The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs recently heard concerns about access to water from some communities in the North Pakaraimas in Region Eight.
Minister Pauline Sukhai and a team including Regional Executive Officer (REO) Ronald Harsawack and other officers conducted a five-day outreach exercise to villages in the North Pakaraimas.
A Government Information Agency (GINA) report said the team interacted with villagers in Kurukubaru, Kanapang, Penak, Itabac, Kato and Cheong Mouth to find solutions hampering development.
During the minister’s inaugural visit to Kanapang, residents petitioned the ministry’s support for a project which aims to source water from a spring reservoir located seven miles from the village. Villagers have been saving towards this endeavour in order to purchase pipes and other equipment from Brazil.
In response, Sukhai suggested that the village use its 2012 Presidential Grant to fund the project. She further advised them to contact the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) for technical assistance.
The REO supported this suggestion, adding that a team from the GWI can be invited to determine the feasibility of the project, given the terrain.
Harsawack posited that the water agency many also have a plan for the village under the Hinterland Water Strategy.
Villagers also told the team that a community centre funded under the 2006 Presidential Grant Programme remains incomplete. The village received $1.2M for the centre—a sum they said was insufficient to complete the project. Sukhai reminded the community that the grant programme is a partnership venture, whereby government supports villages in executing projects for their development, at the said fixed sum.
At Itabac, villagers said tap water drawn in the community is often muddy. Assistant Regional Executive Officer (AREO) Shameer Arjoon said the region is aware of this issue and a technical team from the GWI has already determined that corrective work is needed and would be done by contractors.
Residents also petitioned the team for vehicular assistance; requesting a tractor-trailer to transport children to the secondary school in Paramakatoi.
In response, Harsawack committed to providing the village with a boat and an engine for medical purposes at Itabac and surrounding communities. At Penak, a similar request for transportation was made to take children to the primary school in Kanapang. In addition, at Cheong Mouth, a request was made for an outboard engine for the health centre.
The meeting at Itabac was also Sukhai’s first visit to the community.
Meanwhile, at Kurukubaru, villagers said they were concerned that the boundary of nearby village Kato overlapped theirs. Sukhai acknowledged that had previously been the case but during the 2011 National Toshaos Council Conference, toshaos from both villages addressed the matter and the current established boundaries are accurate.
“Villagers were also informed that funding has been approved for the request for $4M for rehabilitation of Hosororo Top and Hosororo Bottom and that the Toshao has already been given $1.5M to commence the project,” GINA said.
According to GINA, this outreach exercise followed on the heels of one that was held during the latter part of 2012 at Kato, Kurukubaru, Kamana, Kopinang and Waipa.
