Budget debate 2015…Hinterland not a separate nation

Aug 19, 2015 News

“No shortcut to ‘fix-it’ list for indigenous population” – Garrido-Lowe

In a most passionate pitch, Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Valerie Garrido-Lowe declared, “The hinterland is not a separate nation…our indigenous brothers and sisters, despite their locations, should be provided with the same developmental apparatus as coastlanders”.

Junior Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe

She was at the time addressing fellow parliamentarians, on Monday, the first day of the 2015 Budget debate. As things heated up she took sharp swipes at the past administration’s twenty-three years of what she termed ‘one Party domination’ while declaring that through the current Government, the nation has a chance of a “fresh approach to the good life in Guyana… hinterland peoples included.”
She lauded the aims of the budget and the Coalition to “unite our people, eliminate skullduggery, and reintroduce decency and morals in our society while creating strong foundations for a progressive future.”
Her ministry is tasked with enhancing the lives of indigenous people across Guyana and Minister Lowe is convinced that this new budget is a stepping stone to that position.
The national budget’s thrust is presented “A Fresh Approach to the Good Life in a Green Economy”.
Green economy speaks of sustainable development with little or no degradation to the environment which is extremely important to the Hinterland peoples, who live off and respect the environment.
As the world goes green, Budget 2015 with its 2020 vision gives Guyanese much hope as the only viable option, Lowe noted, while pointing out that even China, the world’s no. 1 polluter, is going green. She sees the budget as one which gives much hope to the hinterland population, especially the indigenous people whom she declared have suffered from starvation year after year.
“Starvation from a non-existent village economy; starvation from trained teachers in our schools; starvation from properly trained healthcare personnel in our hospitals, health centres and health huts; starvation from lack of proper roads; starvation from lack of proper houses – many indigenous families in this modern age, live under tarpaulin tents; starvation from training facilities that would allow our youths to acquire certificates in various skills, thus preparing them to enter the world of work.”
There is no short cut to the fix-it list for our hinterland and indigenous population as it is a tedious, but very necessary road to traverse if Guyana is going to move forward.
“The fresh approach that our APNU+AFC Government is taking, the vision of our President, David Granger, the One Guyana concept… is the vehicle that is going to take our hinterland and indigenous brothers and sisters out of poverty. That is why the statement on page 4 in ‘A fresh approach to the good life in a green economy’ is so very important.” That statement reads: ‘we share the same conviction that development must be for all our people, whether they are domiciled in urban or rural, hinterland or isolated areas’.
The minister said the statement highlighted in the budget brings hope to a people who never really benefited in a sustainable way, simply because they were thought to be living in places far too remote.
Making reference to President Granger the minister declared “…the hinterland is not a separate nation, and that our indigenous brothers and sisters, despite their locations, should be provided with the same developmental apparatus as coast landers.”
However, the minster did not only address issues of gloom and doom.
“This 2015 budget has numerous benefits for our indigenous population,” she said.
She celebrated the fact that plans are in place to construct all-weather roads in Regions 7 and 9 which will greatly benefit the residents of these areas. Additionally, plans are also in place to upgrade internal roads in the proposed new towns of Bartica, Mahdia and Mabaruma.
She gleamed as she noted the likelihood of, along with Lethem, four predominately indigenous areas turning into towns early in the coalition’s tenure. This, the minister said “is proof that our Government will not forsake our indigenous population. To this end the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs will engage fellow Ministries and institutions in preparing our youths for the employment that will be created.”
Lowe noted too that “not just our indigenous elderly will benefit, but men, including those in small scale mining, will benefit from the waiver of customs duties on selective items”. In terms of agriculture, the argument was that Government will place greater emphasis on large scale private investment in the Intermediate Savannahs in Region 9, which should benefit the indigenous populations of those areas. Crop diversification and the combination of fish and poultry rearing should help to create jobs and sustain most of these communities.
A sum of $130 million has been allocated to improve the water supply systems in areas such as Koko, Mabaruma, and Port Kaituma in Region 1; and Mahdia, Monkey Mountain, Princeville and Campbelltown in Region 8.
She concluded that “this Government will look towards a community approach when developing hydro and solar electricity in the hinterland. This will generate enough, affordable electricity to power, hospitals and health centers, schools and a vibrant ICT sector.”