APNU and AFC cuts to Budget not in interest of the Amerindian Development

The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs wishes to express its discomfort with the callous actions of the Opposition parties –the APNU and AFC on their proposed $26B cuts in the 2012 National Budget.

These recklessly uninformed, albeit, deliberate cuts will drastically affect the development of the country’s Amerindian population. The Ministry decries this act as it does not serve in the best interest of the more than 70,000 Amerindians who are mostly living in the remote areas across our hinterland and including in the coastal regions of our country.

The Ministry finds it completely incomprehensible that the APNU/AFC has approved to cut all of the LCDS projects from the Budget. These include the very fundamental support for the socio-economic development of Amerindian Communities- Land Titling and demarcation, solar electrification, and the implementation of Community Development plans and institutional strengthening of Villages, among others.

These programmatic interventions are expected to facilitate the socio-economic transformation of more than 186 Amerindian Villages and settlements, facilitate the creation of hundreds of jobs and foster wealth creation. The proposed cuts for programmes under the Low Carbon Development Strategy demonstrate gross disrespect to the Amerindians who are anxiously awaiting the funds to implement projects which were designed by the communities through their free, prior and informed consent.

The Opposition’s usual clamour about Amerindian rights to land, provision of jobs in Amerindian Communities and food security for our people is really farcical. How can they speak of titling and demarcation of Amerindian Lands if they are not in support of projects under the LCDS that will give our Amerindians tenure to their lands? Likewise, how can they speak of Amerindian development if they will remove funds made available for the implementation of economic livelihood projects in these remote communities?

These acts, as promulgated by the Opposition Parties, show evidentially that the likes of George Norton, Dawn Hastings, Sidney Allicock, Valerie Garrido-Lowe and Joan Marcello, without a doubt, tricked our Amerindian brothers and sisters to vote for the APNU and the AFC. As far as we are aware, the Opposition Parties campaigned in Amerindian Communities with promises to support Amerindian development. One can now deduce that the actions of the APNU/AFC are at least hypocritical. Their campaign promises were designed to fool and manipulate the emotions of our Amerindian population. It was more or less an act to garner votes but at the willful expense of our Amerindians.

We wish to make very clear that such preposterous actions by the combined Opposition are a violation of one’s rights to equal opportunities. The Opposition parties speak of political transformation and maturity in our country, but their posturing is a vivid reminder that their agenda is still more important than amerindian development. These un-thought-of cuts are designed to stagnate and stultify growth and development of our Amerindian people and their communities.

The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs will not sit idly and allow the Opposition Parties to trample on and treat Amerindians in this most whimsical manner. We demand that our people be treated with dignity and respect and be allowed to be part of the mainstream of development activities in our country. For far too long Amerindians have been neglected and cast aside under the ruler-ship of the Opposition.

As a result of the PPP/C’s prudent and democratic management of the economy, we can afford as a country to implement these programmes that will bring benefit to a once neglected group and promote national development. We call on the Opposition Parties to re -think their most untenable position and put our country and its people first so that we can continue to work towards a better Guyana for all.

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Minister Sukhai visits Orealla –underscores importance of accountability and transparency

-as village prepares for election

Georgetown, GINA, April 15, 2012

The principles of accountability, transparency and good governance were the centre of discussion between Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai and her team of officials from the ministry and residents of Orealla, a riverine community in Region 6.

Discussions with residents and the village council were also centered on the continued upward mobility of the village following preparations for the upcoming village elections, which will be held on April 23.



Residents of Orealla welcoming Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai on her arrival to their village, Orealla in the Berbice River


Addressing the residents and members of the village council of Orealla and the adjoining community Siparuta, at the Orealla meeting hall, Minister Sukhai said that the decision making process of the PPP/C Government is done through a process of consultations, involving the inputs from citizens, youth and seniors, and as such the same process should be applied at the village level.

“ It is very important for the residents of any village, young or old to always participate in the decision making or village activities, since togetherness will always breed success,” Minister Sukhai urged residents.

