Seven Amerindian villages get $7.5M to produce more food

Seven Amerindian Villages in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) on Saturday signed contracts totalling over $7.5 million to produce more food.

These contracts were part of 15 contracts disbursed to 10 Amerindian villages through the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

In total, the contracts are worth over $11 million and are expected to boost the villages’ economies and create employment opportunities.

The villages of Nabruti, Yurong Peru, Karaudarnau, Tiperu and Rukumuta signed contracts valued $400,000 each for the cultivation of corn, while Wowetta, Nabruti, Yurong Peru, Tiperu and Rukumuta also signed contracts worth $400,000 each for cultivation of two acres of rice.

Yurong Peru entered into a contract for the establishment of a Black Giant Birds project valued $1.85M, while Taushida signed a contract for same, valued $1.75M.

A contract valued $1.5M was also signed for repairs to the Konashen Primary School; another valued $921,916 was signed for the extension of the Karasabai Primary School auditorium and one valued over $1.1M for repairs to Werekru Bridge.

Toshao of Katoka Village, Grennison Rogers told the News Room that the Werekru bridge will be of benefit to his village, as for years it was a challenge for them to go to Lethem.

“And now it will be a benefit to our people where we can come to town, Lethem, to buy things and to carry out, so I really thank the government; I know for the future we will have more development,” Rogers said.

Meanwhile, Reginald Francis, Toshao of Yurong Peru, told the News Room that the project will help to develop the village as income will be generated from the sale of the paddy and corn.

James Davis, Toshao of Tiger Pond, said that households will benefit directly from the contracts as money will circulate within the village.

The contracts catered strictly for the cost of labour as the RDC will be providing the materials to execute the projects rather than having the village councils having to go through the hassle of sourcing the materials.

“We will do it directly at the level of the region and then bring it to the village. In cases where you can provide some of the materials, like wood for example then the region will buy it from you and put it towards the project,” Minister of Local Government and Region Development, Nigel Dharamall told the Toshaos.

Dharamlall noted that the government intends to sign similar contracts for other programmes with the village councils in other areas, for example to make furniture for schools to enhance the capacity and economy of the villages.

“We hope that the village council when they are implementing these contracts that you are going to have people from within the villages be involved as much as possible so that they can be employed, so that we can build the economy of the village,” Dharamlall said.

The RDC will also be signing contracts with the villages to produce fruits and vegetables as part of the council’s dietary programme to supply students who are residing in dormitories in an attempt to plug resources into the villages.