Along Soesdyke/Linden Highway…
SCORES of residents in Waiakabra and Swan villages, along Soesdyke/Linden Highway, aired many concerns plaguing their communities during a series of meetings, last week, with Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Ms. Pauline Sukhai. Sukhai was visiting to sensitise the villagers to the advantages and benefits of regularisation of their communities and she was accompanied by a team from her ministry.
After the residents had accepted her invitation to indicate the problems directly affecting their daily lives, the Minister assured them that the Government will remain committed to ensuring the needs of the Amerindian people are met.
Some called for better roads, electricity and water supply, increased security, recreation facilities for children and, most important, leadership.
Sukhai gave the undertaking that the issues will be addressed as soon as the process to regularise the communities is settled.
She acknowledged the necessity for electric power is of paramount interest but said it can only be secured after the regularising is done.
Meantime, Sukhai said her ministry would, closely, examine the possibility of including the two villages in the Unserved Areas Electrification Programme (UAEP).
“We will examine your case to qualify for this programme which runs for three years and see if there are resources to capture the area,” she said.
Speaking about the high rate of school dropouts, Sukhai said the communities have the responsibility to encourage young people to attend classes and monitor incidents of truancy for betterment and development.   
“There are programmes available for such individuals at Kuru Kururu College, where they can partake in skills training and graduate in whatever field they choose,” she explained.
Sukhai also threw out the challenge to take action towards overall growth and advancement noting that it would help resolve some of the complaints.
She advised the villagers to develop a modicum of self-sufficiency through the implementation of community agricultural programmes.
“You will be able to provide for yourselves by using the land that you have because, if you want to be prosperous and economically independent, you need to do some planting, you need to make the effort,” Sukhai admonished them.
She urged the gathering to make sure they achieve food security by following the advice to utilise the resources, to which they already have access, either on a large or small scale.
Several of those in attendance concurred that the meeting was very productive and said interacting with the ministerial team convinced them to become more involved in community development.
One resident, Mr. Kenrick Harris commented:”I am happy that the Minister decided to come to our village and listen to our concerns and after discussing them we have a better understanding of what we can do to help ourselves.”