A NATURAL Resource Management and Training Programme is being implemented in 18 communities of Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo), in an effort to facilitate local development initiatives for the promotion of economic activities in the hinterland. Director of the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB), Mr. Vincent Henry said it is a collaborative project with the Bina Hill Institute.
He made the disclosure to Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad, who took a team to visit Rewa Eco Lodge last week.
“We came together and applied to the European Union for funding, so that we could get it underway,” Henry said.
He said the main objective is to educate the targeted communities, located across that region, about the Amerindian Act and its implications for their development.
The training targets young people from the Rupununi District, Henry said, noting that 64 young people are being trained and another facet of the course is to encourage each community to start a venture which will create jobs and generate a certain amount of income.
“Each community will be granted a sum of $1.2 million to engage in a pet project and this will also have to be an idea which is environmentally friendly,” he explained.            
In addition, Henry said, to access the funding, each community will have to submit a proposal with an explanation of its necessity and feasibility.
He emphasised that residents of Rewa have identified the need to have Internet access as their priority.
“This particular community has been crying out for Internet access because of the nature of their business, which is to operate the Rewa Eco Lodge and promote tourism,” Henry related.
In this regard, he acknowledged that the training being provided would aid in the approval of the proposals.
Henry said he has been tasked with training the young people and, after that is completed, there will be strong justification for the implementation of the programmes.
Meanwhile, Toshao of Rewa, Mr. Patrick Honorio said Internet access would help to place the village on the map as a prime tourist destination.
“If we have the opportunity to have Internet available, then more persons will see what we have to offer and will want to stay at the Eco Lodge,” he posited.
Minister Prashad and his entourage, including personnel from the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA),visited  to assess the viability of Rewa as a sport fishing location and they stayed at Rewa Eco Lodge, which was opened in 2006 as a community-tourism project of the Amerindian village.
Situated at the confluence of the Rupununi and Rewa rivers, Rewa Village has a population of 300 members of the Makushi tribe.