A $1M Presidential Grant was recently awarded to Kabakaburi to acquire a high-powered outboard engine to boost transportation services in the village.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release the Pomeroon River, Region Two community is the latest Amerindian village to benefit from a Presidential Grant.

Lorna Williams who has been re-elected Toshao of Kabakaburi, received the Grant from Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai. This is the third Grant that the village has received and it will be used to purchase a more powerful outboard engine for the passenger boat which it owns and operates. The new engine will reduce the amount of travelling time from Kabakaburi to Charity where persons conduct business and students attend school.

According to Williams the boat leaves the village very early which means that students have to be ready to board at an early hour to attend the Anna Regina Secondary School. She said too the passenger service is also an economic venture which benefits the entire community as it provides a cheaper service than the other private passenger boats.

Williams said she was grateful for the grant and that it will be used to aid development in the village. She said since she was elected there has been significant development in the village as both the council and the villagers work together to develop the community.

GINA said the village received its first Presidential Grant in 2007 which was used to build the boat that now serves the community. This council also constructed two community stellings for passengers’ convenience. A guest house and a village shop were also built with funding from the previous presidential grants.

Williams said plans are also in train to build a kitchenette at Aripiaco to replace the old one. Meals for the school feeding programme are often prepared at the kitchenette. The village is seeking another grant from the ministry for this project. The community also received a solar panel for the first time to power the health centre.