Community engagement to be fostered as St Ignatius gets new benab

The involvement of both adults and youths is expected to be fostered in the village of St Ignatius, as the new ‘Ariwa Village Benab’ was commissioned recently by Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai during her visit to Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).
As she congratulated the village for their coordination and cooperation in helping to better the community, the Minister noted that the benab is important for residents and their leaders to congregate.
“A benab of this dimension is not a small project, but it is a huge project that is vital for a community, because a benab is understood to be the meeting place for the village, and it is important for us as a Government to always be engaged with the people as well,” Sukhai is quoted in a Department of Public Information report as saying.
The cultural infrastructure can facilitate training programmes, community meetings, cultural events, and other gatherings.
Meanwhile, the DPI report stated that the Minister also encouraged the villagers to support their leaders and join in the development of the community. She stressed that unity and equity in a village are two features that would drive a region to profound success.
“We must remain united. We must stay willing and committed to community and village development. Once we join hands, we can achieve the impossible,” she posited.
The Amerindian Affairs Minister has called on the youths to be proactive in their village, since their positive actions would not only help to better their village, but the country at large.
Further, Minister Sukhai said Government is very proud to work towards a “One Guyana”, an initiative formed by President Mohamed Irfaan Ali with the aim of establishing inclusivity in the country.
“Our President is building out a philosophy that establishes a ‘One Guyana’, where every single ethnic group in our country will be recognized; where all of our people will benefit from the resources and the proceeds that our country earns,” Minister Sukhai stated.
Just like with all the other Indigenous villages, St Ignatius has been benefitting tremendously from funds from the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). Through this fund, Amerindian leaders are being given in excess of one million dollars to purchase, establish, or construct equipment and buildings to enhance the livelihoods of the people.