PPP/C to strengthen Indigenous communities across Guyana

– duty-free ATVs, boat engines; expanded LCDS funds; CSO stipends, village-level agro-processing access for improved livelihoods

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has committed to a wide-ranging package of measures aimed at strengthening Indigenous communities across Guyana. Among the promises are duty-free concessions for all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and boat engines to improve transportation; increased allocations from the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) funds; stipends for Community Support Officers (CSOs), and targeted investments in agro-processing initiatives at the village level. The broad package of commitments for Indigenous communities’ form part of PPP/C’s 2025 elections manifesto, highlighting duty-free concessions, job creation and expanded access to essential services.
Themed “One Country, One People, One Future – Forward Together for a Better Guyana”, the manifesto outlines measures designed to strengthen livelihoods, expand opportunities, and deepen sustainable development in hinterland and riverine regions.

Duty-free taxes on ATVs
Since assuming office in August 2020, the PPP/C Administration has expended over $369 million in land and water transportation. Vehicles and vessels have been made available by the Government last year for residents of Amerindian villages nationwide. Facilitated through the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs’ Amerindian Development Fund (ADF) villages were provided more than 43 boats and outboard engines, ensuring safe travel for residents and school-age children.
Against this backdrop, one of the headline promises is the removal of taxes on all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and outboard engines of up to 150 horsepower – a move aimed at improving access and mobility across remote communities. Investments will also continue in hinterland roads, bridges, and airstrips to better connect villages with the wider economy.

Expanding LCDS benefits
PPP/C also reaffirmed that at least 15 per cent of proceeds from the sale of carbon credits under the LCDS will be allocated directly to Amerindian communities.
The LCDS 2030, is a national framework aimed at fostering a low-carbon economy and sustainable development in Guyana and the globe, reinforcing the need to preserve and protect the planet. In 2023, the Guyana Government signed a multi-year agreement totalling US $750 million with global energy giant, Hess Corporation, that will see $2.5 million in credits being sold to the company annually. These credits are generated by preserving Guyana’s vast rainforests, which serve as critical carbon sinks in the global fight against climate change. Guyana’s pioneering approach has garnered international acclaim, positioning the country as a leader in sustainable development.
The first payment of US$150 million was received in 2023 and US$22.5 million was disbursed to over 242 Amerindian, hinterland, rural and riverine communities/villages. In its manifesto for 2025- 2030, PPP/C intends to increase access to these funds, which supports Village Sustainability Plans (VSPs), giving residents control over transformative economic and developmental projects, particularly in agriculture, tourism, and community enterprises.

Jobs & Youth Empowerment
In addition, the PPP/C has pledged to further expand the Community Service Officers (CSO) programme. This will include retraining, upskilling and new employment opportunities for young people in remote areas. Salaries for CSOs are set to increase, with monthly payments guaranteed.
President Dr Irfaan Ali stressed that CSOs will be empowered to move into higher-paying jobs through training in health, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), tourism, and entrepreneurship. Just last year, CSOs received a stipend increase in line with the wages paid to workers under the Government’s part-time jobs initiative. The adjustment raised the stipend from $30,000 to $40,000,
The CSO programme is a youth empowerment initiative, specifically targeting Amerindian communities and those in riverine and remote areas. It provides employment and opportunities for personal development through training in various fields, including tourism and ICT.
Under the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) regime, some 2000 CSOs were fired and had to be rehired by the current PPP/C Administration.

Healthcare expansion
The manifesto pledges the rollout of additional telemedicine centres, the provision of better-equipped health posts and increased transportation for health emergencies in the hinterland. The challenges of delivering healthcare to remote and underserved communities have long been a reality for developing nations with geographically dispersed populations. In Guyana, where riverine and hinterland regions remain difficult to access due to terrain and infrastructure limitations, the integration of telemedicine presents a transformative opportunity to close long-standing gaps in the delivery of medical services.
Telemedicine, by design, facilitates two-way, real-time communication between a patient and healthcare provider who are not physically in the same location. Supported by secure audio and video technology, as well as remote diagnostic devices, telemedicine offers not only convenience but also life-saving intervention capabilities for communities where medical professionals and specialised care are in short supply. Since its formal launch in Guyana in 2022, the telemedicine programme has grown to 81 sites across the country, and plans are in place to increase this number significantly on re-election to office following the September 1 polls.

Village-Level economies
Moreover, to ensure food security and sustainable incomes, the PPP/C promises increased investments in agro-processing and community-based enterprises. The Government also plans to support the development of village-level tourism, including multi-village tour packages and training to raise service quality. Guyana’s thriving agriculture sector has gained global attention in recent years, listing the country as the only one in the world that can self-sufficiently feed all its citizens.
Guyana could feed its populations in seven food groups: fruits, vegetables, dairy, fish, meat, plant-based protein and starchy staples and to support the easy manufacturing of agricultural products, a sum of $800 million was allocated for the agro-processing industry in the 2025 budget.
PPP/C plans to expand the budget for agro-processing and major emphasis will be placed on the expansion of the industry in Amerindian villages.