Residents of Katoonarib in deep South Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) will no longer have to travel long distances to purchase goods, as the community commissioned its own village shop, as part of the Community Development Project (CDP).
The village shop is a CDP which started in 2016 after the community received the first tranche of funding under the Amerindian Development Fund (ADF) for the implementation of Phase II of the CDP.
Residents who participated in the commissioning ceremony
Vice President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock, who officially commissioned the project, challenged residents to utilise the facility to market their local produce, and capitalise on these initiatives to ensure economic and other developments are realised.
Minister Allicock commended the residents for initiating such a project, and said the Ministry will be willing to support similar income generating projects. According t0 a GINA report, the villagers were also commended for their support, since 100 per cent of the construction of the facility was executed by them.
Katoonarib is known as the largest producer of peanuts in the South Rupununi and Minister Allicock challenged residents to ensure the village shop is the springboard for bigger things to come. Allicock also reminded the residents that accountability and transparency must be taken seriously.
The Katoonarib Village Shop
Security is another key component, and according to the Minister, “every villager must be a security officer, meaning you must be able to check, it is yours, you must allow it to grow so you don’t want anybody to come and rob you of it.”
Several villagers expressed their happiness that the village has its own shop and will continue to support its operations. “This is good, it’s more close to me now,” Elfreda Cyril, who had to walk seven miles to the closest shop in the village pointed out.
Toshao of the village, Marcus Alexander said since the business opened its doors, it has not only received support from villagers, but a number of businesses in Lethem.
Katoonarib is a small Indigenous settlement in the deep South Rupununi. It has a population of approximately 400, and its main economic activities are cash crop farming and cattle rearing. Traditional fishing and hunting continue.
