National Hinterland Secure Livelihood Programme To Expand For 2010

Georgetown, December 30, 2009

Government has been implementing policies and projects to improve the standard of living of Amerindians and the National Hinterland Secure Livelihood Programme which was implemented in June is one of Government’s initiatives to strengthen the economic capacity of the indigenous people.

Cognizant of successful results from the programme’s pilot project in Region One, the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs will be expanding it to South Pakaraimas, Karasabai and the six satellite communities, North Pakaraimas and South Rupununi, Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, said at the Ministry’s year end press conference today.

Government has expended $88M on the programme of which $79 M has already been invested. The Programme has been aided by local agencies and 15 Volunteer Services Overseas volunteers specialized in business and agricultural fields.

They have been training 12 local Amerindian volunteers who are tasked with disseminating information to the farmers. The Minister highlighted that the expansion of the project will see the development of a core national volunteer component.

She emphasized that the economic aspect of these villages will improve because of the components of the programme and the training from volunteers.

Minister Sukhai noted that in Region one the farmers have learnt to diversify their crops. They have begun passion fruit farming of which there is available market and the monies gained from it will enable their sustainability.

Honey enterprising is also another venture in progress with 600 honey hives under construction. This project has targeted more than seven communities in the region.

“We have to prepare ourselves and therefore the Project Department which from time to time I refer to which is pretty established now with six new officers, will be developing a framework document that will specifically deal with the transformation aspect of the village economy,” stated the Minister.