Hinterland will also benefit from developmental plans – PM

Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips promised residents of North Pakaraima that they will benefit from the infrastructural changes that will take place during his Government’s tenure.

He said that the current administration is driven to positively improve the lives of all Guyanese.

“Since we formed the Government on August 2, 2020, our President Irfaan Ali and his cabinet have pledged to the people of Guyana that we will plan and deliver developmental projects throughout Guyana.

“For us, we believe in what we call One Guyana. It does not matter what race you are or who you voted for. We formed the Government and we will govern in the interest of all Guyanese and we commit ourselves to bring development to every corner of Guyana.”

The Prime Minister assured the residents that there will be no disparities in development.

“Development must not be on the coastline alone, development must also occur in the hinterland, in the Amerindian villages, as far as our Government is concern—that is our policy.”

The Prime Minister and Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai were at the time distributing $161.1M to almost two dozen communities in North Pakaraima.

The funds will be used for capital projects, to help prepare the communities for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) hubs and transportation needs.

In the 2021 budget, a substantial portion of the finances was allocated to Amerindians and hinterland development.

This included $1.75B for the hinterland roads interconnectivity programme; the employment of 2000 Community Service Officers; $196.6M for boats, engines and equipment to empower communities and improve the livelihood of residents and some $630M to expedite the granting of titles to Amerindian villages. Additionally, 196 scholarships are also expected to be awarded to students from the hinterland to bridge the educational disparities between the hinterland and the coast.