Asserting that the hinterland faces a “huge human development crisis,” President David Granger yesterday unveiled a 10-point plan for the development of hinterland and indigenous communities which focuses on education, poverty reduction, jobs and a new Lands Commission to deal with long festering indigenous land issues.
Addressing his first meeting of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) – the annual gathering of indigenous leaders from across the nation – at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre yesterday, the president urged the attendees to consider the plan seriously “as a compact, as a covenant between central government and this Council.”
In unveiling the Plan, the President highlighted the issues faced by hinterland and indigenous communities. He said that the Plan is aimed at ensuring that indigenous communities become thriving economic units, focusing as well on
