-Rodrigues-Birkett
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett said government is committed to pushing development at Great Falls, Demerara River and as such an adviser will dispatched to the area to discuss its tourism potential.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release this was the second Cabinet outreach exercise to be held in the area for the year, the first was hosted along the Corentyne Coast, Region Six in January. Rodrigues-Birkett said she was pleased to be back in the area after her last visit there in 2007. Rodrigues-Birkett who was once Amerindian Affairs minister also gave assurances that through its Low Carbon Development Strategy government “believes that we can offer assistance to the world and since the forest is in pristine condition, we will continue to use the trees in a sustainable way, and we must be compensated for that.” She also told residents that several countries have seen the virtue of the Strategy “which will see US$250M flowing into the National Treasury, as a result of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Guyana and Norway, in November, 2009.”
The minister also said that the administration has focused on Amerindian communities because it is trying to close the gap caused by years of neglect and “regardless of the location, ethnic composition or the level of development, have access to all of the resources that would make Guyana a better place.”
The community of about 200 residents raised several issues affecting livelihood. Toshao Howard Coachman requested assistance in the area of tourism as he said the community hopes to develop its tourism potential in a way that would not pressure the forest product and would create employment. The minister said a specialist from the related ministry would be asked to advise the community. She then advised him that the community must be able to provide more than a relaxation space but should also be able to sell the product with the use of trained guides, through oral traditions such as story telling and other elements unique to Great Falls that would make it a destination of choice to the tourists.
Education
The community also expressed a call for more teachers and nurses to be stationed in the area. The minister said priority should be given in Linden to ensure that children from riverain areas are given first consideration regarding housing and sleeping facilities. Retired teacher Mr Fredericks, who is also a Cyril Potter College of Education graduate, continues to teach after more than 35 years in the profession. He has teachers in Great Falls and also teaches further afield in the Pakaraima Mountains. A resident also asked the minister to furnish the area with a solar panel and recorder to allow students to listen to education programmes on the radio. Rodrigues-Birkett said priority will be given to regularising the education system in Great Falls as government invests heavily in this sector.
