Seventy-three students who have completed the Hinterland Scholarship Programme (HSP) are set to return to their communities to share their knowledge and to help in the development process.

The HSP is an annual programme executed by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, a release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) said. It has been hosted to ensure that hinterland children are provided with an education and other skills necessary to developing their communities. The students, drawn from all regions except Region Five were awarded scholarships at both the secondary and tertiary levels.

Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai told the audience that government’s investment in the education sector has increased significantly over the years. She said every year 30% of the budget is set aside for education. Sukhai said too when the PPP administration came into power in 1992 Amerindian communities had only two secondary schools whereas today there are nine with plans in train to build another at Sand Creek, Region Nine.

The minister also told the graduates that exciting opportunities await them and giving a synopsis of the Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), said if and when the LCDS becomes a reality there will be many employment opportunities for the hinterland youths and those from other communities.

According to GINA government is also seeking new ways of enriching the lives of hinterland students. The ministry is in the process of executing the National Hinterland Secure Livelihood Programme, starting in the Mabaruma sub-region and it is expected to run for two years. The ministry has so far accumulated $88 million and is expected to spend over $170 million by the end of the programme. The programme will provide youth in 15 communities in the sub-region with training in areas such as agriculture, business development, banking and finance, food technology and pest control.