Prime Minister meets Fairview residents – expresses appreciation for their support to Iwokrama

Georgetown, GINA, July 27, 2016

Residents of Fairview, the only indigenous community located within the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation site were reminded of their importance to the Iwokrama project and their continued support was solicited.

This was done during a recent meeting with Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock and Chief Executive Officer of Iwokrama, Dane Gobin.

The meeting which was held at the Fairview Primary School saw over 50 residents attending. The Prime Minister told the residents, “You are very important, living in an important part of the world,” and called for their continued support to the development of the centre.

“I want to thank you the residents of Fairview for working along with the Iwokrama rainforest resort and the Iwokrama project and cooperating to see that this rain forest project gains the attention of the world,” he told the residents.

The Prime Minister advised that the world is facing climate change and projects like Iwokrama are important, as the sea is taking over the lands where people once lived. “More and more, people are coming in the interior and looking for higher lands,” he said.

Meanwhile during an open floor discussion, Fairview’s Toshao, Lucy Marselow reported that due to the expansion of the area’s airstrip, farmers who plant in the vicinity are affected and are calling for compensation.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo in his response asked Iwokrama’s CEO to engage the contractor and conduct an assessment of the losses incurred so that persons’ complaints can be dealt with fairly. “I will try to pursue this to see that an assessment is made,” he committed.

“We must also know that it is necessary that if Iwokrama is to develop and attract people from around the world, it is necessary to have a modern airstrip so tourists can come directly to Iwokrama.”

He advised the residents that, “(the) more tourists that come here will bring jobs to you, the tourists will bring money to spend to buy handicrafts, you will learn how to develop other forms of business like agro processing. When business will start developing here, jobs will be created, more people will come in, so I want to express my appreciation and thank all the residents here for cooperating with Iwokrama.”

However, the Prime Minister encouraged the residents to look at the long-term investment of having a modern aerodrome, as it would be of tremendous benefit to them and their community.

Fairview has a total population of 302 residents. The community has access to a health centre, nursery and primary schools, water and solar panels provide electricity. The main economic activity is farming.