Amerindians contributing increasingly to national development --- Minister Sukhai tells Isseneru residents at commissioning of $25M guest house
Written by
Thursday, 08 September 2011 01:49
Source - Guyana Chronicle
Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai addressing residents of Isseneru, a riverine community in the Upper Mazaruni River, Region 7
AMERINDIAN communities in Guyana are becoming more self-sufficient through their involvement in the decision-making process as it relates to economic advancement, as many villages are now actively pursuing income generating projects and activities that are transforming their communities.
Isseneru, a riverine community in the Upper Mazaruni River, Region 7, is one such community which speaks volumes for Amerindian development in Guyana.
Signs of development in Isseneru were very much evident during a recent visit by Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai and a team from the ministry, along with Chairperson of the National Toshaos Council, Yvonne Pearson, to commission the community’s newest investment, a $25M guest house.
The two - storey concrete and wooden building contains seven rooms, one master suite, kitchen, and dining and living room areas. The building is also equipped with solar power, indoor plumbing and back-up power supply.
Minister Sukhai, prior to the commissioning, told Isseneru residents that many Amerindian communities are becoming more self-sufficient as a result of initiatives that were established over the past 19 years under the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration.
The changing landscape, she noted, is testimony to Guyana’s development through access to more educational and health facilities, the availability of potable water, road infrastructure, and social services.
Economic development, she also said, is fast becoming the burgeoning sector at the village level, especially in Isseneru, which has already taken that bold step to boost employment.
“The current generation of Amerindians has taken a different approach to life, an approach that says, ‘we are maturing as a people, we are becoming responsible for our development, and that we are ready and willing to take development into our hands,” Minister Sukhai said.
The opening of the guest house, she noted, is very significant to the village’s history, and will be “even more significant as the village takes bolder steps towards harnessing its development,” Minister Sukhai said.
Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai cutting the ribbon to officially open the Isseneru guest house
Speaking about Amerindian Heritage Month, Minister Sukhai informed the residents of the grand launch in Georgetown which surpassed the attendance and expectations of the previous years, with all ethnic groups present.
She took the opportunity to urge residents to continue transferring their language to their children, in order for them to be receptive to their culture.
Education, she urged, should become a part of their cultural and personal development, since “without an education, it would be more difficult to realize our dreams and vision for a better life for the present and future generations of Amerindians,” Minister Sukhai said.
Huge sums are allotted annually to ensure that children receive an education; and all regions, including hinterland regions, are benefiting from government interventions by way of uniform materials, hot meals or snacks, text and exercise books, and a more conducive environment for learning.
“As this Heritage Month is being celebrated, let us commit to ensuring that our children and young people receive an education,” Minister Sukhai urged.
More than 90 percent of the teachers in schools in hinterland regions are from the same communities served by the schools, and over 50 percent of the hinterland students completing primary education can now have access to secondary and tertiary education.
Minister Sukhai also told the residents of initiatives on stream that will significantly impact their lives, such as the US$1M TV learning channel that will soon transmit all across the country, and the One Laptop Per Family Programme.
“Government will be equipping each village with a bank of computers, and we expect not payment for this intervention, but that the population, children, young people and adults, will make efforts to be computer literate,” Minister Sukhai urged.
Minister Sukhai also informed the residents of government’s hinterland electrification programme that will see 11,000 households benefiting from solar energy.
Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai touring the guest house
The 65-watt home systems are expected to arrive in Guyana before the end of this month, and persons from different regions have already begun training to instal and maintain the systems.
Region 7 communities are in line to benefit and the training will be extended to the region shortly.
The Amerindian Affairs Ministry in 2010 was tasked with distributing 1,000, solar panels to 23 communities.
Through the Un-served Areas Electrification Programme, 574 solar panels were distributed to 16 Amerindian communities in Regions 1, 2 and 9.
Amerindians, Minister Sukhai said, should also use the month to reflect on the progress and contributions they have made to national development.
The PPP/C administration has always taken into consideration the views of all its citizens in decision making, which is evident at the governance level with two government ministers being Amerindian.
“Amerindians are making tremendous contributions to this country, which we have never done before,” Minister Sukhai said.
The Isseneru guest house
And while the government is responsible for overall development, Amerindians have shown progress in carving their own destiny. They now enjoy improved health care and other social services, and are also benefiting through the granting of land titles and transports.
Amerindians titled occupation to date accounts for more than 16 percent of Guyana’s land mass.
