Just days after the MV Barima disaster devastated Guyana’s predominantly Amerindian Region One, the government’s announcement of a $3 billion housing programme for Indigenous communities has sparked a wave of public criticism, with many accusing the administration of attempting to shift attention from the country’s worst maritime tragedy in decades.

The housing initiative was announced Tuesday by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo during the National Toshaos Conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, where he said the government would invest $3 billion this year to assist Amerindian families in constructing new homes and repairing existing ones in hinterland villages.

Jagdeo said the programme would be implemented through the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs in partnership with village councils, with oversight committees established to ensure transparency and fairness in the distribution of funds. He added that allocations would be based on factors such as village population, with further consultations to determine the implementation framework.