“Today, you are not dreaming, you are achieving your goals”

–President Ali told American Indian leaders

President Mohammad Irfaan Ali stressed that the rights of Amerindians have been accelerated under the PPP/CP government and highlighted the positive impact of various programs and initiatives that have provided Amerindians with more opportunities to pursue their dreams and aspirations.
The Head of State highlighted the development at the opening of the 2024 National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference held at the Arthur Chong Convention Centre on Monday.
American Indian villages now benefit from a range of experts and resources that help them improve across the board and enjoy freedom of expression.

President Ali said these freedoms contrasted with the reality of marginalization and exclusion from national development suffered by indigenous peoples before 1992.
“Amerindians were underrepresented and had little influence on national policies. Your demands were of no consequence to the then Awami National Congress government; your affairs were handled by a department in the Ministry of Regional Development. It is this department that handles the affairs of Amerindians in this country,” President Ali said.

He highlighted the significant increase in poverty rates, which are approaching 80 per cent in indigenous villages across Guyana, which have limited access to education, health care and social welfare.
“As a result, our Amerindian youth never had the opportunity to realize their dreams or to receive a secondary education. You never had the opportunity to dream of a college education; you never had the opportunity to dream of becoming a doctor, a teacher, a lawyer, an engineer, an architect or a specialist… Today, you are no longer dreaming; you are living the dream,” the President of Guyana stressed.

Significant progress has been made in accelerating Amerindian and hinterland development through various initiatives, including financial support provided by carbon credit revenues, presidential grants, the Amerindian Development Fund, and other programs across multiple ministries.
Over the past four years, the government has invested heavily in improving basic services such as health care, education, energy and social welfare, allocating billions of dollars to this goal.
President Ali also highlighted the massive investments in infrastructure, including improvements to hinterland roads, with $20 billion from the Department of Public Works and $9 billion from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).
Residents are now benefiting from electricity for the first time as the Hinterland Electrification Programme has been extended to around 30,000 households.
In addition, we are working hard to improve educational facilities, with 42 kindergartens and 16 secondary schools to be built in 2024 alone.

To support higher education, approximately 5,000 young people are studying through the Guyana Academy of Online Learning (GOAL).
In addition, funds have been invested to train 700 teachers to improve the education level in the hinterland for future generations.
“We have awarded hundreds of scholarships to Amerindian communities and Amerindian children, and have produced doctors, medical personnel, nurses and health workers… Your villages and communities have started from scratch and produced the best and the brightest of our country,” President Ali stressed.
The government’s commitment to achieving self-sufficiency in food production is evident, with more than $4 billion invested in inland agriculture.

The Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Program (YEAP) also provides opportunities for youth and has employed nearly 2,800 youths so far. Youth also benefit from training opportunities in various industries.
First Nations also benefit from $45,000 “Because We Care” cash grants, increased pensions and public assistance.

The Head of State reiterated that the land rights of Amerindians are guaranteed by the Amerindian Act of 2006, enacted by the PPP/C government. According to him, since 2020, 14 land titles have been granted.
In addition, President Ali announced plans to award contracts totaling up to $10 million directly to villages for labor-intensive projects, demonstrating the government’s commitment to empowering local communities.
The week-long conference enables American Indian leaders to consult directly with the President and members of his Cabinet on issues affecting their communities and to receive recommendations on how to advance their development.