Ministry of Amerindian Affairs salutes all Amerindians

- pledges continued support for Amerindian Development

As Indigenous Peoples around the world celebrate the 17th International Day, the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs honours Amerindians across all regions of Guyana and all Indigenous Peoples around the world.

Guyana is home to some 70,000 Indigenous people, approximately ten per cent of its total population. Our Amerindian brothers and sisters continue to play a big role in our development. Their sterling contributions in the areas of education, economic and social development, culture, health and human rights do not go unnoticed.

Amerindians have a unique way of life, worthy of emulation. We recognise their contribution in keeping our forests intact especially that the effects of climate change are becoming more evident.

Government of Guyana will continue to foster the agenda for Amerindian development through the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes that will help to alleviate poverty in Amerindian communities and also to foster the integration of Amerindians in the wider society without compromising their distinct culture.

Guyana being a signatory to several international declarations and with the implementation of various pieces of legislations for the protection and promotion of Indigenous people, has seen over the years quantum leaps in Amerindian and hinterland development. Following the principles of free, prior and informed consent, we continue to invest significantly in their development.

With increasing budgetary allocations, Amerindians today, in spite of their geographical locations have better access to an education through the construction of schools in the villages, granting of local and international scholarships for Amerindian students to pursue tertiary and secondary education in various disciplines and health care services via the construction of health centres in almost all the villages and trained Community Health Workers, doctors and other medical personnel. Additionally better road linkages and our investments in income generating projects have boosted the livelihoods of Amerindians. These include our investments in presidential Grants, National Hinterland Secure Livelihood, Land Demarcation and Titling, Hinterland Solar electrification, Road and Water Programmes, School Uniform and our soon to be implemented Community development Plans and Hinterland Housing pilot project are expected to significantly aid in the transformation of village development.

The recently concluded National Toshaos Conference is evidence of our commitment to advancing the indigenous peoples rights to self determination. We believe in partnership with our people for development through community outreaches and dialogue at the highest level of decision making. As we continue o advance this trajectory path of growth, we are reminded of the challenges ahead. Nevertheless, we take this opportunity to reinforce our position of fostering partnership with our indigenous population for our economic advancement. Moreover, the establishment of the constitutional Indigenous Peoples Commission is a manifestation of the Government’s affirmation of the mandate to advance and protect the rights of all Indigenous peoples.

Even as we celebrate the privileges and opportunities of our Amerindian brothers and sisters as Guyanese, who choose to integrate rather than isolate, to cooperate rather than be lackadaisical, to participate rather than depend, we join the struggle of other Indigenous Peoples in the world, in their continuous cause to fight for their lands, languages, and cultural identity that are being eroded and threatened by abuse, whim and caprice of unscrupulous people. The Indigenous People of Guyana do not have to fight these battles as the Government remains their strongest ally.

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Investments in hinterland scholarships, bearing fruitful returns

- Norman Whittaker- tells graduating students

Georgetown, GINA, July 6, 2011

The Hinterland Scholarship Programme is a commendable initiative and, the investments by the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Government are bringing good yields, according to Norman Whittaker, Liaison Officer in the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs.

Speaking at the annual hinterland Scholarship graduation, at the Amerindian Village, Sophia this evening, he said that Government is committed to ensuring that every child receives primary, secondary and tertiary education and that “the delivery of quality is being regarded useful and applicable for future development of Guyana”.

Hinterland Scholarship Students Delilah Roth from Monkey Mountain, Region 8, collecting her certificate from Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Amerindian Affairs Collin Croal.

Sixty-eight students who hail from across all the Administrative regions with the exception of Five and Eight graduated at this evening’s function.

“We educate you not only for today but for tomorrow, having regards also to government’s determination to ensure that there is equity and in terms of access to quality education in respective to ethnicity, geographical location, cost and culture,” Whittaker said.

He also informed the graduates that Government’s budgetary allocations to the education sector continue to increase annually, moving from $1.7B in 1992 to $24.3B in 2011.

