Toshao calls for Govt assistance for Wakapou village

The Amerindian Community of Wakapou, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) on Friday last held its Heritage Day festivities as celebrations of Indigenous Heritage Month came to an end.
Guyana Times visited the community known as “St Lucia’s Mission”, an island in the Wakapou community, which houses the Village Council building, a nursery, primary and secondary school, two shops and a health centre.
Toshao of the village, Howard Cornelius, used the opportunity to relate that the community needs urgent help and is calling on Government to pay more attention to Amerindian communities.
Additionally, he said most of the young people in the community are migrating due to the lack of jobs. He added that the school dropout rate in the village is also high. According to the Toshao, the community’s doctor lives about six miles away from the health centre and has to travel every day, while the newly built doctor’s quarters is yet to be furnished.
With a population of over 2500 residents, the Toshao is of the view that the community needs better medical services to its residents, who in most cases have to travel to the Essequibo Coast to get medical attention.
One of the most important needs in the community presently is transportation and he is appealing to Government to provide outboard engines which will assist in transportation in and out of the community.
Residents during the festivities were treated to a rich cultural presentation with Indigenous songs, poems, dances and music, which was followed by games and other activities.