Govt gives $105M to Indigenous villages to rebound from COVID-19

The Amerindian Affairs Ministry on Friday disbursed a whopping $105 million to Indigenous villages as part of a COVID-19 Relief Fund, for leaders to embark on projects that will improve the livelihoods and create better opportunities for its people.

This is in light of the widespread impact which the novel coronavirus disease has brought onto these villages.
In collaboration with the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry, the disbursements were made at the Sophia Exhibition Complex to Santa Mission, Caria Caria, Lower Bonasika, Saxacalli, St Cuthbert’s Mission, Swan, Wiakabra, Long Creek, Moraikobai, Orealla, Siparuta and Cashew Island. Other Indigenous villages will also receive their funding.
While each household had already received their cash grants, this additional sum will be used to mitigate the negative economic effects of the coronavirus. Some of the money will be used on any infrastructural development or income-generating project which the villages see fit.
Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai noted that there were no initiatives from the previous coalition Government to address the challenges facing Indigenous communities as a result of the coronavirus. For this, the PPP/C sprang into action upon taking office after realising the vulnerabilities facing these areas.
“Our Government has allocated $1.73 billion to ensure that the Amerindian leaders, Council and villagers take and made use of this financial support to put themselves in full preparation mode to ensure that we have not only a COVID-free population but that many of the connecting and linkages that will ensure our sustainability will be kept,” Sukhai noted.
The income-generating projects will supplement past investments made in the areas as well as the annual presidential grant fund that is allotted. She said the goal is to have sustainable activities to outlive the pandemic.
“The income-generating project or an economic project should be harnessed to start job creation and increasing income in the community. Village can opt for income-generating projects and or infrastructure development. That is key infrastructure, whether it is in agriculture, tourism, social infrastructure but relevant to sustainably positioning your village to combat and mitigate the threat of COVID,” she told the village leaders.
Minister within the Local Government Ministry, Anand Persaud highlighted that the Government’s intentions are to create opportunities for the youth and their communities to grow.
Before a decision is made on what projects will be undertaken, Councils are required to organise a village meeting to determine which will be more beneficial.
Speaking with this publication, Orealla Toshao, Carl Peneux said the village will deliberate before reaching a conclusion on how the money will be spent. He said there is a suggestion to combine the grants from Orealla and its satellite village, Siparuta, and invest in the sand resources that are available in these areas. Both villages would have received $10 million each.
“We have a lot of white sand for both communities. We want to expand that and make concrete blocks which we can also sell out of the communities and help construct better houses and buildings. We’re thinking of purchasing equipment such as an excavator so that it is going to help us not only in the sand business but also in our agriculture. At the same time, it will also enhance the construction and drainage sector,” Peneux identified.
Meanwhile, Moraikabai Toshao said his Council will seek to execute their project in a transparent manner. An area of interest is increased accessibility through connected roads to reach better markets for their goods.
“We’re looking at accessibility, connecting the highway to Moraikobai. Over the years if we’re into agriculture, then we’ll definitely need an access road where we can have the buyer inside the village instead of bringing the produce out. We’re also looking at packaging and if we’re going into agriculture, we’ll need facilities so that we can have our products being marketed and labelled.”
The Minister also outlined the importance of connectivity and within the next two years, Government is seeking to have some 200 villages connected via ICT hubs. (G12)