Billions invested in Indigenous communities – Pres Ali tells Toshaos at NTC 2025 launch

…emphasises unity as the foundation for progress

Monday marked the start of the 2025 National Toshao Council (NTC) 2025 Conference, with President Dr. Irfaan Ali reminding the Toshaos in attendance of the massive investments the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government has made into their communities, particularly in education and health.
During day one of the NTC 2025 conference, the President went through, region by region, the various targeted investments the PPP/C government has made in indigenous communities. When it comes to health, President Ali cited Region One (Barima/Waini), where there has been widespread upgrade of healthcare and the reduction of diseases such as malaria.

“I see the Toshaos from Region Seven are here. Between 2020, and 2024, what have we done? We’ve invested billions of dollars in the health care system in Region Seven. We’ve added more than 45 pieces of different forms of transportation for the easy movement of medical practitioners and patients.”
“Between 2015 and 2019, you had less than 45% drugs and medical supplies available in the region, less than 45%. Today, between 2020 and 2024 you had 85% availability of drugs and medical supplies. In 2020 we had two annual outreaches within this region, health outreaches, two benefiting 1500 patients. Last year in 2024 we had 24 health outreaches benefiting more than 9000 patients,” President Ali said.
The president also assured that they will continue to invest in healthcare, including with the construction of a state-of-the-art hospital at Bartica and the training of more nurses. Pivoting to Region 9 (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), the President noted that they have been able to cut down on the need to transfer critical pregnant patients out of the region, from 90 per cent to just two per cent.
“We had a 53% reduction in malaria cases and we are going to continue this investment in Region Nine with the completion of the new Lethem Regional Hospital that will include new surgical theaters, CT scans, etcetera, a new regional pharmaceutical and medical supplies bond, a new medical school for health care professionals. Our nurses will be trained right there,” the President also said.
“Expansion of the services of the district hospital with the five core specialties, expansion of telemedicine, implementation of our electronic health record system, expansion of emergency services system, graduating health centers into polyclinics. These are investments that we will continue to make. And I want to assure you that for every single sector I can give you these records.”

Education
Meanwhile in education, not only has access to education and the availability of books been increased, but so too has the number of trained teachers sourced from right in the indigenous population.
“When you look at education, it’s another big story, another big story of transformation and development and I just want to give you some quick highlights into education. Let’s start with teacher’s training and capacity building. As of December 2024, 83% of all teachers across regions 1, 7, 8, and were fully trained, and we are working to make this 100%.”
“Importantly, this 83% is a transformative increase from 2020. In 2020, we had less than 43% trained teachers in the hinterland communities. At the end of 24 we have 83%. When you look at new recruits, the percentage of increase in new recruits are trained and available teachers in the hinterland community is more than 318%, more than 318%,” the President said.
It was further revealed by President Ali that the total number of hinterland teachers now stands at 2,435, most of whom come from their own villages and communities. The President also referenced the massive infrastructural investment in education.
For instance, over the past four years, the PPP/C government has constructed 79 new hinterland schools and renovated 27 others. Additionally, 54 schools—including 16 secondary schools—are currently under construction in the hinterland. Moreover, 158 hinterland schools are now connected to high-speed internet.
Ali encouraged the leaders to “be strategic and to look at the big picture,” in the coming days, adding “we are here not only listening to you about the future, but also working together to develop a holistic plan you can trust us to support— a plan the People’s Progressive Party Civic government will help you achieve.”
He emphasized unity as the foundation for progress. “Together, we shall rise. Together, we are stronger. Together, we are better,” Ali declared. “While some voices in our society try to sow division with messages of ‘divide, divide, divide,’ the People’s Progressive Party Civic’s message is clear: ‘unite, unite, unite.’”
Referencing the late Dave Martin, Ali added, “While they say ‘hate, hate, hate,’ our message is one of ‘love, love, love, love abundantly.’ Love with all your heart. And keep all those unwanted rabbits out of the field of corn.”

NTC
The PPP/C’s investments in the hinterland were also acknowledged by none other than NTC Chairman Derick John. In his presentation, John also noted that with this year being an election year, Indigenous people were capable of seeing which political party has their best interest at heart. He urged Indigenous leaders to let good sense prevail.
“We are learned people, we know what is good for us, and nobody, well, should able to come and tell us who we should vote for, who we should not vote for. We have the ability to choose. We also recognize what we are experiencing. We are, we are not dumb people anymore. We have seen!”
“We have experienced, we have realized, we are benefiting from so much of benefits and resources. And it’s only right that we continue to support this part, this progress. This transformation. And I appeal to you, my fellow Indigenous leaders, let us allow good sense to prevail,” John added.

Misinformation
However, day one of the NTC 2025 Conference was marred by some persons who, according to the NTC in a statement, sought to disrupt proceedings and bring the conference into disrepute. The statement also made reference to persons who have complained about not being able to access the conference.
“Such behavior is deeply regrettable and undermines the spirit of unity and purpose that this annual gathering represents. It must be emphasized that while Section 43(3)(b) of the Amerindian Act (2006) provides for the attendance of Amerindians at NTC meetings, such attendance is by the Council’s invitation.”
“In line with this, the Council took a deliberate decision to reserve the conference held in the dome of the ACCC for Toshaos, village leaders, and Ministers of Government only. These closed-door consultations were designed to facilitate frank, uninterrupted discussions on matters critical to the development of Indigenous communities across Guyana,” the NTC said.
The council pointed out that official accreditation from the NTC was required to access the dome and noted that these arrangements were critical to preserving the integrity of the conference. It therefore called out attempts at misinformation.