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Hinterland development

Dec 06, 2015 APNU Column, Features / Columnists

The establishment of the towns of Bartica, Lethem and Mabaruma in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni (Region No 7), Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region No 9) and Barima-Waini,( Region No 1) respectively, is one of the administration’s first acts to equalize the standard of living countrywide.
Your government is of the view that two decades of a flawed policy of political patronage has dangerously divided Guyana into two zones. This East-West divide that separates the lands west of Fort Island on the Essequibo River from those to the East, has hindered development.
National development depends on hinterland development. Your government intends to reverse this inequitable state of affairs and promote countrywide progress by pursuing a sustainable hinterland development strategy.
Economic growth is heavily dependent on the hinterland’s resources. Mineral and forest resources account for the major part of Guyana’s export earnings. Your government intends to implement policies and administrative arrangements to maximize earnings from mining activities in a sustainable manner. Adding value to Guyana’s forestry products will create new jobs; your government will move in this direction of sustainable growth which must necessarily include environmentally sound best-practices.
National economic progress depends on development of the 76% of Guyana’s landmass which comprises the hinterland. No less important than overall national growth is the improvement of the standard of living of the 113,000 Guyanese who inhabit Guyana’s interior, in fact, the two are inextricable linked.
For too long Guyana’s hinterland residents have endured a substandard existence. The majority of those Guyanese are the Akawaio, Arawak, Arecuna, Carib, Makusi, Patamona, Wai-Wai, Wapishana and Warau – Guyana’s Indigenous Peoples. Your government is committed to ensuring that all Guyanese enjoy a decent standard of living. Your government undertakes to empower Guyana’s first peoples to be able to sustainably provide for themselves, while ending the dependency syndrome that had characterized life in the past.
Technical and agricultural institutes will be established in each hinterland region, so as to endow hinterland youth with the skills needed for them to prosper. Currently, although there may be some good jobs available, they are given to persons brought from the coast, because local residents lack the skills necessary to fill them. Instead, most locals must take low-paying menial jobs. The administration intends to put an end to this disparity. Our hinterland-based brothers and sisters must have the same opportunity to succeed in life as coastal dwellers.
The administration views development as human development, in other words, improvement in the standard of living of citizens across Guyana. Your government recognises the need for permanent institutions, jobs, farm-to-market roads, well equipped and staffed schools airstrips, safe communities, food security, decent infrastructure and efficient services. The establishment of the new towns is one of the first steps in the administration’s quest to equalize standards of living across Guyana’s regions.
As the administrative centres of the three regions, it makes sense to elevate the status of the areas to towns as the government has done. The administration will now invest in improving infrastructure and service-delivery to those communities and regions. Bartica, for example, needs a better stelling and proper waste disposal; Lethem requires improved water and electricity services; Mabaruma’s market is yet to be completed and all-weather roads must be constructed, the administration will address those and other issues which have already been identified.
The task of creating better lives for all Guyanese and equalizing living standards for all citizens will not be an easy one. Your government will not be daunted, though, by the magnitude of the undertaking; we remain resolute in our commitment to improving lives. Your government is here to serve you, and although we realize that goals may not be achieved overnight, we stand by our resolve to make life better for all Guyanese.

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