- Improving connectivity, land titling & creation of jobs main focus
The land titling programme for Amerindian communities will be accelerated in 2022 as $561.5M has been proposed in the National 2022 Budget.
A sum of $411.2M has been allocated for the provision of tractors, implements and economic projects aimed at enhancing the development of tourism, women and youth. Seventy one additional communities are expected to benefit from this sum.
Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh said $3.4B is budgeted for the improvement of connectivity in these hinterland communities.
“We are committed to ensuring that Amerindian and hinterland villages are economically empowered, first and foremost through the land titling programme which languished during the last 5 years, and secondly through the development of the Amerindian village community,"
the Senior Minister of Finance told the National Assembly.
In 2022, the number of Community Service Officers (CSOs) will be increased to 2,500, creating an additional 500 jobs for youths in Amerindian communities.
$60 million will be spent on training 650 CSOs to serve in 220 communities in areas such as tourism and hospitality, development of business plans, food safety pre-requisites, good manufacturing among others. Meanwhile, to improve access to education and skills, a sum of $93.3 million is budgeted towards the hinterland scholarship programme. Eight hundred five students are expected to benefit.
“Mr. Speaker, in total, $3.1 billion is allocated for core Amerindian development programmes. This, along with key investments across every sector, will set the stage for a rapid improvement in wellbeing in our Amerindian and hinterland villages." Minister Singh alluded.
