Amerindian Heritage Day of Sports a success

Several prizes and awards were handed over during the closing ceremonies of the two-day Sports and Family Fun day organized by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs in observance of Amerindian Heritage Month 2011 on September 18, 2011 at the Carifesta Sports Complex, Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown.

In the Male football category, Region Nine copped the title after scoring, 2-0, against the disconcerted Region Eight. In the semi-finals, Region Nine defeated Region Seven, 1-0 while Region Eight also advanced to the finals following a disqualification of the Region One team. The male Football champions were awarded cash prize of $300,000 and one trophy sponsored by Digicel Guyana Inc. and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs.



Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai with Female Heritage Cricket Champions, Laluni.

In the Female football match, Region Four romped off with the title after nipping Region Nine, 2-0, in the 90-minute final. In the third place match, Bartica, dislodged Kako of Region Seven. A cash prize of $200,000 and a trophy were awarded to the champions, complements of General Equipment (Genequip) and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs. The most valuable players (MVP) were awarded $10,000 each.

In the Male Volleyball finals, Region 9 defeated Region 1 by 2 games to 1. In the semi-finals, the jubilant Region Nine defeated Region Six by, 2-0 as Region 1 eliminated Region 4, 2-0. Meanwhile, the Region 9 female netters overwhelmed Region Six, 2-0, to bag the title. In the semi-finals Region 9 overthrew Region 7 with a 2-0 score, while Region 6 conquered Region 2. Both champions in the male and female teams were awarded the sum of $40,000 each and the second place winners were given $30,000 plus a trophy, complements of General Marine and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs. The most valuable players for both teams were given $10,000 each, complements of Kito Mining.



Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs Collin Croal presents Captain of the Region 8 Male Football team with the runner-up .


In the Male Cricket finals, Laluni won by six runs against St. Cuthbert’s Mission. Both teams are from Region 4. The Most Valuable Player went to Glen Campbell. In the semi-finals, Laluni bested Mainstay, as St. Cuthbert’s demolished Capoey.

In the Cricket Female category, Laluni beat its opponent by winning a whopping seven wickets. Samantha La Cruz garnered the most valuable player award. Capoey Team of Region 2 halted Orealla by seven wickets in game one of the semi-finals while the Laluni Cricketers outmanoeuvred St. Cuthbert’s.



Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai and Gavin Hope from Digicel presenting trophy to captain of the Male Heritage Champions, Region 9.


The Cricket Heritage Champions for both male and female teams were awarded $50,000 each while the second place winners were awarded $35,000, the MVPs of cricket received $10,000 each all compliments of Digicel Inc.

The Hon. Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, assisted by Parliamentary Secretary, Steve Ninvalle, Permanent Secretary, Collin Croal and Regional Officials awarded the prizes to the various winners.

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Miss Region Three crowned Miss Amerindian Heritage Queen 2011

Miss Naomie Samuels, of Santa Mission Village, Region Three captured the coveted crown of Miss Amerindian Heritage Queen 2011 after a neck-and-neck competition with Miss Treasure James of the Mabaruma Sub-district, Region One as the curtains to the much anticipated Miss Amerindian Heritage Pageant 2011 came down Saturday evening, September 17, 2011 at the National Cultural Centre.

The pageant saw ten beautiful and intelligent Amerindian girls competing for the coveted crown of Miss Amerindian Heritage Queen 2011.

The delegates were judged based on five major segments; including Introduction, platform, talent piece, traditional wear, and evening wear plus several other special categories.

In additional to winning the prestigious title, the jubilant Ms. Samuels also won the prize for best talent. The Santa Mission beauty, who is currently a final year medical student at the University of Guyana, chose the platform of “Cervical Cancer”. The intelligent Miss Samuels answered her question with confidence which sent the audience in loud cheers and applause.

Miss Treasure James of Region 1, was adjudged, First runner up. She was also awarded the best Evening Gown prize and shared the personality award with Miss Gulene Salty of Region Nine. The Region One beauty was followed by Miss Aneece Hicks, of Region 10. Miss Hicks likewise romped off with the best platform “Alcohol Abuse in Amerindian communities” and Most Photogenic. Miss Devika Lopes of Region Five swept the Third runner up trophy.

Best Traditional wear was given to Miss Azoni Clement of Region Seven whose unique costume depicted the wealth, prosperity and strength of Region Seven. The Most Disciplined award along with “Miss Congeniality” which was chosen by the Delegates went to Miss Joyce Paul of Region Eight, while the best Introduction went to Miss Neisha Vantrompe of Region Six who was very impressive.

