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.”