| … as President unveils extensive planBy Nicholas Peters Indigenous communities will face massive transformation in education, youth employment, poverty reduction, energy security, land titles, infrastructure, public and health services as well as culture and tourism.This was the position of President David Granger at the formal opening of the National Toshaos’ Conference (NTC), yesterday at the Arthur Chung International Convention Centre, Liliendaal East Coast Demerara.During his feature address, President Granger proposed a ten-point plan which would see to the development of Indigenous communities in a joint effort between Central Government and Toshaos.Mr. Granger related that the longevity of the NTC is testament to the nation’s objective of achieving a common goal of national development.“Your government will continue to work towards promoting inclusionary democracy and this (NTC) meeting today signifies their commitment to this goal,” said President Granger.However, he was keen to highlight that the country’s Hinterland faces a huge human development crisis.Of Guyana’s ten Administrative Regions, five of them (One, Seven, Eight, Nine and Ten) make up the Hinterland area, and account for over 76 percent of the country’s landmass.The majority of the country’s Indigenous settlements reside in the Hinterland regions but have largely been regarded as being disconnected from the more densely populated Coastland by persons in those communities, government officials and social groups.According to President Granger, the newly elected A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Chance (APNU+AFC) administration is looking to change the state of the Hinterland, and by extension Indigenous communities.His proposed ten-point plan is aimed at ensuring that Indigenous communities become thriving economic units.When it comes to an issue close to many Indigenous rights groups’ hearts – land rights – the President said that a Hinterland and Indigenous Peoples’ Land Commission will be established to address issues of land titling and demarcation.With the mining and logging industries on the upswing in Guyana, hinterland communities face conflicts with companies which carry out these activities in disputed areas. Land rights is an issue that many Toshaos at last year’s NTC wanted to be addressed.President Granger said that the Commission will investigate all complaints and claims with regards to land, issues which have been ongoing over the past 49 years.A section of the audience at yesterday’s formal opening of the National Toshaos’ ConferencePresident David Granger as he delivered the feature address“We (the government) want to bring the complaints to an end by setting up this Commission to sit with you and determine how best we can resolve the issues!” the President emphasised, as the audience responded with loud applause.For Education, the President unveiled the Hinterland Education Support Programme (HESP) which will support objectives of keeping children in school by providing meals, uniforms, schoolbooks, transportation and scholarships to secondary schools.“Our priority is to ensure that everyone is getting a solid education, to prepare him or her for a satisfactory job. We shall ensure that every child is able to attend school. No child should be prevented from attending school because of parental poverty,” said the country’s leader.Come September 1, the administration is launching a Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS), which the President shared will replace the recently terminated and controversial Youth Entrepreneurial Apprenticeship Programme (YEAP).In tackling poverty reduction, Granger introduced the Hinterland Poverty Reduction Programme (HPRP), which will address the critical state of the country’s social protection. He said that through good governance and sensible public policy, poverty can be decreased and eventually eradicated.Meanwhile, the Hinterland Infrastructure Extension Programme (HIEP) is going to fast track the improvement of the physical infrastructure with a highway between Lethem and Linden leading the forefront of these projects.“Your government intends to bridge the gap between standards of living on the coastland and the hinterland,” said Granger.As for energy security in the region, the Hinterland Energy Development Programme (HEDP) aims to implement solar farms to power Indigenous communities.Additionally, the Hinterland Happy Household Programme (HHHP) will be expected to ensure that investments in economic projects yield substantial and sustained benefits as well as maintain long term job opportunities in the region, with emphasis on agriculture and agro-processing.According to the President, the HHHP will also promote community safety and security while strengthening law enforcement in Indigenous settlements.In a move to further decentralise public services, Mr. Granger put forward the Hinterland Public Service Provision Scheme (HPSPS).“Public services such as pension schemes, telecommunications and healthcare, must be extended to all corners of the country,” the Head of State said. He added that the primary healthcare system under the previous administration has failed the region, and the HPSPS will see that such a system changes.Moreover, the President said that the HPSPS will see to the establishment of accessible citizenship registries and the dissemination of media through all Indigenous communities.President Granger’s final proposals within his administration’s ten-point plan were the establishment of a Hinterland Language, Cultural and Sports Service (HLCSS) and the Hinterland Tourism Service (HTS).The HLCSS’s implementation is meant to enhance focus on sports, as more youth from Indigenous communities demonstrate their prowess on the field.Meanwhile the language component of the programme aims to tackle the language barrier between English speakers and Indigenous language speakers in order to optimise the provision of public services in the region.As for the HTS, the President said that this programme will establish an eco-tourism economy as an alternative market for Indigenous communities, as he described the country’s tourism product as being “underexploited”. He noted that the programme can lead to the establishment of a zoological park and botanical garden to showcase the Hinterland’s unique flora and fauna in a sustainable and ecological manner.In addition to the hundreds of Toshaoships represented at the NTC, present from Central Government at yesterday’s proceedings were several government officials. Vice President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock and Minister within the same Ministry, Valrie Garrido-Lowe also addressed the Conference. The NTC is scheduled to continue today. |
