President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to advancing the development, dignity and prosperity of Guyana’s Indigenous peoples, while urging Amerindian communities to assess leadership by its record, actions and continued presence beyond moments of crisis.
Addressing the opening ceremony for Amerindian Heritage Month 2026 at the Sophia Exhibition Centre on Tuesday, the head of state said the development taking place across Indigenous communities reflects sustained investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure, energy, agriculture, connectivity and economic empowerment.
“In our one Guyana, the Amerindian community occupies a special place as our first people,” the president said, emphasising the historic and enduring contribution of Indigenous peoples to the country’s identity and development.
President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali at the opening ceremony of Amerindian Heritage Month 2026 on Tuesday evening
He noted that government’s investments over the past five years have sought to ensure that Indigenous Guyanese are not left on the margins of national progress, but are positioned to actively participate in and benefit from the country’s economic transformation.
“The real test of development is not whether the problem exists. The real test is whether we are using our unprecedented economic growth to solve them and whether the benefits of that growth are reaching you,” President Ali stated.
The president outlined significant investments across hinterland communities, including more than $41.7 billion in villages and communities, $21.7 billion through the Amerindian Development Fund and $14.2 billion through the Low Carbon Development Fund.
He also pointed to progress in agriculture, where more than $1 billion has been invested, with approximately 300 tractors now owned across Indigenous villages.
Additional investments have supported transportation, boats, outboard engines, minibuses and other productive assets.
Cultural performance
In infrastructure, President Ali said 79 kilometres of paved roads and 71 kilometres of asphaltic roads have been delivered in hinterland communities, alongside more than 1,200 kilometres of labyrinth roads and extensive maintenance of road corridors.
Significant gains were also cited in energy, education, healthcare, water and connectivity.
Hinterland generating capacity has increased from 1.62 megawatts to almost 17.5 megawatts, while high speed connectivity has been extended to 253 villages.
President Ali said government’s investments in ICT have directly benefited approximately 140,000 people, with more than 2,850 residents certified in basic digital literacy and women accounting for 75 per cent of those trained.
Prime Minister Phillips at the commissioning of the Kamwatta ICT Hub, Region One
On education and healthcare, the president highlighted the expansion of primary and secondary education in Indigenous communities, more than $1 billion in hinterland scholarships and increased access to medical services.
He noted that more than 30,000 Indigenous persons gained direct access to healthcare through Cortex within five months of its implementation.
The president also emphasised the growing participation of Indigenous Guyanese in the national workforce, particularly in the teaching, nursing, security and other professional fields.
He said the transformation demonstrates the impact of creating opportunities that allow Indigenous people to pursue careers, develop businesses and contribute directly to national development.
The Kato Cottage Hospital will be transformed into a modern, state-of-the-art healthcare institution
“The investments we are making for the benefit of our indigenous brothers and sisters is what it means to translate economic growth into development and to ensure that the indigenous peoples of Guyana are not spectators in our country’s transformation but participants and beneficiaries of it,” President Ali said.
While acknowledging that challenges remain, Dr Ali said development is a continuous process and that government’s focus must remain on delivering tangible improvements in communities.
He urged citizens to look beyond temporary political narratives and examine the record of those seeking their support, particularly during times of difficulty.
“Representation is not merely about who speaks the loudest when trouble knocks. Representation is about who stands beside you when the trouble is over,” President Ali said.
As Amerindian Heritage Month 2026 is observed, the president said the country must continue building a Guyana in which Indigenous peoples occupy their rightful place at the centre of national prosperity, while preserving their culture, knowledge, traditions and identity.
He closed with a call for unity, peace and collective progress, invoking Guyana’s national motto, “One People, One Nation, One Destiny.”
