Amerindians are considered the third largest
group in Guyana and even though they are classified
as the poorest section of the populace, they also
represent the fastest growing group in the country
and account for approximately 55, 000 of the population.
Amerindians in Guyana belong to nine different
tribes:
Arawaks, Caribs, Warraus, Macusis, Wapisianas,
Akawaios, Patamonas, Arecunas and Wai Wais. Their
distinct languages and culture distinguish these
tribes.
There are currently more than 120 Amerindian
communities with individual populations ranging
from 120 through more than 6,000.
The majority of Amerindians, especially those
in the remote areas of the hinterland, are engaged
in subsistence activities-farming, fishing, and
hunting. There has been a shift to other activities
as well and smaller numbers are self-employed
in mining, fishing and manufacturing as artisans.
Of the ten Administrative Regions of the country,
Regions One (Barima/Waini), Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni),
Eight (Potaro/Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper
Essequibo) are classified as Hinterland Regions.
| Hinterland
Region |
Tribe |
Geographic
Area |
|
One |
Warrau/Arawak/Carib |
7, 671(square
miles) |
| Seven |
Akawaio/Arecuna
|
18,369(square
miles) |
|
Eight |
Patamona/Macusi
|
7,632(square
miles) |
| Nine: |
Macusi/Wapisiana/Wai
Wai |
22,647(square
miles) |
N.B. Gunns in Region Nine is the only
Wai Wai village in the country.
Despite the fact that Amerindians live in mineral
and forest rich lands, it is estimated that moiré
than 80% of the Amerindian population live below
the poverty line. Most of the Amerindian communities
are located in the remote areas of Guyana's interior.
The dispersed pattern of settlement, the difficult
terrain they occupy, the high cost of administration
of projects in those far-flung locations, and
the lack of human resource skills in the communities
hinder development initiatives.
The distance from the Capital results in prices
of food and other commodities being several times
higher than a similar items on the coast. The
high transportation costs of commodities coming
out of the hinterland also result in these goods
being uncompetitive in the Capital.
Government has embarked on a number of social
and economic programmes that are geared towards
enhancing the lives of Amerindians and making
Amerindian communities more viable and sustainable.
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