Provide evidence of $$ spent in hinterland communities – PPP MP …as Govt. boasts about expenditure in 2019 budget.

Dec 04, 2018 News

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People’s Progressive Party (PPP) back-bencher, Yvonne Pearson, has labeled Government’s 2019 budget ‘tasteless’ and lacking the ingredients to deliver ‘the good life’ as promised by the Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan.

Taking aim at Government expenditure in hinterland communities during the first day of the 2019 budget debate, Pearson challenged Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, to provide evidence to support her statement that 3795 youths were trained and 2054 small businesses were created through the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS).
“It makes me wonder if this is part of the $865M that cannot be really accounted for in the Ministry. Honourable Minister, put our mind at ease; we would like the Honourable Minister to give us the information. There must be record to show which villages and who are those youths. We would like to know,” Pearson stated.
The former Toshao said that the Indigenous People must have a planned programme.
“We don’t want piecemeal development…Let us see the evidence. Let us have the evidence of what is happening. We have been hearing about the tomato ketchup and the salad dressing.
“I am happy to know that we can produce it in our villages, but we want the evidence. When we listen to all these figures that are being spent here, there and everywhere and when we go out there, the evidence is not there,” Pearson noted.
She also called for money to be spent on tourism development in hinterland communities since visitors are not coming to Guyana to visit Georgetown.
“Special funds must be set aside or else don’t talk tourism. Nobody is coming to see Georgetown. Destination Guyana! When you look at those brochures; when you look at the tourism guides who do you see? Our Indigenous Peoples.

“We are on the forefront and as such we are calling on the Government to make funds available to develop tourism. Destination Guyana is the hinterland and not Georgetown,” Pearson noted.
She added, “We are not going to stay at the back and you are saying destination Guyana. I am saying no Sir.”
Pearson said Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock, has failed miserably on the Amerindian land titling project. She reminded Allicock that while he was serving as a Toshao he indicated that Amerindian land titling must be seen through Indigenous eyes and not through the eyes of politics.

EQUITABLY REPRESENTION
During the debate, Minister Garrido-Lowe said that the Indigenous Peoples have been equally represented in the Budget with an allocation of about $60M earmarked for projects that create jobs and generate income for residents in several villages including Paruima in Region Seven, Santa Cruz and Tobago Hill in Region One and Maruwanau and Bina Hill in Region Nine.
“Since this Government took office, the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs has been focusing on building the capacity of our Indigenous and hinterland people.
“Your Government, Mr. Speaker, does not believe in handouts. We believe in empowering people and giving them the economic support required so that they can create successful and meaningful lives for themselves,” Garrido-Lowe stated.
She said that an additional $16 Million was allocated for the Cassava Flour Processing Factory in Kwebana; $6Million for the installation of a solar system at the Crab Processing facility at Smith’s Creek; and $15Million for the construction of the ground coffee processing facility in Santa Rosa.
The sum of $3M has also been allocated to support the Lapidary project in Region Eight. These funds will be used to purchase the jewel boxes and bags crafted by the Indigenous people themselves, as well ensure the provision of internet connectivity.
Garrido-Lowe also stated that HEYS has provided training to 3,795 youths in 222 villages over the last two years. Some 2,054 small businesses were established by these youths in villages as far as Kakshibai, Tipiru and Achiwib in Region Nine, and Monkey Mountain and Red Creek in Region Eight.
The Minister said that $4M will also be spent on the construction of two rest-shelters for the students of Chenapau and Karisparu in Region Eight, who have to walk long distances to attend Secondary School in Paramakatoi.
These shelters, Minister Garrido-Lowe explained will provide a respite for the students and their parents, while the Government will review the building of proper roads and bridges so vehicles will be able to traverse these areas.
Further, to ensure that Indigenous residents can transact business with ease when in the capital city, the sum of $28Million was apportioned to furnish an extension at the Indigenous Residence at Princes Street, Georgetown.

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