Before the curtains came down, Miss Nandanie Jerry, of Region Seven, the 2009 Miss Amerindian Heritage Queen gracefully took her final walk on stage as she narrated her experience as the Queen. Before the announcement of the Queen, each delegate was given a bouquet.

The Miss Amerindian Heritage Queen 2011 was awarded with an all expenses paid trip to Trinidad and Tobago where she will compete in the Caribbean Next Top Model, a laptop, compliments of the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, a hamper of beauty products valued at $25,000 compliments of Great Glam Fashion, a bouquet, a pair of gold earrings, sponsored by Kings Jewellery World, a trophy donated by Trophy Stall, and an exclusive designer outfit compliments of Sonia Noel.

Miss James, the first runner up was granted a scholarship at the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), compliments of the Ministry of Agriculture; trip to Kaieteur Falls sponsored by Linda Khan and Alfred Ramsarran of Savannah Inn, Lethem; one lap top, donated by the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Cooperation (GPC) – House of Limacol; a beauty hamper, compliments of Vinu’s Shoes Box; a bouquet; and an exclusive designer outfit, donated by Sonia Noel.

Miss Hicks, the second runner took home a cash prize of $80,000 from BK International Inc., a bouquet, a beauty hamper compliments of L-Mart and an exclusive designer outfit compliments of Sonia Noel.

Miss Lopes, third runner up was given a cash prize of $60,000 compliments of BK International Inc., a bouquet and a beauty hamper donated by Air Guyana.

Delegates who won special prizes were each awarded $30,000 cash and a trophy.
The Ministry of Amerindians Affairs expresses gratitude to all those who participated and contributed towards the success of the pageant especially Pageant Coordinator Sonia Noel and the ten delegates: Miss Treasure James, Region One, Miss Ahidie Pearson, Region Two, Miss Naiomi Samuels, Region Three, Ms. Marcia Ramjohn, Region Four, Ms. Devika Lopes, Region Five, Ms. Neisha Vantrompe, Region Six, Ms. Azoni Clement, Region Seven, Ms. Joyce Paul, Region Eight, Ms. Gulene Salty, Region Nine and Ms. Aneece Hicks, Region Ten.

The show also highlighted the Amerindian talent through diverse and rich cultural presentations of the various tribes such as the Akawaio Cultural Group from Sand Creek and Surama Dancers.
All Delegates including the Heritage Queen will receive their prizes at the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs Dinner and Appreciation Ceremony at Roraima Duke Lodge, Duke Street, Kingston on Friday September 30, 2011. The Dinner and Appreciation Ceremony commences at 19:00hrs and tickets are available at the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs.

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Option of computers in every Amerindian home to be tested

– President

Georgetown, GINA, September 2, 2011

The establishment of a bank of computers in each Amerindian village is still on the cards but the option of distributing devices to individual households in the hinterland will be tested, according to President Bharrat Jagdeo.

The Government is expecting 11,000 solar panels within the next month that are sized at 65 watts and with computers operating at 28 watts may be possible to pilot the new plan which President Jagdeo announced.

“We still have to test whether the computer running on 28 watts is a solid computer… eventually we may very well be able to get every home a computer there too,” President Jagdeo told members of the media at a press conference today.

He had assured the Amerindians that efforts will be made to equip each of the computer banks with Internet access, so that “all the kids in those communities and everyone else can also learn those computers.”

At the launch of Amerindian Heritage Month 2011, President Jagdeo had noted that “we may be able to depart from our strategy, which is slightly different on the coast… where we were doing banks of computers in each village, to actually give each home a computer too because they will have a means of powering it,” President Jagdeo said.

At the last National Toshao Council meeting in July, Amerindian leaders were assured that the solar panel project that will bring electricity to every household in their villages will move ahead as planned despite the impasse in the disbursement of the forest funds earned from Norway. The project will be implemented at a cost of US$3M.

Cabinet – the council of ministers chaired by the President – had approved the procurement of up to 11,000 65W Solar Home Systems under the Hinterland Electrification Programme.
Recently the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs distributed 574 solar panels to 16 Amerindian communities in Regions One, Two and Nine.

The Amerindian Affairs Ministry was tasked over the last year with distributing 1,000 (15-watt) solar panels to 23 communities and these 16 areas are the first beneficiaries.

President Jagdeo has been touting the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector as one with immense potential to generate greater disposable income and lead to the creation of thousands of jobs.

In April of 2011 laptops were included in the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs’ assistance package to Toshaos in over 20 Amerindian communities in the Rupununi, Region Nine while in July of that year, eight hinterland scholarship students housed in the Hinterland Students Dormitory at Liliendaal, received laptops from the OLPF Secretariat as part of a school based pilot project.

