Several initiatives slated for Amerindian development ... seven communities to receive land titles tomorrow

Several initiatives slated for Amerindian development
... seven communities to receive land titles tomorrow
Kaieteur News, 4 September 2007

As Amerindian Heritage month forges ahead several initiatives are being
launched for the development of the nation's first people.

Amerindian Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues at the launching ceremony
of the month-long activities held at the Umana Yana on Saturday said
that during this month, Government will be hosting a five-day meeting
of all Toshaos, in Georgetown .

At the forum, a number of developmental issues are to be discussed.

The toshaos are also expected to nominate their representatives to the
Indigenous Peoples Commission and elect the executive Members of the
National Toshaos Council (NTC)

The NTC is provided for in the new Amerindian Act that was assented to
recently.

“We hope these entities will contribute to the merging of workable
ideas that will further transform Guyana 's landscape as far as
Indigenous peoples are concerned,” said Rodrigues.

She added that work to complete the Lethem and Mabaruma hospitals is
commencing apace so that the districts, which comprise the first and
second largest Amerindian populations, would have access to improve
health facilities.

The St. Cuthbert's Secondary School is also scheduled to be opened
shortly and will see students of St. Cuthbert's Mission and neighboring
communities benefiting from secondary education which was otherwise
difficult to access.

Rodrigues also said that the administration is expected to start
construction of a students' dormitory in Georgetown next year.

To date a total of 80 scholarships to students have been granted by the
Amerindian Affairs Ministry.

The scholarships were presented to the students that excelled at the
National Grade Six Assessment and others who will attend technical
institutions.

“Recognising that our communities must be fully educated on HIV/AIDS we
have just completed a ‘training of trainers' forum and we expect
several teams to be visiting the far flung communities to provide the
relevant education.”

She also mentioned the recent approval of $800M to improve hinterland
roads.

Tomorrow, seven Amerindian communities will also receive land titles.

Minister within the Ministry of Education, Desrey Fox, speaking with
Kaieteur News from an educational standpoint said that strides are
being made in the sector for Amerindians, not only in Guyana , but
throughout South America .

She added that in recent times the government has renewed its focus on
educating Amerindians, with one such example being the increase in
scholarships not just to Georgetown schools but for overseas
institutions as well.

According to Fox, the Ministries of Education and Amerindian Affairs
are constantly collaborating and exploring all options to ensure that
Amerindians have an equal opportunity to integrate in mainstream
Guyana, thus enjoying all of the privileges that others citizens do.

As it relates to the development of hinterland schools, Fox said, “We
have to be cognizant of the fact that the building of schools has to go
hand in hand with the culture of the people.”