MOAA's Mission Statement

To enhance the quality of life of Amerindian People in Guyana through the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes which facilitate cultural, social and economic development, promote equity and advance of the rights of Amerindian people.

Ministry's Departments

Administration

Personnel

Accounts

Projects

Social Welfare/Labour

Hinterland Scholarship Program

Governance and Community Development

Hostel

Ministry's Departments and Functions

The Personnel Division is the smallest division that provides effective and efficient service as it relates to the welfare of the Ministry's staff. It comprises of three positions namely, Personnel Officer 11, Personnel Officer 1 and Clerk 11 (G).

Administrative Department

The Administrative Department is responsible for managing the day-to-day activities of the Ministry, including maintenance of buildings and compound, transportation and payment of bills.

Accounts Department

The Accounts Department is responsible for preparing the Ministry's Annual Budget and monitoring and spending money allocated to the Ministry.

Personnel Department

The Personnel Division is the smallest division that provides effective and efficient services as it relates to the welfare of the Ministry's staff.

It comprises of three positions, mainly Personnel Officer I and II and a Clerk.

Projects Department

The Projects Department of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs seeks to enhance the Ministry's current capacity to augment and expand the scope of the Ministry to meet the needs of successful programme implementation.

The Department comprises of specialised skills in project management, institutional strengthening, environmental economics, sustainable natural resources management and rural development aimed at fulfilling the MOAA mandate. 

The Department focuses primarily on policy development, strategic planning, advocacy, resource generation, project implementation and community development.

 Read More About Presidential Grants Project and Credit Scheme Project

Social Welfare and Labour Department

This department collaborates with relevant agencies to address issues related to the improvement of the economic and social welfare of Amerindians.

The department addresses all issues relating to the welfare of the Amerindian population and includes the following:

• Labour issues- are pertaining to persons who would have worked with persons or agencies and were not paid, the department will advocate on their behalf
• Clients who seek NIS benefits and do not know how to go about it
• Clients who seek compensation for injuries sustained on their jobs
• Human Trafficking- investigate reports received and provide assistance in areas of accommodation, counseling and financial assistance to return home
• Counselling is done on a regular basis
• Facilitating Birth Certificate Registrations- This is done mainly for persons who were not registered but the department also help with birth, marriages and death applications due to the remoteness of the areas. The programme started in 2003. During this exercise persons received their birth certificates on the spot now the CDO's fill the affidavits and send them to the Ministry where they will be checked to see if the relevant information required is supplied. The names, date of birth, place of birth, and money received are recorded then sent to General Registrar Office (GRO) for processing. When the birth certificates come to the office they are recorded by regions and sent back.

The Social Welfare Department is composed of Labour, Health and Student Welfare.

 Read More About Social Welfare Here

Health

The Health Section is mandated to offer medical and social services to persons from the hinterland regions through collaboration with other Government and Non-Governmental Ministries and Organisations.

• Ensuring that patients receive adequate medical attention when in Georgetown
• Ensuring that patients return to their communities safely when they would have completed their intervention in Georgetown
• Provide financial assistance for the following:
1. Burial
2. CAT Scan
3. Ultra Sound
4. Medical Testing
5. Purchasing of Medication
• Purchasing of Drugs and Medicine
• Providing Counselling
• Networking with other Ministries/Agencies in providing services to those persons seeking same
• Visiting patients from the Hinterland Regions while they are hospitalized
• Prison Visitation.

Hinterland Scholarship Department

The Scholarship Department manages the affairs of Hinterland and Amerindian Scholarship Awardees.

The objective of the programme is to ensure the safety and well-being of all Hinterland Awardees in order for them to realise their optimal potential. The programme was established in 1962 when six (6) scholarships were awarded to Amerindian students of Guyana's Hinterland, Riverin, Coastal and Amerindian communities.

The first batch came to Georgetown in 1964 to attend various Secondary Schools and to live with families who were paid to be their guardians. As the programme developed Technical and Tertiary Education was included.

Read More About Hinterland Scholarships Here

Governance and Community Development Department

The department consists of fourteen staff members; thirteen (13) Community Development Officers (CDOs) and a Principal Regional Development Officer (PRDO) as the supervisor, who is based in Georgetown.

The CDOs are based in the following order in the regions:

Amerindian Hostel

The Amerindian hostel was built in 1976 to offer optimal service to all Amerindians visiting the Hostel and to provide accommodations to all categories of patients, difficult circumstances, guests and Community Development Officers (CDOs).

It is located in Princess Street, Georgetown. The Ministry's Health and Scholarship departments is also housed at the Residence.

The Hostel is manned by a 19 member staff. The Administrator is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Residence.