Amerindian Affairs Ministry refutes media reports
Guyana Chronicle
July 16, 2004
THE Ministry of Amerindian Affairs has refuted reports in certain sections of the media that the St. Cuthbert's Mission Amerindian community in Region Four (Mahaica/ Berbice) hardly gets “State funds”.
The ministry said those reports are not only misleading but very distorted. It was noted that St. Cuthbert's receives budgetary allocations under the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).
A release from the ministry said that the village was among the first to benefit from several central government projects, including a new primary school constructed at a cost of $9M, a solar system which provides electricity to the school, teachers quarters, and a health centre valued at $4M.
A village office was also constructed in the community and the village was one of the beneficiaries of the government's Acoushi Ants control programme, according to the ministry.
The village also benefited from the government's scholarship programme and St. Cuthbert's has received financial and other contributions from friends of the community.
The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs is providing training seminars in leadership development in Amerindian communities and it is envisaged that this will equip Village Councils to function more effectively.
The release said incidents of financial irregularities are being investigated and action would be taken against anyone found culpable.
St. Cuthbert's was among several Amerindian communities that benefited from the President's Youth Choice Initiative programme and the government has been working to regularise birth certificate distribution there. (GOVERNMENT INFORMATION AGENCY)