A Gina Feature
SINCE the advancement of the PPP/C Government in office, the lives of Amerindians have improved with the provision of essential social services, including education and free health care in their communities. Government is working towards expanding and transforming the type of services being offered in hinterland and riverine areas.
Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai and Hinterland Affairs Co-ordinator Harripersaud Nokta spent August 18 to 22 traversing Amerindian communities, including Akawini and Wakapoa, Region Two, and the Moruca sub-regions, Region One, such as Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Warapoka, Waramuri, Manawarin and Assakata to ascertain the progress and needs of the communities.
In light of a growing indigenous population, the social needs of the people have increased and Government is challenged with expanding social services.
However, it has been making considerable strides through programmes and policies such as school uniform and school feeding programmes and the establishment of health posts and training of health personnel.
EDUCATION:
SCHOOL UNIFORM PROGRAMME
Parents residing in hinterland communities have noted that Government’s initiative to provide uniform materials and sewing tools is a great help.
Minister Sukhai highlighted that Government will be financing the sewing of the uniforms, and as such, income can be earned in the communities. She indicated that the women’s groups in the various communities can capitalize on this venture. In other instances, where parents will sew the uniforms, they will also receive $600 per pair like the women’s group.
In Moruca sub-regions, Region One, 28 schools have benefited from the school uniform distribution programme. The Ministry’s Community Development Officer assigned to that district, Zola Da Silva, who provided Minister Sukhai with an update of the programme, indicated that many schools from nursery to secondary levels have already received school uniform materials.
Meanwhile, in Akawini, Region Two, which is a coastland Amerindian community, parents are supported through a financial voucher that will complement parents’ resources in purchasing school uniforms.
Region Two Chairman Alli Baksh, who was part of Minister Sukhai’s entourage during her visit to Amerindian communities in Region Two, highlighted that this initiative will positively impact the lives of parents and students.

SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME:
The formative years of a person’s development are critical, and as such, Government is providing a nutritional diet for students in hinterland communities with a hot meal from nursery to Grade Two, Minister Sukhai indicated.
The main economic activity in most Amerindian communities is farming, and this is primarily done on a subsistence level while the household is expanding. As such parents are relieved of the financial expense of finding a meal for their young ones to take to school.

Head Mistress of Karaburi Primary School, Christiana Roberts, noted that there has been an increase in attendance with the advancement of the programme and the performance level of the students has also increased.
She emphasised that the programme also affects the wider community, as 80% of the produce utilised to prepare the meal daily is purchased from within the community. It was noted that the remaining 20% comprises meat and eggs.
She highlighted that the community is focusing on starting its own livestock enterprise so that local farmers can maximise the resources of the programme.

Minister Sukhai highlighted that it is a good initiative and should be pursued. When addressing other communities, including Santa Cruz and Kwebanna, about their school feeding programme, she encouraged them to utilise produce from within their communities since this is income generating.
UNIVERSAL SECONDARY EDUCATION
Performances at National Grade Six Assessment have allowed many students to attend secondary schools within their own districts, and even on the coastland. Government is working assiduously to ensure that Guyana attains Universal Secondary Education in keeping with the Millennium Development Goal, Minister Sukhai observed.
She noted that prior to PPP/C Government, there were only two secondary schools in the hinterland and to date this has increased to 10.
Students who would have performed extremely well are given scholarships to study with their coastland counterparts under the Hinterland Scholarship Programme. Although this programme is not new, it has been expanded by Government and demonstrates its commitment to the uplift of Amerindians. A spanking new dormitory has been built at Liliendaal.
Minister Sukhai highlighted, that the facility will be opened on September 3 and will house over 100 students. Additionally, it will have a modern computer lab and a library, among other important facilities.

Students who remain in their districts to attend school are not at a disadvantage, since schools that are being constructed in the Region have dormitory facilities. The student population of the secondary schools is increasing and many villages have asked for their school buildings to be extended.
Wakapoa, Region Two Toshao, Lloyd Perreira, noted that students are performing well at the primary level and have passed to attend secondary schools. He indicated that Wakapoa Secondary has churned out two batches of students who sat the CSEC exams.
Perreira stated that the community also needs to have the school gazetted and Minister Sukhai assured him that she will raise the issue with the Minister of Education.
After secondary education, more Amerindian students are pursuing greater knowledge and this was lauded by Minister Sukhai who highlighted that more than 30 Amerindians are on scholarship studying in Cuba.
In the gathering at the meeting in Wakapoa was one of the beneficiaries of the Cuban Scholarship, who is in her third year studying medicine, stated that she is grateful to Government for the scholarship and opportunity to study medicine. She highlighted upon her return she would love to serve the people of Wakapoa.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY:
While some communities like Akawini have access to computer facilities, many Amerindian communities are requesting computers so that their youths will be more aware in this globalized era.
Minister Sukhai told them of Government’s and President Bharrat Jagdeo’s vision of providing laptops for poor families.
However, she highlighted that the availability of one laptop per family may not be possible for hinterland communities, since not all homes have access to electricity. It was noted that Government is working on a framework of how to meet the technological needs of hinterla
nd communities.
It was noted that Government has a solar panel distribution programme that has seen many communities already accessing solar energy.
IMPROVING HEALTH
While having an educated population is pertinent, health is the driving force for a developing country. Amerindian communities, because of their remoteness, have health posts to provide health care services.
There are Community Health Workers (CHWs) who attend to patients at the health posts. Government has been investing in training of CHWs and medics so that they can effectively meet the health needs of residents.
Many residents have praised the work CHWs have been doing and have been requesting more resources in terms of transport for them.


The Kumaka Hospital, Region One will soon benefit from a Guyanese trained Cuban doctor and that will boost the delivery of health care in the district. There are 16 health posts, one hospital and two health centres in Moruca sub-regions.
During discussions with residents of Santa Cruz, Warapoka and Kamwatta, Minister Sukhai received complaints of contractors delivering sub-standard construction works of health posts in the three communities. She highlighted that whenever projects are executed in communities the village council should receive a copy of the bill of quantities.
Minister Sukhai advised that the Region investigate the complaints made by the residents for a quick resolution of the problem.