Hinterland development to continue- 2012 Budget
Georgetown, GINA, April 01, 2012
The transformation of the economic and social landscape of the hinterland is set to continue under the People's Progressive Party Civic Government as reflected in Budget 2012, presented under the theme “Remaining on Course, United in Purpose, Prosperity for All.”
The Budget presented by Finance Minister Dr. Ashini Singh on Friday outlined continued hinterland interventions in health, education, water and electricity among others.
Education
Over $1B has been allocated to sustain the National and Hinterland School Feeding Programmes, even as the School Uniform support is set to continue.
The Hinterland will benefit from the $3.3B that has been allocated for continued construction, extension, rehabilitation and maintenance of schools and education institutions countrywide. The construction of the Waramadong dormitory and teaching block in Region Seven and works on the dormitory, science and information technology laboratory at the Sand Creek Secondary School, Region Nine is to be facilitated under this allocation.
The Hinterland Scholarship programme is expected to benefit over 100 students this year. In 2011, 112 students were granted scholarships and 68 graduated from secondary, technical and tertiary institutions.
Additionally, in support of the welfare of hinterland students, $37M was expended on the students’ dormitory at Liliendaal, benefiting 58 students.
Health
Government has allocated over $16.9B, Minister Ashini Singh said, to “continue the modernisation of the health sector and to consolidate on the gains made over the past decade.”
And this includes those gains made in the Hinterland as under the 2012 Budget, the sum of $235M has been allocated for the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of accommodation for doctors and other medical support staff in areas such as Sand Creek, Karasabai, Kwakwani, Corriverton and Long Creek.
This sum also caters for the procurement of medical equipment for the said locations.
Roads
Government will be investing in 2012, $11.8B to sustain and improve roads and bridges' network countrywide.
The sum of $2.2B will be expended on the completion of major road projects, under which work on the Georgetown-Lethem road is to be facilitated.
The sum of $5.5B was also allocated to construct, rehabilitate and maintain urban, rural, community, and hinterland roads.
Water
Government will continue its emphasis on improving access quality water supply in the hinterland.
The sum of $150M is budgeted to install 10 photovoltaic systems, upgrade 5 existing water supply systems and construct medium depth boreholes that will benefit over 11,000 Hinterland residents.
In 2011, through Government's interventions, 3,000 service connections were done, 6 new boreholes were completed, 17 new photovoltaic systems installed, 14 elevated storages units constructed and 4 distribution systems installed in communities such as 4 Miles, Falls Top, Micobie, Kariako, and Kwebanna.
Airstrips
A sum of $180M is budgeted for the rehabilitation of airstrips in Lethem, Imbaimadai and Ekereku Bottom. This also caters for the ongoing maintenance of 43 airstrips, some in Regions 1, 7, 8 and 9.
Electriification
Under the Hinterland Electrification Programme, 1,729 solar panel systems were distributed to households and public institutions in Amerindian Communities in 2011.
The 2012 budget proposes a continuation of the distribution process targeting over 8,000 panels.
An allocation of $94M has been also made for the construction of a power supply distribution network at Matthews Ridge and the acquisition of solar panels, transformers and generators for areas such as Lethem, Moruca, Barabina, Waramadong, Kato, Aishalton, Wakapou, Caria Caria, Low Wood and Rockstone.
Ano additional $50M will be spent for the design of a 330 kw micro-hydropower project at Kato, Region Eight that is expected to boost electricity supply and benefit 2,700 people in Sub-Region 1 of Region 8.
Housing
Government will invest $3.6B in the housing sector to increase access to affordable housing, and this will cater for home improvement subsidies to vulnerable groups inclusive of 90 coastland and 100 Hinterland families.
Agriculture
The completion of a genetic bank, artificial insemination laboratory, and quarantine stations at St. Ignatius and Mabura are among the initiatives in this sector that are to be pursued this year in the Hinterland. Additionally, the hinterland rice and bean project will continue and the spice project that commenced in 2011 in communities such as Kato, Kurukubaru, Paramakatoi and Bamboo Creek is to be advanced.
Amerindian Development Fund
Over $165M has been budgeted under the Amerindian Development Fund for community programmes, issuance of land titles to 13 villages, and the National Secure Livelihood Programme.
Additionally, under the GRIF, funding will be provided to support the socioeconomic development of Amerindian communities through the implementation of their community development plans.
In 2011, under the Amerindian Development Fund, $87M was expended on the acquisition of tractors, portable sawmills and other agricultural tools among other interventions.
