Sod turned for construction of new $1.2B Amerindian Hostel

…facility to accommodate 300 residents

Construction of a new $1.16 billion Amerindian Hostel at Ogle is set to provide accommodation for 300 Indigenous people at a time, replacing the existing Georgetown facility which has been serving hinterland residents since 1972.
The sod was turned on Friday for the three-storey facility, which is intended to provide accommodation for Amerindians travelling to Georgetown to access medical services, conduct official business and pursue other opportunities.

Speaking at the ceremony, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, said the investment forms part of the Government’s broader objective of strengthening village economies and improving the livelihoods of Indigenous communities across the country. Singh said the Government wants every Amerindian village to develop a viable economy capable of generating economic activity, employment and sustainable livelihoods.
“Our objective is to ensure that viable and sustainable and competitive economic activity is generated in every single hinterland and Amerindian village in our country, every single boy and girl is able to access good quality educational services and that every single man and woman or person of working age, is able to access good quality employment and entrepreneurial activities,” he said.
The Finance Minister also encouraged Indigenous entrepreneurs to take advantage of financing opportunities available through the recently launched Guyana Development Bank (GDB), particularly its small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) and quick-loan facilities. He said the loans could help residents establish businesses, expand agricultural production and develop income-generating activities within their communities.
Using cassava farming as an example, Singh explained that farmers could gradually move into agro-processing, producing cassava bread and cassareep, thereby creating additional business opportunities and increasing the value of their agricultural output. He also pointed to peanut farming as an activity that could develop into the production of peanut butter and other peanut-based products.
According to Singh, this type of economic development is what the Government wants to encourage across Indigenous communities, allowing individuals and families to build businesses rather than remain at the initial stage of agricultural production. He said investments in health, education, infrastructure, agriculture and eco-tourism were also intended to strengthen village economies while improving access to essential services.
Addressing the need for accommodation in Georgetown, Singh said the Government recognises that hinterland residents will continue to travel to the coastland for medical attention and other services, even as more facilities are developed in the interior.
He noted that the construction of additional hospitals in hinterland regions would eventually reduce the need for residents to travel to Georgetown for healthcare.
Among the facilities planned are modern hospitals in Lethem, Region Nine, Region One and Region Seven. However, Singh said that until those services become more widely available in the hinterland, residents travelling to Georgetown should have access to comfortable accommodation while conducting their business before returning to their communities. He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to investing in Indigenous communities, saying development initiatives would continue regardless of how remote a village might be.
The new hostel was included in the 2026 National Budget and is being constructed through collaboration between the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs and the Ministry of Housing, through the Central Housing and Planning Authority.
According to the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, the project is estimated to cost $1.16 billion and will be undertaken by contractor Mac Junior International. The existing Amerindian Hostel, constructed in 1972, accommodates approximately 2,500 persons annually. The new facility is designed to house 300 residents at once.
Amerindian Affairs Minister, Sarah Browne-Shadeek, Housing Minister Collin Croal, Minister within the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry, Pauline Sukhai, and other officials attended Friday’s ceremony. Also present were Ministerial Adviser Yvonne Pearson, Members of Parliament Sonia Latchman and Alister Charlie, and other stakeholders. Following the ceremony, Singh turned the sod on behalf of President Dr Irfaan Ali, accompanied by Browne-Shadeek and other officials.

Source: Guyana Times