`We stand strongly with you’ – President tells indigenous peoples
President Irfaan Ali has assured Guyana’s Indigenous peoples that they will all be included in the country’s development and benefit from its prosperity. Such development, he added, must benefit all equally, regardless of race, creed, or geographic location.
According to a release on Friday from the Office of the President, Ali gave this reassurance on Thursday evening during his keynote address at the Amerindian Heritage Cultural Extravaganza, held at the National Stadium, in Providence, East Bank Demerara, to launch the commemoration of Amerindian Heritage Month celebrations this year.
“Tonight, I reassure every member of our Indigenous community that we stand strongly with you in ensuring that our development path… will include you. Every one of you, every single family, every single region in our Indigenous community, whether it’s in a riverine area, whether it’s on the hill or in the valleys, we will find you, we will work with you, and we will move you together as we build a country of prosperity for every single family.”
The theme of the month-long celebration is, “Celebrating our traditional culture while building One Guyana.” Attendees at the launch were treated to a depiction of the Indigenous culture through songs, dance and spoken word. The Head of State also posited that there was much to celebrate as Heritage Month festivities are ushered in, particularly the jobs created, the improved access to education, as well as other investments designed to improve the livelihoods of Indigenous Guyanese.
During the president’s recent outreach held in Region Nine, the release said that residents there spoke about their needs and aspirations and thanked government for returning more than 2,000 jobs and for the numerous beneficial projects implemented.
“We have a responsibility. We have a responsibility to create an environment in which you can tell the story,” he was quoted as saying.
Ali committed his administration to making the necessary investments in every sector, including education, health, agriculture and infrastructure, to ensure that Amerindian communities have equal access to “every opportunity that is available” on the coast.
“We will make the investment to give you the bandwidth, to give you online education… every single Amerindian with a qualification that wants to be trained as a nurse, as a teacher, as a dental technician, as a medical worker, I am saying to you now, we are committing that we as a government will train every single one of you; we will provide the opportunity, we will provide the money, we will provide an environment, and we will give you that opportunity”, the President said.
The nation’s first peoples were encouraged not to be swayed away from their beliefs, their talent, their capacity, commitment, determination and strength of character, to reach their fullest potential.
“We are working every day to secure your rights, to expand your freedom, to ensure you have active participation to build sustainability in your development plan.”
The president reminded of the recent announcements made during his outreach to Deep South and Central Rupununi communities, including the massive housing initiative that will see $600 million being invested by the government in Region Nine.
“That is why we announced recently that we are going to back you to own your own homes. The Government will start by putting in the first $1 million. The bank would provide an additional $2 million at the lowest interest rate in our country - 3.5%. That is working with you. That is empowering you, that is giving you a future that will deliver to you prosperity.”
Not forgetting the youth, he noted that they will be integrally involved in the execution of the initiative by manufacturing the blocks for the construction of the homes.