Amerindian communities benefitting tremendously from LCDS funds
The Amerindian communities are benefitting tremendously from monies from the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).
During the five-day National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference, which was held in Georgetown, the Department of Public Information (DPI) spoke to a few Amerindian leaders who highlighted the major projects that have been established from the fund to help Indigenous peoples and their communities to benefit from development.
Toshao of Akawini, Region Two Rudolph Wilson said for the past three years he has seen development in indigenous communities like never before.
“For our village, we were lucky to get like $35 million. And from the low carbon money…we have purchased small engines (15 horsepower) to transport children to different locations,” disclosed the Toshao.
He added that the money went to building a well-furnished kitchen, and the dining hall for the benefit of the community. He said they even constructed pavilions for various sporting facilities.
Wilson reckoned that funds would also be used to rehabilitate the village office and install proper storage for its important documents.
Additionally, Toshao of Yurong Paru, Region Nine Reginald Francis also expressed his gratitude to the government for always showing up for his people.
“LCDS fund was happening in my village which was $18 million, out of that money, I withdrew $12 million to do the three different projects,” he explained.
Some of those projects include cattle rearing, lumber mining and the procurement of a vehicle for the village.
Meanwhile, the Toshao of Tiger Pond James Davis, stated that his community is vastly transforming itself so that it can become modernize like many urban communities.
“For our LCDS project…the village bought a bus which is a first for us. With this transportation we are now able to transport our school children safely to school and also transport the people of our community,” Davis said.
The money also went to installing WiFi in that village.
Some of the projects range from providing sources of clean water to electricity and the construction of cassava plants, among others.
The LCDS funds were established to provide funding to support the socio-economic development of indigenous villages.
It aims to help in the expansion of agriculture in savannahs to further develop the indigenous hospitality sector, and to expand Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Noting that population size was a key determinant in the distribution of the money from carbon credits, it was only in February that approximately 241 indigenous communities’ benefited from the first payment of $4.7 billion or US$22 million.