“These allocations have not only been used to improve teaching and learning environment but have also been providing the type of infrastructure and utilities to support and improve school environments for both teachers and students,” Whittaker said.

Testimony of these improvements, he said lies in construction of the recently commissioned dormitory at Liliendaal for the Hinterland Scholarship Students and several newly built schools.

He also said over 90 percent of the teachers in schools in hinterland regions are from their local communities.

“We have moved from that stage where less that 40 percent of hinterland students could have accessed primary education to 100 percent now having access,” Whittaker informed.

Norman Whittaker, Liaison Officer Ministry of Amerindian Affairs addressing the gathering, Amerindian Village Sophia.

“You have come too far to turn back so take the next step into the future …for the Government you graduating students represent a huge investment on which we have only now begun to reap the returns….you are human capital to be harnessed, nurtured and be employed in the many viable areas of development for which there is great need in our country.”

Whittaker also noted that over 50 percent of the hinterland students completing primary education can now have access to secondary and tertiary education under the PPP/C Government.

In further supporting the parents in the hinterland to afford their off springs an education, Whittaker said that the administration embarked on several initiatives including the school uniform and feeding programmes which have been allocated huge sums in the National Budgets for their continuation.

“We will continue to enhance our education system so that not only you but, your brothers and sisters can benefit from a more modernized education system, offering new learning opportunities,” Whittaker said.

The recently launched US$1M education leaning channel and the One Laptop Per Family Programme, he said are just a few of many more good initiatives to come.

He also urged the graduates to help Government in its efforts to raise the level of literacy within their respective communities since it is a “prerequisite for a developing country like ours to move out of poverty”.

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68 Hinterland Scholarship students complete education in Georgetown

Georgetown, GINA, July 6, 2011

Guyana’s hinterland will be further enriched educationally with 68 graduates who completed their secondary, tertiary and technical education through the Government’s Hinterland Scholarship programme.

The hinterland scholarship programme replaced the Amerindian scholarship programme and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs is now tasked with the responsibility of ensuring the safety and well being of the students to enable them to realize their optimum potential.

Senior Social Worker Rosamund Daly today at the graduation ceremony at the Sophia Exhibition Complex presented the 2010/2011 Annual Report where the academic achievements of the students were highlighted.

Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Amerindian Affairs Collin Croal and graduants after collecting their certificates and prizes for outstanding performance and behaviour.

In 2010, 72 students who gained over 470 marks at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) were awarded scholarships and commenced secondary school throughout the country. Three students from Region Nine are currently attending Queen’s College from the 2010 batch.

Among the top hinterland achievers for the 2010/2011 academic year are Shane Hendricks and Hilton Reuben of President’s College who both averaged over 80 percent each term and Lisa Thakurdin and Ashalisa Insanally of Anna Regina Multilateral were consistent in their academic performance averaging more than 90 percent.

In 2010, 50 students wrote 416 subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Examination (CSEC) and recorded 376 passes or 90.4 percent passes in grades 1 to 3. This figure reflected an increase from 38 students in 2009 who gained a pass rate of 87.8 percent in grades 1 to 3.

Treasure James of Mabaruma, Region One was judged the best hinterland scholarship CSEC student with nine grades ones and one grade two.

Tishanna Allicock of Mackenzie High School gained 10 subjects, Leroy Hendricks of Lethem and Central High School - 11 subjects, Liselle Robertson of North West Secondary – nine subjects, Nikasi Richards of Moruca Secondary -10 subjects, Lila Fredricks of 3-Mile Secondary - 10 subjects, Stephanie Brown of Waramadong Secondary - 10 subjects, Deli Savoury of Anna Regina – eight subjects and Curtis Charles of St. Ignatius Secondary - eight subjects.

The hinterland scholarship programme caters for students who gain 470 to 479 marks at the National Grade Six Assessment to be granted regional scholarships to attend schools in their regions and those with 480 and above are granted national scholarships to attend secondary schools in Georgetown. The students may also opt to remain in their region to complete their secondary if they so desire.

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