Malali gets tractor to boost economic activities

Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai on February 24, 2012 handed over the keys for a New Holland 8030 four-wheel drive tractor to Toshao Wilbert Hall of Malali Village, Region 10. The tractor was procured at a cost of $10M. The provision of the machinery to the Village forms part of Government’s effort to support the economic activities and services of Amerindian Communities and Villages.


Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai hands over the keys to the tractor to Toshao of Malali, Wilbert Hall.


The tractor was purchased with the Village’s Presidential Grant of 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 ($4M) with the Village Council funding the difference of $6M. The tractor will be used to support the development of the Village’s main economic activity which is logging and, will also be used to support the diversification of the village’s economy by promoting greater agriculture production. A Management Committee will be established to monitor the use, maintenance and sustainability of the tractor.

Witnessing the handing over ceremony were the Permanent Secretary Nigel Dharamlall and Principal Regional Development Officer Anil Roberts and other representatives.

The Ministry has given support for agricultural development in Amerindian Communities over the years to ensure food security and to promote the development of agricultural enterprises. Since 2009, we have supported a total of 25 Villages including satellite communities with the agricultural machinery (tractor, plough, trailer, chipper among other machinery and equipment). This amounts to more than $112M and were funded under various programmes and commitments including; commitments made at the National Toshaos Conferences, MoAA capital budget and the Presidential Grants Programme.


The tractor given to Malali, Region 10.

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Ministry develops Village Youth Sport Groups in Region 1

Youths in the Mabaruma and Moruca Sub-Regions, Region One, are the beneficiaries of a quantity of sports gear donated by the Ministry for the formation of Youth Sports groups. Sports development in Amerindian Villages/ Communities is among the priorities of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs.

The sports items were handed over on February 24, 2012 at the Ministry’s Office, Georgetown, which included a quantity of footballs, volleys balls, cricket balls and bats at the tune of $80,000. The items were collected by the Interns on behalf of the group. The interns will be working with youths of Mabaruma and students of Santa Rosa Secondary School, to establish Youth Sport groups.


Interns from the International Youth Aboriginal Internship programme receives sports gear from the PRDO Anil Roberts, Project Coordination Sharon Austin and Project Officer Eishwar Sasenarine.

The sports programme initiative will be implemented by the Aboriginal interns that are attached to the Ministry and stationed in the Sub-Regions. The International Aboriginal Youth Internship Programme is collaboration between the Ministry and the Canadian Institute of Planners of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA.


An intern receives a football from the PRDO Anil Roberts, MoAA

The Villages will benefit from the services of the Interns for a period of six months. The Interns will be working in partnership with the Villages to develop social and economic projects to create greater awareness in the areas of eco-tourism, culture, information, communication and technology (ICT), Sports and social issues. They are also tasked to provide on the ground support to the National Hinterland Secure livelihood Programme (NHSLP).

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Another Amerindian village gets transportation boost

Georgetown, GINA, February 22, 2011

St Deny’s Mission, a titled Amerindian village in Tapakuma, Region Two, is now the owner of a Toyota Hiace, fifteen-seater minibus. The vehicle was handed over today to the Village’s Toshao, Doreen Jacobis at the Amerindian Affairs Ministry, Quamina St, Georgetown.

Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai in the company of Permanent Secretary Nigel Dharamlall and Principal Regional Development Officer Anil Roberts handed over the keys to the vehicle which costs $3.3M.

The vehicle was purchased with the village’s Presidential Grant from 2009 to 2011 and a $300,000 contribution from the village.

The minibus will allow for the transport of farmers’ produce to the Anna Regina market and villagers, including school children of the various surrounding communities along the St Deny’s, Tapakuma and Mainstay route.


Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai hands over the keys to the minibus to Toshao, St Deny’s Mission, Doreen Jacobis.


The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs has been supporting the improvement of transportation means by water and land over the years in several Amerindian communities.

Minister Sukhai said that since the year started the Ministry has spent $17.1M in grant fund to assist several communities with vehicles among which are Kamwatta in the Moruca Sub Region, Region One, Mainstay, Region Two and Sand Creek, Region Nine. The Villages of Kamwatta and Mainstay each benefited from one minibus valued at valued $3.2M and $5M respectively while Sand Creek received one 4x4 pickup valued $5.1M.

Toshao Jacobis said that the village had relied on the service of private vehicles for transportation which sometimes proved difficult for the school children and the elderly due to the unavailability of the buses. “This morning is the happiest day in my life as a Toshao as I received the key to this brand new minibus that I will be taking home to my villagers… we have never owned a bus,” Jacobis said.

She expressed gratitude to the Ministry and former President Bharrat Jagdeo for initiating the Presidential Grant Programme that afforded the Village the opportunity to own the vehicle.

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Ministry of Amerindian Affairs to lead strong contingent for Mash 2012

The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs will be participating in the medium category of the float parade. The Ministry will lead a strong contingent comprising of 125 members along the roadways on February 23, 2012 in observation of Guyana’s 42nd Republic Anniversary.

The theme of the band reflects the pride of the Amerindians people of Guyana and that of this year Mashramani theme “Mashin’ with Pride, Keepin’ we Tradition Alive”. The queen float “My Native land” portrays a rich cultural diversity of the Amerindians, will lead the contingent.


Hon. Pauline Sukhai, Minister of Amerindian Affairs and Anil Roberts, PRDO posses with the Queen float of the MoAA 2012 Mash band.

The float and costume depict the legacy of a proud land with colours representing the nature of our country. The foliage represents the Indigenous connection with their environment and the preservation of nature. The design at the back of the float exhibits the majestic water drops found in the Interior. A golden sun sits in the background represents a bright future, while maintaining a Guyanese tradition.

Highlighting the float is a giant Amerindian head dress consistent with the colours of the Coat-of-Arms. The head dress also has nine plumes representing the Amerindian Nations of Guyana. The petroglyph symbols portray the cultural heritage of the Amerindians.

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Baramita Students visits the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs

Fifteen Students of the Secondary Department of the Baramita Primary School, Region 1, on February 20, 2012 visited the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs as part of a one week school tour. The Students met with Minister Pauline Sukhai who highlighted the work and programmes of the Ministry.



Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Hon. Pauline Sukhai, Permanent Secretary, Nigel Dharamlall and students of the Baramita Primary school (Primary Top) during a courtesy call at the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs

The Minister implored on the students to strive for higher education to contribute to their personal and national development. The students were then given a tour of the various departments of the Ministry and interacted with staff.

The students will spend the entire week in Georgetown and will be visiting other Government Ministries, private organisations and other national sites in Georgetown.


Students examine craft Items at the Craft Shop, MoAA



Some of the Students on the tour.

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