Hinterland residents want to be consulted before project implementations – APNU Members

 

By Fareeza Haniff

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Two Parliamentarians of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) are calling on the government to provide more employment opportunities in the hinterland areas, however they are not too keen on government ministers visiting the Amerindian communities and “manipulating toshaos.”

At a press conference on Friday, April 04, APNU Member, Dawn Hastings said that residents in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni Region are not in agreement with being told what initiatives will be implemented in their communities without being consulted first.

“The senior members of the government come into the villages and tell them this is what we have for developmental projects, whereas that shouldn’t be. You should go to the people, consult with the people and ask them what they would like to see as a developmental project, but that has not happened,” Hastings said.

She explained that the residents are not against development, but it should meet the needs and vision of the community. Additionally, Hastings explained that there are no employment opportunities for the youths in the region.

According to her, most young people are not interested in Agriculture and working in the gold fields.

The APNU is of the view that the 2014 budget did not cater for the hinterland regions.

“The PPP/C’s 2014 Budget simply has not provided sufficient public sector funding for economic development, education, employment, physical infrastructure and public security in the hinterland.  APNU calls for the promulgation of a Budget that can harness the hinterland’s economic potential, encourage investment and, most of all, to protect the people from poverty and environmental hazard,” the APNU noted.