The beneficiaries were given the computers with the understanding that they will train other members of their household and their respective communities during the August vacation.
The Hinterland Students Dormitory is itself internet ready as it was outfitted with a computer room with free internet access, compliments of GT&T.

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Region 9 residents trained in installation, maintenance of solar home systems

-Regions 7, 8 and 10 next targeted for training

Georgetown, GINA, September 1, 2011

Region 9 residents on Friday last, completed a five-day training session by technicians from the Hinterland Electrification Unit of the Office of the Prime Minister dealing with installation and maintenance of the 65-Watt solar systems which will be distributed as soon as training for all stakeholders concludes.




Residents of Karasabai, Region 9 exhibit their skills learnt from the training conducted by technicians from the Hinterland Electrification Unit of the Office of the Prime Minister.

Technicians from the Unit will be dispatched to Regions 7, 8 and 10 from September 5, to conduct similar training sessions with residents of other Amerindian villages and clusters.

The training commenced on August 22 and saw technicians dispatched at Lethem, Shulinab, Karasabai, Annai and Aishalton to host training sessions simultaneously.

Government approved the procurement of approximately 11,000 systems, which will be distributed to indigenous communities across the country.

Days one and two of the training saw participants being taught the theory as it pertains to the basics in electricity and the installation of points, whilst during days three to five they were trained in the practical aspects.




Residents from Aishalton and technicians from the Hinterland Electrification Unit of the Office of the Prime Minister pose for a photograph upon completion of the five-day training session.

The initiative to conduct training sessions with residents of hinterland communities, aims at empowering representatives from Amerindian villages and clusters to spearhead the installation of the solar home systems, which includes installing the panel itself on the outer part of the building and switches and bulbs internally.

The solar home system which provides each home with power for lighting small household appliances and to generate income, is part of government’s initiative to improve the standard of living and livelihood of those residing in Amerindian villages and clusters across the country.

Towards this end, government has significantly advanced the distribution of solar panels under the Hinterland Electrification Programme to ensure that hinterland communities benefit from electricity.



Some of the Aishalton residents who participated in the five-day training session with technicians from the Hinterland Electrification Unit of the Office of the Prime Minister exhibit their skills learnt.

The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs has distributed 574 solar panels to 16 Amerindian communities in Regions One, Two and Nine under the Unserved Areas Electrification Programme, which saw 1,750 hinterland homes benefiting from electricity.

This project plays a critical role in achieving the Millennium Development Goal of ensuring environmental sustainability in Guyana because it will rectify the long-pervading inequity by providing access to clean and renewable energy throughout hinterland communities, thereby contributing significantly to Guyana’s overall Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).In so doing, the savings from the accelerating cost of imported fuel and resultant reduction in energy costs will play an important role in the strategy to secure Guyana’s economic development.

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Learning channel signal to reach Amerindian communities shortly

- President

Georgetown, GINA, September 5, 2011

The recently launched 24-hour learning channel that revolutionizes the way education is delivered across the country will be received in Amerindian communities within one month President Bharrat Jagdeo assured.

The National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD) had initially identified July to begin broadcasting programmes in Amerindian communities but officials gave the next month or two as the new timeline to President Jagdeo.

“The kids, whether you live in Aishalton or Paramakatoi or any part of the country, can see the remedial math lessons, science, english and all of the other programmes now run on the learning channel that we just established,” President Jagdeo said at the opening of Amerindian Heritage Month 2011 on September 1.

The station was established at a cost of just under US$1M which covered the cost of the infrastructure while additional sums were spent on the content that is being aired on a 24-hour basis.

Apart from content focusing on the school curriculum, the channel also airs special programmes with pertinent information on HIV/AIDS, maternal health, diabetes, hypertension, road safety and other such issues.

The Head of State had given the assurance at the launch of the channel earlier this year that it will be one with a difference giving no space for politics since Guyanese “need one channel with a break from politics.”

“What we are launching today is not just a television station that will broadcast educational content, we are launching an industry that will provide opportunities for our people and will see the delivery of educational material being revolutionised and hopefully will lead to a much more educated population,” President Jagdeo said at the April 1 launching.

Enthusiasm is high about the channel augmenting the plan to familiarise Guyanese with computers when 90,000 families receive laptops under the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) programme.

It is said that the learning channel can broadcast content on the use of the basics of computer usage simultaneously to the OLPF learning hubs which will be established in various communities for residents to access basic computer skills.

