Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai has lauded the development evident in Region Nine, particularly the work of the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB) which initiates expansion activities in the communities.

“Communities can only move forward if leaders debate and make agreeable decisions on behalf of residents on the affecting issues,” the Government Information Agency (GINA) quoted Sukhai as saying during a visit to Annai on Friday. The North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB) had invited Sukhai to its quarterly meeting at the Bina Hill Institute, Annai, Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo). She was given a first-hand look at the various communities’ development and was informed of the challenges they had faced.

The North Rupununi district comprises 16 communities. The NRDDB is a statutory body formed by the toshaos and senior councillors to manage community welfare and initiate developments in their respective communities.

At this meeting, toshaos are given the opportunity to highlight issues of concern so that interventions can be made.

GINA said too several other agencies such as Iwokrama, Conservation International (CI) and the World Wildlife Fund also attended the meeting. The agencies which assist the communities in their tourism drive reiterated their commitment to continue working with them to build capacity through small businesses and to facilitate a larger tourism growth in the district.

They told the meeting of plans to use the communities’ resources to enhance development and highlighted some of the constraints affecting them. Representatives from Iwokrama and CI also told the meeting of the butterfly, caiman, and wetland projects and fish sporting to enhance the tourism drive in the communities.

The meeting was chaired by Toka Toshao, William Andries, GINA said.