Radio a major role in marketing Indigenous products – PM Nagamootoo

— Hinterland development accelerated under the Coalition

DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, September 4, 2019

September has arrived and with it is the observance of Indigenous Heritage Month. Reminding of the entrepreneurship grants and loans now available to Indigenous citizens, via the efforts of the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Prime Minister, Hon. Moses Nagamootoo says the next step is to ensure these products and services are packaged and marketed both locally and internationally.

Appearing as a guest on the National Communications Network’s (NCN) radio programme ‘INSIGHT’, the Prime Minister explained that the Coalition Government’s commissioning of six regional stations will help raise awareness countrywide.

“These will be key to letting the world know but first letting all of our people know, where you could find Indigenous honey, cassareep, craft and other products. The radio stations are vital to spreading the word.”

Prime Minister Nagamootoo spoke of the need for a comprehensive marketing strategy to promote Indigenous products. This plan, he said, would require input from the Indigenous people’s themselves, their associated organisations, including the National Toshao Council (NTC). He also pointed to the creation of new towns such as Bartica, Mabaruma, Mahdia, Lethem as also being key to this strategy.

“They will now help to promote the appearance of a commercial centre, where you can bring products into the market. Where you can have both wholesale and retail.”

The Prime Minister noted the impact of ICT hubs countrywide, on increasing this awareness, more than ever before.

Addressing the pace of hinterland development, he said the pace will continue under this current administration. The Prime Minister noted that hinterland developmental projects are all interlinked.

“You want radio but you can’t do it without electricity. You want telecommunication, data. You can’t do it without electricity,” he said.

According to the Prime Minister Nagamootoo, recognising this, the government moved to boost power supplies in Mathew’s Ridge, Mabaruma Port Kaituma, St Cuthbert’s Mission, Siparuta, Orealla, Morokabai, Moco Moco, Wauna, Sugar Hill and Culvert City among others.

There is a push to ensure more use of sustainable energy, he added, hence the construction of solar farms at a cost of $270M in Mabaruma, $200M in Annai and a similar facility at Bartica. Also, a $450M hydro project is planned for the Chiung Falls, which will help to supply the Kato Secondary School, that has finally been completed to specification under the current administration.

The building or rehabilitation of road, trails, bridges and culverts, the Prime Minister noted, demonstrates improvement, achievement, renovation and a changing of the lives and landscape of all hinterland communities. Guyanese, he said, should be cognisant of these positive initiatives led by His Excellency, President David Granger.

“From day one, the Coalition since coming to office he said, we have to bridge the coast with the interior. We have to be able to integrate our rural communities with our urban communities. We have to make Guyana whole. We cannot leave any of our people behind,” noted Prime Minister Nagamootoo.