The St. Cuthbert’s Mission, also called Pakuri, has unveiled a yearly plan aimed at developing the Indigenous community.
Several projects have been identified in areas such as agriculture, tourism, education, security, business, electrification, and housing support.
The village’s Toshao, Alvoro Simon, in an interview with the News Room revealed that the development plans for the village will be funded with carbon credit payments from the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030.
The community received $35 million in LCDS funding for two consecutive years.
“This year, with the allocation given to us from the LCDS funds, we are going to invest in agriculture, in tourism, in education, in security, electrification and expansion.
“We are going to have more of this funding directly impacting residents in terms of assisting with business startups and we are going to for the first this year, we are going to assist three people with providing a home for their families,” Simon revealed.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Among the initiatives, business development is priority.
Toshao Simon explained that they will offer a $100,000 business grant to 10 people.
“Of course, there are criteria we will focus on in terms of vulnerable groups such as single parents. What we are focusing on is just people who would need an extra push that don’t have an income coming to their household,” Simon said.
An application process will shortlist recipients with the village’s LCDS committee in charge of monitoring and evaluating the progress of the business startups.
“A lot of persons have shops in the village and we are looking for something unique. We want other persons with different talents that are not getting the assistance they need—maybe like barbers. We don’t have any kind of barbershop, but we have people who can cut hair,” Simon explained.
ELECTRIFICATION
Electrification is another key component of the plan. Currently, a generator powers the central village, benefiting approximately 200 of the 300 households.
“What we are planning to do is to expand that project by giving persons out of the central area access to electricity,” Simon said. The electrification plan also includes the installation of solar street lights.
AGRICULTURE
Agriculture is set to take a central role in this year’s development plans.
Alvoro explained that while the Village Council will support small and private agricultural projects, a large-scale sustainable Village Farm is being developed.
“We want to focus mostly this year on a large-scale agricultural project that will be governed and run by the Village Council,” Simon stated.
Already, 10 acres have been identified for the farm; cassava and pineapples will be planted initially.
The village leader also revealed that a $10 million cassava mill will be operational within four weeks.
The mill began construction last year and is set to enable production of cassava, cassareep, and farine.
“Our aim here is to ensure we have enough to sell outside of the village; we want to be able to be a hub,” Simon said.
CULTURE REVITALISATION
St. Cuthbert’s is an Arawak community but the language has been fading.
So, Simon and the Village Council have started a plan to integrate the language into the local school system.
“We are going to put it into the school system as a subject. We are working with the schools on this project where we have persons going and teaching the [language] in school, maybe twice a week.
“We are hoping that this will also trigger down; when the children go home with homework, their parents will get involved, and that way the parents learn the language as well,” the Toshao said.
TOURISM AND SPORTS
Tourism and sports development also form part of the yearly plan.
Simon revealed that the Village Council will invest in establishing an outdoor restaurant and acquire canoes for a traditional tourist experience. Upgrades will also be done to the guest house in the village.
Additionally, a $5 million investment is earmarked for sports, with developments to the two playgrounds in the community.
