Still no stipends for Region 9 HEYS participants

… money promised since October 1

Douglas Casimero, Toshao of Aishalton, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), has indicated that participants of the Hinterland Employment Youth Service (HEYS), within the region have not been paid their stipends despite promises that the money would be distributed on October1.

He said participants of his village, along with other villages within the region, have not received their stipends. He noted that the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry had committed to pay them within seven days following the National Toshao Conference.

“These youths were supposed to be paid every two months but till now, the students and the facilitators are waiting,” he added.

Over 100 Indigenous villages and 2000 youths have been able to benefit from the programme since it began in 2015.

It replaced the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C) Youth Entrepreneurial and Apprenticeship Programme (YEAP).

The programme is expected to utilise an integrated and user-friendly approach to learning, which seeks to give youth and young adults a second chance to maximise their full potential, economically and socially.

According to the Government Information Agency, the HEYS Programme is the fulfilment of a commitment to Indigenous youths, made by the Government to positively contribute to improving the lifestyle and standards of living for youth and young adults residing in the hinterland with an academic or non-academic need, irrespective of race, gender, religion or political persuasion.

But Casimero stated that no payments are contrary to what is being pushed by the Ministry and the Government into the public domain.

A source close the programme, on the other hand, stated that two teams are presently in Region Nine and are distributing the cash. The source added that most of the communities would have already received their monies.

“We will have the payments completed by Tuesday,” the source said, noting that payments to Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) have already been completed. Participants in the other regions will receive their payments before the week ends.