Budget facilitates continuation of hinterland development

The transformation of the economic and social landscape of the hinterland is set to continue as reflected in the 2012 Budget presented under the theme “Remaining on Course, United in Purpose, Prosperity for All”. The budget presented by Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh last Friday outlined continued hinterland interventions in health, education, water, electricity among others.

Education

Over Gy$ 1 billion has been allocated to sustain the National and Hinterland School Feeding programmes, even as the school uniform support is set to continue. The hinterland will benefit from the Gy$ 3.3 billion that has been allocated for continued construction, extension, rehabilitation and maintenance of schools and education institutions countrywide.

The construction of the Waramadong dormitory and teaching block in Region Seven and works on the dormitory, science and information technology laboratory at the Sand Creek Secondary School, Region Nine are to be facilitated under this allocation. The Hinterland Scholarship programme is expected to benefit over 100 students this year.

In 2011, 112 students were granted scholarships and 68 graduated from secondary, technical and tertiary institutions. Additionally, in support of the welfare of hinterland students, Gy$ 37 million was expended on the students’ dormitory at Liliendaal, benefiting 58 students.

Health

Government has allocated over Gy$ 16.9 billion, Minister Singh said, to “continue the modernisation of the health sector and to consolidate on the gains made over the past decade”. And this includes those gains made in the hinterland; as under the 2012 budget, the sum of Gy$ 235 million has been allocated for the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of accommodation for doctors and other medical support staff in areas such as Sand Creek, Karasabai, Kwakwani, Corriverton and Long Creek. This sum also caters for the procurement of medical equipment for the said locations.

Roads

Government will be investing in 2012, Gy$ 11.8 billion, to sustain and improve roads and bridges countrywide. The sum of Gy$ 2.2 billion will be expended on the completion of major road projects, under which work on the Georgetown-Lethem Road is to be facilitated. The sum of Gy$ 5.5 billion was also allocated to construct, rehabilitate and maintain urban, rural, community and hinterland roads.

Water

Government will continue its emphasis on improving access to quality water in the hinterland. A sum of Gy$ 150 million is budgeted to install 10 photovoltaic systems, upgrade five existing water supply systems and construct medium depth boreholes that will benefit over 11,000 hinterland residents.

In 2011, through government’s interventions, 3000 service connections were done, six new boreholes were completed, 17 new photovoltaic systems were installed, 14 elevated storage units were constructed, and four distribution systems were installed in communities such as Four Miles, Falls Top, Micobie, Kariako, and Kwebanna.

Airstrips

A sum of Gy$ 180 million is budgeted for the rehabilitation of airstrips in Lethem, Imbaimadai and Ekereku Bottom. This also caters for the ongoing maintenance of 43 airstrips, some in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine.

Electrification

Under the Hinterland Electrification Program me, 1729 solar panel systems were distributed to households and public institutions in Amerindian communities in 2011. The 2012 Budget proposes a continuation of the distribution process targeting over 8000 panels. An allocation of Gy $ 94 million has also been made for the construction of a power supply distribution network at Matthews Ridge and the acquisition of solar panels, transformers and generators for areas such as Lethem, Moruca, Barabina, Waramadong, Kato, Aishalton, Wakapou, Caria Caria, Low Wood and Rockstone. In additional, Gy$ 50 million will be spent for the design of a 330kw micro-hydropower project at Kato, Region Eight that is expected to boost electricity supply and benefit 2700 people in Sub-Region One of Region Eight.

Housing

Government will invest Gy$ 3.6 billion in the housing sector to increase access to affordable housing, and this will cater for home improvement subsidies to vulnerable groups, inclusive of 90 coastland and 100 hinterland families.

Agriculture

The completion of a genetic bank, artificial insemination laboratory, and quarantine stations at St Ignatius and Mabura are among the initiatives in this sector that are to be pursued this year in the hinterland. Additionally, the hinterland rice and bean project will continue and the spice project that commenced in 2011 in communities such as Kato, Kurukubaru, Paramakatoi and Bamboo Creek is to be advanced.

Amerindian Development Fund

Over Gy$ 165 million has been budgeted under the Amerindian Development Fund for community programmes, issuance of land titles to 13 villages, and the National Secure Livelihood Programme.

Additionally, under the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF), funding will be provided to support the socioeconomic development of Amerindian communities through the implementation of their community development plans. In 2011, under the Amerindian Development Fund, Gy$ 87 million was expended on the acquisition of tractors, portable sawmills, other agricultural tools among other interventions.