So far for this year, 2319 persons from all ten administrative regions have been accommodated at the Indigenous Residence on Princes Street.
Among this number, a statement from the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs said, were 1, 465 patients.
The statement said that on Tuesday, the Permanent Secretary and other senior functionaries in the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs hosted one hundred persons at the Indigenous Residence for its annual Christmas Lunch.
The festivities saw residents there, enjoy indigenous cuisine prepared by the kitchen staff led by Gail Williams.
The statement said that guests enjoyed plantain delight, cassava bread, deer pepper pot, stuffed deboned chicken in orange sauce, baked fish topped with mango and tomato salsa, saffron rice, vegetable farine, chef salad, sorrel and ginger beer, fruits and a candy corner made possible by Executive Office Services.
Ten children and eight new born babies received gifts from the Ministry and corporate Guyana.
The statement said that at the residence persons are provided with meals, accommodation and transportation, while the facility is also outfitted with nursing and welfare staff who deal with day-to-day activities.
In an effort to better serve the Indigenous people, the statement said that the Ministry has made a multi-million dollar investment towards infrastructural developments with an extension to the facility which will provide office space and additional accommodation.
Currently, staff from the Welfare and Health Department occupy office space there, however, when the extension is completed early next year they will have new quarters and there will also be accommodation for village Toshaos.
The extension is estimated to cost $27M and is expected to be completed by the end of February.
The residence is also equipped with a minibus which ensures all transportation needs are adequately met.
Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock presented the keys to the facilities administrator Claire Emmanuel last November, in the presence of Minister within the ministry Valerie Garrido-Lowe, Permanent Secretary Alfred King, Deputy Permanent Secretary Samantha Fedee and other staff.
Further investments towards the facility will be forthcoming in 2019, the statement said.