Minister Sukhai also reflected on the life and work of late Minister within the Ministry of Education, Dr. Desrey Fox, who hailed from Waramadong, in Region 7. (GINA)
Written by
Thursday, 08 September 2011 01:49
Source - Guyana Chronicle
Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai addressing residents of Isseneru, a riverine community in the Upper Mazaruni River, Region 7AMERINDIAN communities in Guyana are becoming more self-sufficient through their involvement in the decision-making process as it relates to economic advancement, as many villages are now actively pursuing income generating projects and activities that are transforming their communities.
Isseneru, a riverine community in the Upper Mazaruni River, Region 7, is one such community which speaks volumes for Amerindian development in Guyana.
Signs of development in Isseneru were very much evident during a recent visit by Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai and a team from the ministry, along with Chairperson of the National Toshaos Council, Yvonne Pearson, to commission the community’s newest investment, a $25M guest house.
The two - storey concrete and wooden building contains seven rooms, one master suite, kitchen, and dining and living room areas. The building is also equipped with solar power, indoor plumbing and back-up power supply.
Minister Sukhai, prior to the commissioning, told Isseneru residents that many Amerindian communities are becoming more self-sufficient as a result of initiatives that were established over the past 19 years under the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration.
The changing landscape, she noted, is testimony to Guyana’s development through access to more educational and health facilities, the availability of potable water, road infrastructure, and social services.
Economic development, she also said, is fast becoming the burgeoning sector at the village level, especially in Isseneru, which has already taken that bold step to boost employment.
“The current generation of Amerindians has taken a different approach to life, an approach that says, ‘we are maturing as a people, we are becoming responsible for our development, and that we are ready and willing to take development into our hands,” Minister Sukhai said.
The opening of the guest house, she noted, is very significant to the village’s history, and will be “even more significant as the village takes bolder steps towards harnessing its development,” Minister Sukhai said.
Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai cutting the ribbon to officially open the Isseneru guest houseSpeaking about Amerindian Heritage Month, Minister Sukhai informed the residents of the grand launch in Georgetown which surpassed the attendance and expectations of the previous years, with all ethnic groups present.
She took the opportunity to urge residents to continue transferring their language to their children, in order for them to be receptive to their culture.
Education, she urged, should become a part of their cultural and personal development, since “without an education, it would be more difficult to realize our dreams and vision for a better life for the present and future generations of Amerindians,” Minister Sukhai said.
Huge sums are allotted annually to ensure that children receive an education; and all regions, including hinterland regions, are benefiting from government interventions by way of uniform materials, hot meals or snacks, text and exercise books, and a more conducive environment for learning.
“As this Heritage Month is being celebrated, let us commit to ensuring that our children and young people receive an education,” Minister Sukhai urged.
More than 90 percent of the teachers in schools in hinterland regions are from the same communities served by the schools, and over 50 percent of the hinterland students completing primary education can now have access to secondary and tertiary education.
Minister Sukhai also told the residents of initiatives on stream that will significantly impact their lives, such as the US$1M TV learning channel that will soon transmit all across the country, and the One Laptop Per Family Programme.
“Government will be equipping each village with a bank of computers, and we expect not payment for this intervention, but that the population, children, young people and adults, will make efforts to be computer literate,” Minister Sukhai urged.
Minister Sukhai also informed the residents of government’s hinterland electrification programme that will see 11,000 households benefiting from solar energy.
Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai touring the guest houseThe 65-watt home systems are expected to arrive in Guyana before the end of this month, and persons from different regions have already begun training to instal and maintain the systems.
Region 7 communities are in line to benefit and the training will be extended to the region shortly.
The Amerindian Affairs Ministry in 2010 was tasked with distributing 1,000, solar panels to 23 communities.
Through the Un-served Areas Electrification Programme, 574 solar panels were distributed to 16 Amerindian communities in Regions 1, 2 and 9.
Amerindians, Minister Sukhai said, should also use the month to reflect on the progress and contributions they have made to national development.
The PPP/C administration has always taken into consideration the views of all its citizens in decision making, which is evident at the governance level with two government ministers being Amerindian.
“Amerindians are making tremendous contributions to this country, which we have never done before,” Minister Sukhai said.
The Isseneru guest houseAnd while the government is responsible for overall development, Amerindians have shown progress in carving their own destiny. They now enjoy improved health care and other social services, and are also benefiting through the granting of land titles and transports.
Amerindians titled occupation to date accounts for more than 16 percent of Guyana’s land mass.
Minister Sukhai also reflected on the life and work of late Minister within the Ministry of Education, Dr. Desrey Fox, who hailed from Waramadong, in Region 7. (GINA)