GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — The Guyana Government has outlined a 10-point development plan for the hinterland that will be discussed by indigenous leaders over the next four days.

President David Granger, addressing the National Toashaos Council 2015 meeting, said the plan would result in the eradication of extreme poverty and the improved employment opportunities.

“The first such meeting was held 46 years ago in 1969 and its continuation today is a mark of respect for representatives of indigenous peoples of this great country. Your government aims at deepening national unity,” Granger told the conference.

He said that his administration is committed to building bridges among all communities and groups, in order to enhance the well-being of citizens, but warned that the frontier layout of many hinterland communities put them at risk of becoming “corridors for illegality.

“The hinterland’s…forest and pristine waterways are under threat of damage and contamination, its physical infrastructure is inadequate for such a vast territory, its people for the most part are poor, its small, scattered population must bear the burden of the high cost of living.”

He reiterated the government’s commitment to upgrading four regional administrative centres, adding “these areas will achieve township status before Guyana celebrates its 50th Independence next year and will be governed by their own mayor and town councils”.

Granger said the administration is proposing a new partnership between the National Toashao’s Council, which represents 72,000 people and the Central Government.

“We propose to work together for the improvement of the quality of life for all indigenous Guyanese. Your government is committed to the development of the hinterland and the indigenous communities. We desire to see development with dignity, not with dependency,” he added.

The 10-point plan will place emphasis on improving education, housing, tourism, infrastructural development as well as employment.

Granger promised that the government will ensure that every child is able to attend school and that the programme would also provide children with a nutritious breakfast upon arrival at school, while provisions will continue to be made for textbooks and school uniforms.

“Our priority will be to ensure that everyone gets a sound education, to prepare him or her for satisfactory employment,” Granger said, warning however “we do not wish to promote a culture of hand-outs.

“This is demeaning. We will ensure that although jobs are scarce, young school leavers will be provided with skills to employ them for the world of work.”

He said the Hinterland Poverty Reduction Programme is aimed at dealing with social protection which he said “is in crisis.

“Too many young and very old persons are still classified as very poor, with an expenditure level that is below what is required to purchase a daily minimum low-cost diet,” President Granger said, adding that the Hinterland Infrastructure Extension Programme is intended to bridge the gap between the standards of living on the coastlands and the hinterland.

“We want economic development for you. We want to see rapid economic conversion between the two zones: the hinterland and the coastland. In order to achieve this conversion, we must improve the physical infrastructure within the hinterland where the vast majority of our indigenous people reside,” he told the conference.

He said the housing programme is also geared to reducing crime in the hinterland and that this initiative will also bring to an end the exploitation of indigenous people. Another component of this programme will cater to boosting economic activities.

“Land is life for the indigenous people and we are aware that over the last 49 years, there have still arisen many unresolved land claims and issues. Your government is aware of this problem,” Granger said, adding that the Hinterland Tourism service will also deal with the environmental aspect of the sector.

“Your government intends to establish eco-tourism on a sound economic footing. Guyana’s tourism product is underexploited. We want to establish a real hinterland zoological park,” President Granger said.

“Under this initiative, we will ensure that the many tourism products in the hinterland communities are utilised for the benefit of these communities.”

The National Toashaos Council meeting, which ends tomorrow, is being held under the theme Steadfast Indigenous Leadership Towards Territorial Integrity and Sustainable Livelihood.”