BETTER educational facilities will be installed at the Amerindian Hostel in Princes Street, Georgetown, for the benefit of Hinterland Scholarship Programme scholars, Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Ms Carolyn Rodrigues announced Wednesday.

She told the Government Information Agency (GINA) the installation will be one of the major projects her Ministry would strive to implement this year.

Rodrigues said the Ministry will make provisions in its 2002 Capital Budget for a library at the same hostel but it may seek funding from other agencies to improve results from the beneficiaries and, at the same time, prepare them for international scholarships.

She disclosed that two computers have already been acquired from the Amazon Programme which is being coordinated by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and said her Ministry is seeking other equipment to put in the library when the rehabilitation is completed.

The work should start soon, as the more than $7M contract was awarded to Coastal Construction Services and signed last year.

Rodrigues alluded to the announcement in 2001 that President Bharrat Jagdeo had secured 350 scholarships for Guyanese from the Cuban Government and noted that hinterland scholars would be given some of the opportunities in technical fields and they are expected to return and serve their communities.

She said the Indian High Commission has also urged that more Amerindians be given scholarships offered by India annually in various disciplines.