Indigenous development to align with SDGs

GUYANA, Thursday, October 13, 2016

Indigenous communities across Guyana are being encouraged to align their developmental plans with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. In September 2015, 193 countries adopted a set of goals to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all as part of a new sustainable development agenda.

The goals are to be achieved within the next 14 years and include:

• no poverty
• zero hunger
• good health and well-being
• quality education
• clean water and sanitation
• reduced inequalities
• sustainable cities and communities
• responsible consumption and production
• peace, justice and strong institutions
• partnership for the goals
• affordable and clean energy
• decent work and economic growth
• industry, innovation and infrastructure
• life on land
• life below water
• climate action
• gender equality

The Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs officially launched a ‘Sustainable Development Framework’ (SDF) that requires indigenous communities to produce 10 year Developmental plans. The framework was launched at the Umana Yana, on October 12, 2016.

According to Vice President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock, the SDF is very important in fighting poverty. “I believe that we could only fight poverty with those people who know about poverty, getting them involved to show us what their needs are,” Allicock explained.

Allicock said, to achieve the goals set out in the SDGs, there is need for partnerships with stakeholders and community members. “We are already guided by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. We also have to take into consideration the other interest groups, other indigenous group for advice and they could only give us advice if we share what we are doing,” the minister said.

According to Allicock, the framework will ensure that effective and efficient financial and technical support is directed to the indigenous villages for social, economic and cultural development.

Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples, Affairs Valerie Garrido-Lowe, in her remarks hailed the project as something that should

have been implemented a long time ago.

The framework, Minister Lowe said, will develop strong village economies and at the same time, maintain their culture and traditions. “Most times, the care is making sure that the funds are spent, not really that something has been developed,” the minister noted. She noted that the SDF will help produce plans to build better communities.

The Sustainable Development Framework was hailed by Executive Director of Conservational International (Guyana), Dr. David Singh and Chairman of the National Toshaos Council, Joel Fredericks.

The SDF was rolled out in 27 indigenous communities in Region Nine on October 7 and 8, 2016. Similar exercises will be conducted in Mainstay/Whyaka, Region Two and further afield until it is in  all the indigenous communities.

 

By: Isaiah Braithwaite