georgetown and require a safe place to stay.
A major component of the Ministry’s development programme remains the Amerindian Development Fund (ADF), which provides resources for villages to undertake projects in areas such as income generation, sports, education and culture.
Browne-Shadeek said the Ministry’s approach is based on consultation with communities rather than imposing projects on them.
“The Amerindian Development Fund in itself continues to play a big part in Amerindian development, but it depends on what the village wants as well,” she said.
The Minister explained that officials engage communities to determine their priorities before support is provided, noting that the process is intended to ensure that projects reflect the aspirations and needs of individual villages.
Among the initiatives being pursued are investments in business hubs aimed at helping young Amerindians develop entrepreneurial ideas, create employment and achieve greater financial independence.
The Ministry is also placing emphasis on the creative industries and the development of facilities that can serve multiple purposes.
Browne-Shadeek pointed to Santa Rosa, where a multipurpose facility is scheduled for reconstruction. She said the upgraded centre is expected to accommodate a range of activities, including a salon or beauty centre, printery and recording studio for residents with creative and artistic talents.
The Ministry has also supported groups of young people in establishing small businesses, including ice-making and printery ventures.
The Minister said more such interventions are needed, while noting that Amerindian communities also benefit from investments delivered through other government agencies.
She said the ADF is also being positioned to reach different groups within Amerindian communities, rather than focusing solely on a single category of beneficiaries.
Separate from the ADF, communities receive direct transfers under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), which are deposited into village bank accounts and allow communities to determine how those funds should be utilised.
Browne-Shadeek said several communities have used those resources for projects designed to generate income and improve living standards.
She highlighted Mainstay as one community where development initiatives have produced tangible benefits, while also pointing to projects in Mabaruma, including a guest house that provides a potential long-term source of income.
Across the country, communities have also invested in home improvements, support for young entrepreneurs, farming, poultry and other livelihood activities.
The Minister also highlighted the Community Support Officers (CSO) programme as an avenue through which young people can gain work experience and transition into other areas of employment and skills development.
She said several CSOs have gone on to pursue technical training, including programmes in beauty care and cosmetology, while others have gained experience in health centres and government offices.
According to Browne-Shadeek, the programme has also created opportunities for some participants to transition into permanent positions within the public service.
“We’ve had persons who would have been attached to other government agencies, and as vacancies open, they already know the trade, they already know the business, they already know the day-to-day operations of government offices,” she said.
The Minister said such experience has allowed some former CSOs to be considered for employment or advancement when vacancies arise.
Meanwhile, the Ministry continues to consult on a proposed review of the Amerindian Act, with Browne-Shadeek stressing that the intention is to strengthen, rather than diminish, the rights of indigenous peoples.
“We are going to review the Amerindian Act, but only to bring more rights and more benefits to indigenous people, not to take away any right already enshrined in the Act, but to add,” she said.
She described the existing legislation as strong, but said greater public education is needed to ensure Amerindian communities understand the rights and opportunities already provided under the Act.
Browne-Shadeek said the proposed review is therefore being accompanied by continued emphasis on education and awareness, as the Ministry seeks to ensure that indigenous communities are better positioned to understand and exercise their rights.