Credible Performance In Amerindian Affairs In 2009

- Minister optimistic about coming year

Georgetown, December 30, 2009

Despite the challenges, the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs has performed fairly well this year, recording successes in several areas. The successes, according to Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai, will be built upon in the coming year to enhance the lives of Amerindians across the country.

The Minister, who was at the time providing an update on the work of the Ministry in the past 12 months, stated that staff of the Ministry’s departments have all worked tirelessly to ensure that the mandate of the Ministry was carried out and provide services which have benefited residents across the country.

Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai.

Community level democracy

The Ministry embarked on establishing management and governance structures within titled, satellite and untitled communities, an enormous task, the Minister noted which received the support of the Regional Democratic Councils since there are many villages that had to be reached in the process.

Elections were conducted in all titled villages for Toshaos and village councillors and also for community council Toshaos for untitled villages. Separate elections were held for office bearers under the new Amerindian Act. Senior councillors were also elected for satellite villages which are settlements within titled lands.

“The number of communities is numerous, the areas that they have to work are sometimes very difficult terrain and everything has to be done according to the act which is the law and the process regarding the elections… I think that it was one of the greatest tasks that this ministry had to take on,” Minister Sukhai said.

Amerindian leaders at the National Toshaos Conference.

Subsequently after the elections a five-day National Toshao Council meeting was convened which comprised all leaders from all categories of villages and communities. Among the issues discussed during the meeting were advancing titling of land and demarcation of titled communities.

Land titling

The Ministry has also worked tirelessly to push landownership. While three communities received titles this year, there are 11 others that have not and these will be aggressively pursued next year. Minister Sukhai explained that the Ministry receives $50M each year for the demarcation process, but on an average only three to four communities are demarcated per year. She also pointed out that the Ministry has not completed the demarcation process for the 96 communities but that it is working to ensure that Amerindians are aware of what they have so that they can successfully manage it.

Enhancing economic viability - National Secure Livelihood Programme

Enhancing the economic viability and sustainability of Amerindian communities has been on the front burner of the Ministry and under the National Hinterland Secure Livelihood Programme many communities have been boosted.

The programme which was launched in June after being given approval by the Cabinet and resources from the consolidated fund to support the activities has seen 15 communities in Region One (Barima/Waini) benefitting.

These communities are provided with specialized skills locally from partnering agencies and also from technical specialized skills from the international partner VSO Guyana in the areas of aquaculture, agriculture in pest control and extension work, business development, marketing and finance and technology.

The Minister noted that at no time in the history of Region One was there such a core group of specialized highly trained personnel to provide the type of support, that the Amerindians can now access.

The Minister pointed out that Government provided $88M for the programme of which $79M has already been invested in current projects. A passion fruit project is engaging the attention of several of the beneficiary communities and it is expected that this will be one of the first crops that will generate the type of income to the communities that would ensure sustainability.

Volunteers from Region One who are involved in the National Secure Livelihood Programme.

There are 600 honey hives under construction and it is likely that in January, honey production would commence. This project will see the involvement of more than seven communities. Ginger, one of the key products in Region One, will also be produced.

There is a new dimension to the programme which will see farmers switching from peanut to organic pineapple production. Farmers are expected to commence cultivation by June 2010 and the Ministry has already entered into discussions with AMCAR to extend its bottling facility to facilitate farmers in that area.

The Ministry’s marketing personnel have already made progress in accessing markets for passion fruits and some large companies have committed to purchasing the fruits for their juice production.

Meanwhile, the Ministry has also formalized the national volunteer programme within the National Hinterland Secure Livelihood Programme which currently involves 12 volunteers who are working alongside international and local specialists to assist the communities. Minister Sukhai is hopeful that as the programme expands it will be able to attract more volunteers to lend support to the village livelihood projects that will come on stream.

Presidential Grants

Under the Presidential grant, which provides core financial incentive and support to developing economic and productive projects in Amerindian communities, approximately 139 of them have been benefiting. In 2009, this number was augmented by 20.

The President provided $160M for the programme which now allows communities to receive grants which they will expend on community projects that were approved during discussions at the community level. However, the Ministry has insisted that there is strong sustainability in the projects embarked on and a team from the Ministry focuses on monitoring and evaluating the programme to identify whether the grant is making a positive impact or there are loose ends that need to be addressed.

The Ministry expended 95 percent of its budgetary allocations for 2009 and concluded outreaches to over 60 communities across the country, compiling the list of needs from the communities which will help to enhance the lives of residents there.

Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS)

The Ministry has played an integral role in crafting the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) since it has assisted the Climate Change Unit at the Office of the President in facilitating and managing consultations on the Strategy.

Minister Sukhai noted that the Ministry was able to manage the discussions on the LCDS and respond to issues arising from the discussions during the awareness programme held in the administrative regions.

Consultations were conducted in 222 communities, including those from the launching, and saw over 3,200 participants, a large number of which was derived from Amerindian and hinterland communities in Regions 1, 2, 7, 8, 9 and 10.

Residents of Region One at a LCDS consultation at Mabaruma.

Other support

Additionally, the Minister noted that $4M worth of food supplies has been sent to areas in the Deep South, Rupununi in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture to assist communities which have been hardest hit by the prevailing El Nino like conditions.

Projections for 2010

Minister Sukhai noted that the Ministry will embark on a more expansive approach to the National Hinterland Secure Livelihood Programme which will begin with addressing the potential of the South Pakaraimas. This will see Karasabai and the six satellite communities coming on board.

“We will of course during the year advance that programme to other areas, most likely to the North Pakaraimas and possibly to the South Rupununi. So within that context of expansion we will see the development of our core national volunteer component coming to bear on that programme and we will see communities being responsive to the support which we will have to attract to address their economic activities which they want to pursue,” Minister Sukhai said.

The land demarcation process, the Minister said, will continue with strengthened focus to include a broader list of communities which will fall under the process. This process takes time, and the Minister noted that work will continue to ensure that every area is demarcated.

The Ministry, in 2010, will be investing more efforts to providing improved services to those seeking assistance from the Ministry including support with procuring birth certificates. The Minister said that the Ministry will continue to take the lead next year to ensure that Amerindians and Hinterland residents receive the document.