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Corruption in village councils to be dealt with in 2010 – Amerindian Affairs Minister

Dec 31, 2009 News

By Fareeza Haniff

The issue of corruption within village councils will be dealt with aggressively in the New Year, as the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs plans to improve governance in Amerindian communities.
This is according to Amerindian Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai, who at a press conference yesterday, said that for this year, there have been few reports of corruption within village councils and against Toshaos.
However, she did admit that it is a serious issue that needs to be addressed.
According to Sukhai, the project department within the Amerindian Affairs Ministry is aggressive in addressing government and leadership issues along accountability and transparency in Amerindian villages.
Close watch is also being placed on project management and evaluating the investments from the government along with providing the type of support to village councils and their governance structure in the management of their community and resources.
“Like every other complaint which would be addressed by any agency, one has to examine the complaint, one has to have direct contact with the complainant and those who have interest in it. And the Minister usually deploys a committee to deal with those aspects,” Minister Sukhai explained.
She added that the Ministry deals with most of the complaints received in a very systematic way in accordance with certain procedures laid out in the Amerindian Act.
Some issues are also dealt with in a more traditional manner, more so when it is minor and can be solved by the type of support offered to those villages.
In 2010, the Amerindian Affairs Ministry will place more emphasis and focus on improving governance in Amerindian villages.
Sukhai explained that there is need for a lot more support for institutions that provide management and leadership to the various communities.
“When we look at the age group of the leaders, many are older and when one looks at their educational background, they have been part of that generation that missed opportunities in even the primary level of school.
“And when one looks at the younger generation and what they have to deal with, which has much enthusiasm, more knowledge but less commitment; the burden of development, governance, accountability and work lies on the shoulders of the experienced who have learned by trial and error and by pure practical methods.”
According to Minister Sukhai, the experience outweighs that of the younger generation, which looks at life differently but who are still unprepared to take on a leadership role.
She noted that the younger generation is not ready to take on the huge burden of managing an entire village.
At the same time the members of that generation is also not prepared to work for a measly sum of money at the end of the month, therefore the burden of governance is left to the older folks who are worn out.

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