Amerindian communities, she said, across the country are becoming financially independent as Government continues to implement policies and programmes that are transforming their village economies and sustaining their traditional way of life and surroundings.



A section of Orealla and Siparuta villagers at a meeting in Orealla during a visit by Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai


In this regard, she said that residents and members of the village council should always refer to the Amerindian Act which is a critical tool for the governance, accountability and transparency of their village economy.

Amerindian communities, she said are becoming more self-sufficient and economically advanced and, as such the village council should, and must always be accountable to their people.

“The issue of village accountability is not a new one…I have been working in the field of Amerindian affairs for many years and, I must say that Amerindian communities have come a far way when it comes to being accountable,” Minister Sukhai said.

This achievement, she said was not easy, “it was achieved because of the pressures that were placed on the village management by its people,” Minister Sukhai said.
The changing landscape of Amerindian communities, Minister Sukhai said is testimony to the prudent management of the economy by the PPP/C administration and its people centered approach and such should be applied at the village level.



Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai addressing residents of Orealla and Siparuta, at the Orealla meeting centre, Region 6


“The residents of this village should always have meaningful engagement with the Council because the management of the village economy is for the betterment of the residents…so the community has the right to know the financial position of the village, but at the same they should not abuse their rights,” Minister Sukhai urged.

While informing residents about the provision in the Amerindian Act which caters for the elections of new Toshaos and village councils every three years, she urged residents to continue working for the betterment of the community regardless of who are elected to manage the Villages' affairs.

The Amerindian Act specifies clearly who can run for office as Toshao or member of the village council. The Amerindian acts states that a person may not stand for election or be elected as a Councilor unless he- is an Amerindian of at least 18 years of age, is a resident in the Village on the date of the nomination; has been continuously resident for a period of not less than three years immediately before his nomination provided that if a person has his principal home within the Village, any absence from the Village for education, employment or health care shall be disregarded in determining continuity of residence; and has not been convicted of a serious criminal offence involving violence or dishonesty.

Minister Sukhai also used the opportunity to reflect on the transformation of many Amerindian communities across the country and, numerous programmes that they continue to benefit from, including the annual presidential grants, school feeding and uniform programmes, hinterland secure livelihood programme, community development plans, unserved areas electrification programme, scholarship and hinterland road programmes, land demarcation, midwives’ training and the hinterland teachers’ upgrading programme.




A resident of Orealla voicing a concern with Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai


“The remoteness of the communities or settlement patterns are not excuses for my Government as it has been investing in providing primary and basic social needs to Amerindians across the country,” Minister Sukhai said.

Government will continue to support the transformation of village economies, but residents also need to be integrally involved in the process and the relaxed attitude from some residents are affecting the rate of development, she said.

“The village has great income-generating capabilities and you,(residents) should work with the council and, at the same time exploit your indigenous knowledge and practices to promote your community to further expand your income generating activities,” Minister Sukhai said.

Prior to the meeting, the Minister and team toured the village where they interacted with the residents.

The main economic activities of the village are logging, agriculture, sand mining and small scale farming. The village is comprised of Arawaks, Waraus and Caribs.

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Hassar Project of NHSLP in Tobago, Region 1

The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs has recognized that there have been lots of inconsistencies in media reporting on projects in the hinterland recently, especially by the Stabroek News. The Ministry therefore wishes to indicate and demonstrate by photographs that there are hassars in the pond in Tobago, Region 1, which is part of the National Hinterland Secure Livelihood Programme (NHSLP). This can be verified by the Toshao of Tobago Village Mr. Edmund Santiago, who unfortunately may have contributed to the misleading information.




Toshao Edmund Santiago with Hassar in hand from the Aquaculture Project
under the NSLP, Region 1



Hassar Fish of the Aquaculture Project in Tobago, Region 1.


The media craze on the Tobago Hill Hassar Cultivation project is an over milled story propagated by a media that lack credibility as they seek to promote a counter-productive agenda. The NSLP is a collaborative effort born out of strong partnerships with the villages, VSO, the RDC, NAREI and the MoAA.

