Guyana progressing with 2030 Sustainable Agenda – Min. Garrido-Lowe at UN forum

DPI. Guyana, Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Guyana has been making great strides in dealing with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda, specifically as it relates to the alleviation of poverty among its Indigenous Peoples. This declaration was made by Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous, Valerie Garrido-Lowe during her address at the 17th Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters, New York on Tuesday.

Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous, Valerie Garrido-Lowe at the 17th Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters, New York.

According to Minister Garrido-Lowe, with the resources and proceeds of the emerging oil and gas industry, it is anticipated that more sustainable projects will be taken to the people, and more infrastructure will be put in place to reduce the gap between the coastal areas and the hinterland.

These plans, Minister Garrido-Lowe said will include priority programmes and projects that will contribute to the development of the people, and at the same time, be aligned to the national and international goals. These goals include ensuring the Indigenous people and their communities, play a vital role in environmental management and development – in keeping with their knowledge and traditional practices.

The Minister pointed out that the indigenous peoples of Guyana are being empowered in all spheres of development – physically, socio-economically and politically.  With the inclusionary approach to development and the active input of the people themselves, the government is confident that sustainable livelihoods will be realised, allowing for meaningful contributions from the indigenous peoples towards the building of Guyana, she said

“Already, my Government has started to commission several radio stations across the country which will ensure that our indigenous peoples are au fait with current affairs and are edified in relation to ways and means in which they can keep themselves healthy and practice good governance. This drive is instrumental in improving the access to information by far-flung areas. This development will also facilitate the promotion of the use of the languages of the nine nations that make up our indigenous population in Guyana’s interior,” Minister Garrido-Lowe stated.

She explained that with respect to the 2030 Sustainable Agenda and its specific provisions for the indigenous peoples, the proposed Guyana’s Vision 2030 includes; “A Green, Inclusive and Prosperous Guyana that provides a good quality of life for all its citizens, based on a sound education and social protection, low-carbon resilient development, green and decent jobs, economic opportunities, individual equality, justice, and political empowerment. Guyana serves as a model of sustainable development and environmental security worldwide, demonstrating the transition to a decarbonized and resource efficient economy that values and integrates the multi-ethnicity of our country and enhances the quality of life for all Guyanese.”

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