Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai handed over a complete solar panel unit and the certificate of title and plan to Micobie residents at a recent outreach exercise held in the area to discuss issues affecting livelihoods.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release residents of the Region Eight community are expected to meet with the village council and discuss where the panel will be placed in order to reap the maximum benefit for the entire community. Sukhai also presented footballs and circle tennis gear to the youths of the community
Prior to the community meeting Sukhai met with the toshao and village councillors to discuss several issues affecting residents. The minister was told that the council does not host meetings regularly and she advised it to set a time and date every month for a statutory meeting which members would be required to attend. GINA said councillors had notified the minister that some of the funds monitored by the past council were unaccounted for and that outstanding loans were yet to be repaid. Sukhai advised that the council validate their resources and accounts then make an agreement with the former toshao for the outstanding funds and items in order to settle the accounts. She said accountability is vital to the smooth running of village operations.
Residents also said they were concerned about the resolution of some matters within the community and the council was advised to meet to discuss these matters and collectively formulate a proper solution. The minister also told the community that she was dissatisfied with the pace of construction of the guest house and urged them to hasten the work. She said too the meeting had been convened to allow the ministry to check on the estimates for the construction of the village office as they are yet to be submitted.
Sukhai cautioned that if the council takes too long to submit the necessary documents the money will be returned to the treasury and it would take some time before the funds can be re-allocated. The $1.2 million grant is awaiting the estimate for disbursement. According to Sukhai if the total sums for the office is more than the allotted sum, then the community will have to make up the balance. She also said $1 million has been given to the village for a poultry production project and urged residents to support it since they agreed to start it.
In highlighting the Low Carbon Development Strategy Sukhai told residents that government respects the rights of the Amerindian people and did not include their forests and land in the Strategy but that they have the right to opt in. She pointed out that based on the MoU with Norway; Guyana will be receiving U$30M annually of which US$5M has been allocated this year to continue the land demarcation process.
Sukhai said demarcation is an issue which government has progressively been addressing since 1992. She said since the administration took office the 74 titled villages that had been demarcated have increased to 97. At that time none of these villages was surveyed but today 70 villages including Micobie have been surveyed. The minister said the process is an expensive one, and that is the reason for the sloth. According to the minister the said sum will speed up the process and government will start with the 16 communities which have accepted. Five of the 27 remaining communities to be demarcated have refused demarcation. The minister also touched on the importance of mining to the economy, and pointed out that government has no intention of closing the sector.
