APNU/AFC neglected food security in hinterland – Sukhai

Neglect under the previous coalition Administration in hinterland communities created the threat of starvation, after dwindling food security was not replenished nor assistance provided.

This was according to Amerindian Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai, who noted that the PPP/C Government has now been engaged with resolving these issues. Since before she was appointed, the Minister said, plights were shared by residents of several Indigenous villages, citing the need for better food security.
After experiencing floods in 2017, the lands have not fully recovered to provide adequately. Sukhai said the COVID-19 lockdown compounded the issue since persons cannot traverse border communities to access their food necessities. Presently, the situation is not completely resolved and these areas need assistance.
“We’ve had requests coming in before I assumed office from villages like Kurukabaru, Itabac, Tuseneng, Bamboo Creek, with respect for support from the threat of starvation in these areas. They had been under lockdown and they had been affected by the 2017 flooding. Their food security is still developing back to the standard level which they are accustomed to. It has not fully bounced back and having shut down and affected by COVID-19; and not being able to go over to the border towns where they get their supplies from has been impactful in a negative way,” Sukhai pointed out.
She said upon assuming office, Government responded immediately by providing relief. In the coming months, they will seek to completely alleviate matters concerning food security by implementing various projects.
“We have responded very urgently with some speed to relieve those communities that have been affected. The bigger significant role of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs in addressing the stark neglect by the previous Government to the hinterland is that we will focus within this year and beyond in improving the lives of the people. We will have to develop quickly, mechanisms and responses to improve services.”
She went on to say that apart from agricultural woes, there were grave shortages of medical supplies for hospitals and health centres, which transcended beyond the COVID-19 needs. Both of these issues are expected to be fixed in the upcoming months.
“Within the next four months, we will be looking basically at improving the conditions and support for improving these areas because they are directly affecting people, families, children, the sick, pensioners, the most vulnerable….We expect immediately to supply agricultural support so that they can support themselves and enhance food security issues. We will work collaboratively to ensure that medical supplies are deployed to the affected areas, not by COVID-19 but by shortages,” the Minister expounded.
It was identified that within the past five years, project management grants were diminished and community development was demoralised. While the coalition had sought to hire more persons at the Ministry, their output had decreased.
She said they are addressing the non-delivery of services to people, especially cases where even toshaos are denied adequate transportation mechanisms. (G12)