Gy$40M spent on land demarcation in 2010 – Sukhai

Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai said three more areas have been demarcated under the government’s land demarcation exercise in the hinterland. The cost to undertake the exercise is pegged at Gy$40 million.

These areas include Shulinab, Toka, and Three Brothers.  Speaking at a news conference on Thursday December 30 at that ministry, Sukhai pointed out that there were no complaints, as suggested by some sections of the media, with the demarcation done by the government so far, and noted that the certificates of title were accepted by residents. She stated that when an area is being demarcated, three members of the village council are included on the survey team to monitor the exercise, and surveyors are encouraged to hire the locals for additional guidance. 

 “I am unaware that we have issues with respect to complaints with this. I know that Amerindians have the opportunity when the surveys are taking place to nominate from the village council three monitors for the exercise and residents from the area are also employed,” she said. She said that of the 73 communities that were demarcated previously, no complaints have been made. 

Commenting on some of the ministry`s projects during the past year, Minister Sukhai said that the distribution of uniforms was added to the hinterland scholarship programme and this has made the programme a more comprehensive one. She said that Gy$63 million was expended on the uniform project in Regions One, Seven, Eight, and Nine this year. In addition to this, a further Gy$98.3 million was expended to deal with crises during the year, such as the La Nina and El Nino phenomena which affected farmers and residents of Regions Seven, Eight, Nine, and Ten. 

She added that the figures in hostel accommodation exceeded last year`s, and 1,526 persons were provided with accommodation at the Amerindian hostel. She further said that the ministry has also transported 385 patients back to their home villages after medical attention in the city. When patients are referred to the city from hinterland communities, the ministry supports them with respect to accommodation, meals, and travel expenses. 

She pointed out that her ministry has also addressed welfare issues of Amerindians, and assisted them in acquiring birth certificates. 

The minister noted, too, that in the coming year the ministry will work to put measures in place to ensure that the dietary needs of Amerindian inmates are met. 

She said that they had requested all details regarding Amerindian inmates from the Ministry of Home Affairs, and they will be moving on with the project as soon as the information is released to them.