Speaking at the launch of the learning channel, President Jagdeo had expressed the view that the capacity to generate content that is country specific, continuous and of a good quality may be challenging but, at the same time, this may provide an opportunity for persons who may be interested in producing content for television.

The learning channel is a satellite broadcast system with content targeting to a primary and secondary audience of pre-schoolers, kindergartners, primary and secondary school students, early school leavers, life-long learners, parents, educators, farmers and other individuals interested in instructional education programmes in their preferred area of interest.

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Amerindians’ progress will continue - President assures

-As Amerindian Heritage Month launched

Georgetown, GINA, September 1, 2011

The People’s Progressive Party Civic agenda has always been based on advancement of Guyana and its citizens, hence the development of descendants of Guyana’s first people, the Amerindians will continue, President Bharrat Jagdeo told a large gathering at the grand launch of Amerindian Heritage Month 2011.




A group of Amerindians doing the Crab dance at the launch of Amerindian Heritage Month.


Expressing his pleasure to see such a large turnout at the Amerindian Village at the Sophia Exhibition Complex, the Head of State said, “ I have been going to the Amerindian villages, the heritage villages for the many years since and I have seen how from a handful of people at the first one, how this has grown in numbers and also in diversity to people of every race, religion now come and share this wonderful culture, … there is greater understanding and tolerance of people … and a greater recognition particularly among our young people, that these things belong to all of us, because they were imparted to us by our ancestors.”




A group of young dancers performing a traditional Amerindian dance
He noted that the celebration of the month is just the tip of the iceberg of the hard work that is being done by many people across the government and, the indigenous people who seek to elevate themselves.

He referred to the recently held National Toshaos Council meeting and how important the deliberations are to Amerindians’ development.

‘These leaders themselves have lead a process to create a national development strategy for each village, to transform the village economy for each of those villages and, there is a commitment on the part of the government that we will fund those strategies and we have already started doing so, we promised that the funds that we earn from abroad from the LCDS and the REDD+ mechanism at least a significant part will go to those communities,” he said.

President Jagdeo reminded that two years ago, villages were promised solar panels and now that promise is about to be fulfilled as maybe in another month or so 11, 000 homes will receive the 65-watts panels.



A section of the attendees at the launch of Amerindian Heritage Month
Expounding further on the development continuum for Amerindians, President Jagdeo indicated that about $2B is being pumped into connecting Regions 8 and 9 and that work has already started.

This road link will ensure that all the Region 8 products can be transported to the City by vehicles which will preclude the prohibitive cost to fly them in.

Goods from the coast can then be taken right into those communities, not only reducing the cost of living but opening up huge opportunities for all of those Region 8 communities and residents can return to producing potatoes and onions.

In Region there is a similar story as in the three sub districts, the roads are being done. “Baramita has been connected, a village that lives in isolation, we now have schools and a lot of public buildings have been connected now for the first time by road, road access, making a big difference in their life.”

Soon the National Education Channel will hit all across the country, including in the interior areas.

With respect to the land issue, he said, “We have kept faith with the communities, the process is a bit slow but we are moving on it because largely because the funds to complete the demarcation exercise … are coming in a little slow, we were hoping to use some LCDS funds to accelerate this, that hope is still there but we are going to make sure that every community that works with us is satisfied.”



Cabinet Members and Presidential Candidate and Adviser Donald Ramotar at the launch of Amerindian Heritage Month.

The government funded scholarship programme provides Amerindian children the opportunity of acquiring secondary schooling in Georgetown, and those who would have completed secondary schooling, the opportunity to pursue careers in Engineering, Medicine and Agriculture at overseas universities. This President Jagdeo says causes Amerindian kids to look for a life beyond primary education.

“So our record is very very strong and I will depart (office), this doesn’t happen because of Jagdeo, it has always been the PPPC’s agenda, so I have no fear that this will continue in the future, working to improve the life of Amerindian people. I know that we have a hard work ahead of us, there are so many things that need to be done, we still have to solve a lot of the problems facing these communities, there’s still a lot of problems there but when I speak to the kids in these communities, when I see people come from the communities, I see vibrant young Amerindian leaders…” he said.

The President reiterated how pleased he was with the progress that has been made and said his party embraces people, the government has wide open arms and is accommodative of all peoples regardless of their political persuasion or other differences.

In concluding, the Head of State said, “I urge you to keep the pride that we see so visible here today, high and fresh, a pride in our Amerindian culture, a pride in our love for this country because if we do that, if we put our country foremost, we act at all times in the best interest of our country, we will achieve everything that we want just here in this land, so I wish all of you well.”

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