GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC -Toshaos from more than 200 Amerindian communities across Guyana began a five-day conference on Monday, with President Irfaan Ali outlining a list of plans he said are aimed at changing the lives and livelihoods of the Amerindian communities.
The National Toshaos Conference (NTC), which is being held under the theme “Robust Governance for Sustainable Village Development,” is organized by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs in collaboration with the National Toshaos Council.
Ali told the opening ceremony that his ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration, which is preparing for the general and regional elections later this year, is committed to developing every Toshaos community.
He told the conference delegates they could expect “increases in your grants, presidential allowances, and support for your children, the elderly, and women. You can trust us to increase such support in successive People’s Progressive Party Civic governments.”
He said that, following village leaders’ requests, approximately 250 firearm licenses would soon be issued to Amerindian and hinterland communities to enhance security.
“I am pleased to tell you today that every one of those applications was processed, and you will get those licenses to take back to the villages,” he said. The government noted that in addition to safeguarding communities, Amerindians traditionally used firearms for subsistence hunting and to protect farmlands from threats.
President Ali said the government would also expand training programs to create new entrepreneurial opportunities in hinterland communities and that support will also be provided through the Ministry of Tourism, Industry, and Commerce to develop and market the tourism products of these villages.
“I want to encourage you to be strategic. We are listening to you about the future, too, and we should work together on developing that holistic plan that you can trust us to support you in achieving,” he said as he outlined a series of investments made across hinterland regions to improve healthcare services.
He said that in Region One, over 330 healthcare professionals have been trained since 2020, compared to fewer than 60 from 2015 to 2020, and that the region now boasts 56 vaccination sites and 17 telemedicine centers.
He said transport capacity has also increased, with over 60 all-terrain vehicles, six ambulances, and more than 25 boats supporting medical outreach and emergency services.
Ali said Region Seven saw similar progress, with billions of dollars invested between 2020 and 2024 to boost healthcare access.
In Region Nine, President Ali said no surgeries were conducted between 2015 and 2020 at the Aishalton and Annai facilities and that all critical pregnancies had to be transferred out of the region.
“These are investments that we will continue to make,” he told the village leaders, adding that there has also been significant development in the education system, with approximately 2 435 Hinterland teachers being trained across the regions.
Ali also announced that Guyana will host the inaugural Global Biodiversity Alliance, creating another platform for Amerindian leaders to showcase sustainable development on the world stage.
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