$9M to for projects in Regions 1 and 9

Indigenous villages to benefit from infrastructure, transportation, cattle rearing projects – MP Mervyn Williams 

DPI, Guyana, Friday, June 21, 2019

Several Indigenous communities in Regions One and Nine have benefitted from the donation $9 Million to aid in infrastructural, transportation, cattle rearing projects. The money was handed over to the Villages Councils by Ministerial Adviser at the Ministry Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Mervyn Williams.

In Region One, Barima-Waini a total of $4.3 Million was given to village councils; Koriabo Arukami Village Council $1 Million, Aruau, and Bersina communities $800,000 each, Sacred Heart Village $900,000, and Wauna and Sugar Hill $1 Million each.

MP Williams hands over a cheque to Moco Moco, for wiring of homes in anticipation of the resuscitation of the Moco Moco Hydro Facility.

MP Williams speaking to residents of region one.

MP Mervyn Williams hands over a cheque to the Toshao of Apoteri.

Another $2Million will be handed over to the region.

According to MP Williams, the money will be used for the procurement of a 15hp outboard engine in one community, while the other communities will focus on their own internal projects.

“I received multiple complaints from residents about projects being stalled on the excuse of there being a lack of funds,” MP Williams stated.

Explaining that issues were raised about incomplete projects within villages.

“In Sacred Heart, in particular, there was a school that should have been completed in 2018, the suggestion was that the contractor abandoned the project and the regional administration said the money was finished,” he noted.

MP Williams said a lot of false information was also being peddled in the villages, particularly in the riverine community, that there was no government in place, no budget, or resources. As a result, during his visit, he took time to engage the residents on these matters, as well as on further projects they would like to see in their communities.

“We discussed the state of development in the various villages. We went to the Mabaruma sub-region and riverine communities and encouraged them to do an assessment of their village development plans and to start to put together proposals for capital projects for inclusion in the 2020 budget,” Williams stated.

In the meantime, in Region Nine, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo, the St Ignatius Village Council received $1Million towards the renovation and extension of its village office, the Nappi Village Council received $1 Million; Kumu Village Council $800,000 for development of a cattle-rearing project, Apoteri Village $990, 060 and Moco Moco Village Council $997,600.

Image: Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs