Santa Aratack builds local economy through agriculture, skills training, jobs

…South Rupununi communities form company to secure contracts, create jobs

Santa Aratack is diversifying its economy with several new projects aimed at creating employment and generating income for the community.
Toshao of Santa Aratack Mission, the only Amerindian community in Region Three, Christopher Cornelius, spoke with the Department of Public Information (DPI) on the sidelines of the recently concluded National Toshaos Conference.
He said the community has built a training centre “that is going to be funded by forestry to do joinery for the youths and even the elders, and that will bring great support to our village because before we have to come out to the coast to purchase beds and cupboards. We will make it right in there, so that will be a big boost.” The village also used funding from the Low Carbon Development Strategy for a mechanic shop, while shade houses are being constructed, Cornelious said.
He said under his leadership some 13 million dollars was invested in agriculture.
He said, “We are growing our own greens. Our own seasoning right in our village, and I must say I want to thank the farmers from my community, because we are going big into pineapple farming; right now it’s about 38 acres of pineapple that is supposed to be reaping anytime from August to September.”
The toshao also stated that young people of the village have been involved in farming, working alongside the elders to carry out the village mandate. They assist in the shade house and poultry rearing activities.
“Back in the days we didn’t have employment, but as these initiatives come into our community, the villagers get the job. We ask the government for most of the things that we could build there so the money will circulate right in the village and the people get work right in the village also,” Cornelius said.
Cornelius is confident that his village will continue on the progressive path and create more opportunities for its people.
“You need to open up to investors, to your village, do a proper agreement and employ your people right there,” he urged other village leaders.

South Rupununi communities
Communities in the South Rupununi have taken control of their development by forming a company to do projects in their communities.
Chief Executive Officer of the South Rupununi Development Inc, Nicholas Fredericks, also spoke with the Department of Information (DPI) on the sidelines of the recently concluded National Toshaos Conference.
He said, “We notice that contracts were being done in our communities by persons who might not be so familiar with the community itself in terms of resources. So, we are thinking, how can we actually control some of these contracts, provide jobs for our people and have income coming into our communities…”.
He noted that the formulation of the company also received support from the President Dr Irfaan Ali and other government representatives.
The company, he said, will be responsible for rolling out projects in the South Rupununi, including construction and roads.
“I think it could also be a model for other areas. We are talking about Region Seven, Region Eight, Region One …how they can organize themselves to form themselves into such a construction company where they can have some income coming in, build their capacity in terms of construction and also have jobs provided for our indigenous brothers and sisters back home,” Fredericks said.
The company has received some equipment from the government, like a backhoe, a dump truck and a grader.
“A few days ago, right here at this conference, we managed to get a first contract to do some remedial work on the road. So, it is something new. As I said, it’s still a work in progress, but I know with the commitment of our government and Toshaos in the south Rupununi, we will make this company work. We would want to encourage other areas as well to go into this sort of model,” he said.
The company is managed by a core executive from some villages.
“We will also have to acquire staff, which we haven’t done as yet, but this conference was a big stepping stone for us. Now it’s time for us to go back, put a little bit more structure in place for the company and start rolling out projects,” Fredericks stated.