PPP/C targets 5,000 Amerindian village projects in next term

The incumbent People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has pledged to roll out 5,000 new projects in Indigenous communities over the next five years if re-elected on 1 September, aiming to boost hinterland village economies.

The plan is outlined in the party’s 2025 manifesto, launched on Monday at the Pegasus Corporate Centre in Kingston under the theme “Forward together for a better Guyana.”

“We will support and expand implementation of Village Sustainability Plans (VSPs) and develop over 5,000 new projects across Amerindian communities, aimed at improving the lives of our Amerindian brothers and sisters,” the manifesto states.

The projects will be financed mainly through the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030, Guyana’s framework for climate-resilient, low-carbon growth. So far, Guyana has earned US$750 million from forest conservation, with 15% of revenues channelled directly to Indigenous villages. More than GY$14 billion has already been invested in community-led projects in over 240 villages, spanning agriculture, tourism, water supply, ICT and other sectors.

The PPP/C says this support will expand if it secures another term.

“Over the next five years, we will continue to provide access to LCDS funding for sustainable development, and increase support for VSPs,” the manifesto notes.

Beyond LCDS-funded projects, central government financing covers major infrastructure in the hinterland, including roads, bridges, schools and hospitals.

The party also promises to back community-based enterprise and job creation, widen training opportunities to encourage entrepreneurship, and place special focus on agriculture and agro-processing to strengthen food security.

Tourism is another priority. The manifesto commits to supporting the development of village-level tourism products, including packaged multi-village tours, alongside training to improve the visitor experience.