The Hassar cultivation project in Tobago commenced in 2010, the project from the onset was affected by prolong heavy rainfall during 2010 to 2011 which resulted in some delays. The preparatory works and construction of the ponds were completed in August 2011. And in September of 2011 the ponds were stocked with 3000 hassar fries.

The Ministry of Amerindians Affairs in partnership with the VSO provided an aquaculture specialist who conducted capacity building and empowering sessions in fish cultivation and provided technical advice and support to the village council and local fish farmers for two years, with an approved extension of a further six months attachment by the aquaculture specialist to ensure that the beneficiaries were trained to manage the project.

The Minister pronouncement on the expected harvest in a few months was based on the project officer monthly reports and the assurance of the Aquaculture specialist. The Tobago Hill Toshao who is of the opinion that there are no hassar in the pond, was advised by the aquaculture specialist that indeed it is difficult to physically see the hassars as this species are bottom dwellers. The Specialist had always corrected this misconception of the Toshao on many occasions.

The VSO experts were engaged to transfer technology, and train villages to acquire skills for purposes of sustainable development. We cannot question the patience and determination of the aquaculture specialist who trained the Tobago Villagers, and who then formed a Farmers Association in the village to take care of the ponds and the fish to ensure sustainability. The article “Weeds grow in Tobago Hill fish ponds” aptly put it that the specialist “was credited for moving it forward,” but terribly missed the point, that the success of the projects lie in the village’s ownership, and therefore, the concomitant accountability for the project.

Monies spent on NHSLP were not spent in Tobago Hill alone; there are several other projects under the NHSLP. However the table provides a breakdown of the spending of all the components of the project. All of which are related to the project in the villages and have been well accounted and documented and are all located in the project village.

Items	Descriptions	Total
1	Grant for Cultivation of hassar project - Tobago	1,000,000
2	Pipes	807,079
3	Mattings	319,400
4	Storage Building	534,680
5	Trawl nets	51,546
6	Limestone	5,040
7	Water Pump	97,278
8	Chicken Manure	20,000
9	Inorganic Fertilizer	133,600
10	Concrete gate	718,200
11	Purchase of 3000 fingerlings	240,000

Also, the Ministry has never pronounced that the programme is going perfectly without any hindrances and setbacks. Indeed, there are teething issues and setbacks, as you would expect from any pilot programme. The Ministry has been addressing and continues to address these problems as they arise and acting proactively to manage risks before they occur. In fact, on January 2012, a team from the Ministry visited all the projects under this programme and consulted with stakeholders to identify strategies for overcoming current setbacks and planning for the future. The project officer in charge of NSLP is in constant communication with the farmers and the CDO to monitor the projects, and we have placed an international intern in Mabaruma since February 2012 to assist in these efforts. Thus, the statement that there is a “breakdown in communication between the authorities and the community,” is totally false and deceptive.

The Ministry ensures that sustainability component is built into each project so that it can be stand alone projects to be managed by the villages. The management and overall responsibility of projects under the NSLP lies with the local beneficiaries and the associations and the village councils. This is critical to the continuous development to any community, as it creates a greater sense of ownership and participation in their own development process. As part of the institutional support provided to Amerindian villages, the Ministry has vigorously pursued full integration of villages into all projects that are implemented in the communities. Mechanisms of sustainability that allows for project’s success; however there are cases where some villages do not lead these mechanisms.

To seek to discredit the Tobago Hill Hassar Cultivation project- one venture of the NHSLP is yet another attempt to downplay the economic initiatives of the local producers and of the Government intervention and effort to support the investments and empowerment of local villages to improve and sustain livelihood opportunities among Amerindians. The Government of Guyana has always been, and will continue to be committed to the development of all Guyana, including hinterland and Amerindian villages.

It is therefore mischievous of the media to continue to plunder a situation in the Tobago Hill, a village that is developing and growing following relocation and which is still in need of great support from Government and other partners who are willing to walk them through the process of empowerment and development.

Ministry of Amerindian Affairs

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