Annai
Village Profile
Village Profile
Population |
523
|
No of house holds |
80 |
No of male |
272 |
No of Female |
251 |
Peoples |
Makushi, Wapishana, |
Skills |
Masons, Carpenters, Handicrafts, hunting, fishing, cooks, seamstress |
Religion |
Anglican, Full Gospel, Church of Christ, Christian Brethren.
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Village assets |
Tractor, Mini-bus, Cart, Cattle, Horses, Chainsaw, water pump, Grass cutter, cutlass, fork, rakes |
Employment |
Teachers, Health Worker, Dentex, Medex,
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Economic Activities |
Farming, Hunting, Fishing, crafts, logging, lumbering, transportation service.
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Buildings |
Primary and Nursery Schools, Hospital, Police station, Village Office, GECOM office, RDC office, Teachers Quarters, Regional Guest House, Benab, Nurses quarters, Doctors quarters , Anglican Training Centre, Sewing Center, market, craft center. |
Local organization |
Wildlife club, Sewing group, Football club, Culture group, Agriculture group, MRU, Tourism Body, Transportation committee, |
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History
History
Mr. Henry Smith who was born in 1913 said that the first set of people to settle in the Annai area were the payako, the name used by the Makushi to refer to themselves because they lived near the Rupununi River, pa’ya. The other tribes used to envy those payako and would come as ku’yu to kill those payako one by one. Mrs. Smith said that finally the ku’yu got rid of the payako. Some escaped through the trail to Iwokrama Mountain where they are still living, transformed into wild Amerindians. Following the routing of the payako, Mrs. Smith said that the Arikuna came and settled in the Annai area. Her great-great-grandmother was Arikuna.
According to Stephen Williams, (who died in 1996) Annai was named after its three separate hills, Aniz iz yepi yen. Peter Moses, an elder now resident in Wowetta, claims that Annai, the Carib word for pineapple, is a Carib place name which has endured. Certainly, as Schaumburg recorded, Annai was the site of a Carib village as late as the 1840s. Yakarinta also is said by knowledgeable elders to be a Carib place name.
Stephen Williams’ father was Captain during the period when he was a little boy. Few people settled in the Annai area then, he said; most lived on their farm places, coming out to Annai only during the holiday period. When his father died he succeeded him as Toshao. He was village leader from 1948 to 1961. In the early days they used to invite villagers from other settlements to visit and dance Parishara for days at a time.
Other elders claim, however that is was Stephen William, during his time as Toshao, who brought the practice of Parishara to an end. He warned, in their recollection, that foreign visitors would laugh when the payako started to dance, and that the payako must leave the old way aside, and that Anglicanism and parishara were incompatible.
Resources
Crops types
Sweet and better cassava |
Banana |
Corn |
Potato |
Pumpkin |
Pepper |
Yam |
Eddoes |
Plantain |
Dashing |
Sugar cane |
Fishing and hunting
Bow and arrow |
Hook and line |
Traps |
nets |
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Animals Fish and Birds hunted
Animals |
Fish |
Bird |
Bush deer |
Collette |
Powis |
Savannah deer |
Logo logo |
Macaw |
Tapir |
Hassar |
Parrot |
Agouti |
Pacu |
Quail |
Labba |
perai |
Dove |
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Arawana |
Pigeon |
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Haimara |
Marudi |
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Arapaima |
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Lukunai |
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Resources used by the people
NTFP |
medicine |
fruits |
Nebbi |
Balata sap |
Balata fruit |
Ite palm |
Kiambia bark |
Lue |
Mucuro |
Cashew bark |
Cocorite |
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Wild cashew |
Seasonal calendar for farming-, April, September January
Strengths:
Titled Village under the Amerindian Act
The Village Council in place – meets regularly to discuss matters related to the development of the community.
Most of the community supports the village council.
Women on the village council
Village has its own transportation service also has a tractor for the development of agriculture in the area.
The Toshao sit on the National Toshao council.
Has an area set aside for sustainable forestry?
Access to Nursery, Primary and Secondary School Education
Weakness
Lack of leadership outside of the village council.
Not enough interest in the affairs of the community.
Not enough job opportunities being created locally.
Crowded living environment in the community not a lot of space for future housing for new families.
No proper way of disposing garbage.
Community members tend not to support activities driven by the community as much as before.
Alcohol consumption is high among many families, in leadership and in Administration of the school etc.
Opportunities
Close to the road so there is an opportunity for small businesses such as craft makers, farine, casareep and other local products
Training for young people at institutions such as Bina Hill Learning Centre
Access to Secondary School Education
Threats
Close to the main road this could lead to negative influences from outsiders.
Not enough job opportunities in the community causing people to leave and go to other
Importing other values and norms from the places where villager are employed
Competition for local natural resources with residents of other communities and other people living on state land.
Over harvesting of natural resources such as fish stock
Animals in the area could destroy garden and other crops
Human hurt animals
Introduction of use of illicit drugs. (Marijuana, cocaine etc)
Development Plans
Annual Community Priority Plans
Project |
Objective |
Activity |
Timeline |
Remarks |
Sign Board in the Village
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To have signs in place so that residents and visitors know that they are in the Annai Village, visibility and promotion of the village
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Purchase power saw to cut materials for signs Select site for signs Purchase paint and other materials for signs Paint signs Erect signs |
By May 2010
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Internet Connection |
To have connection to the internet for the community This will help with increased communication for members of the community, also to help students and residents with school work and research. |
Select building to house internet and computer equipment Source equipment Buy equipment Pay internet fees Install equipment |
By May 2010 |
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Hot meals school feeding programme Building |
Provide supplemental nutrients to school students |
Select site Cut materials Transport materials Purchase other hardware and materials for building Build building
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By September 2010 |
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Tourism site and fish pond |
Develop tourism product for the Annai Central Village Develop fish pond to supplement protein needs in the community |
Select site Develop site, trail and accommodation Select Fish pond site Dig site Populate site with fish Feed and monitor fish Harvest and sale |
December 2010 |
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Upgrading of Annai Sports Ground. Highlight and promote sports to involve recognition and possible remuneration |
Have the ground fenced and grassed over, well laid out football pitch with pavilions |
Source fencing materials Cut posts and rails for fence Transport fence posts and rails Dig holes for fence posts Erect posts Build pavilion
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By October 2010 |
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Annai Boundary line to be justified |
To have boundaries defined and marked |
Get boundary surveyed and justified on the ground. Cut and mark boundary Erect signs at boundary lines |
Awaiting word on MOAA And availability of surveyors |
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Sewing Centre |
To help to improve the livelihood of the women in the sewing group |
Source materials Buy materials Sew materials for sale |
Awaiting response on proposal submitted to funding agency |
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Fencing of Annai Nursery School |
Security of the school and children when at school |
Cut fence post and rails Transport fence posts and rails to site |
Awaiting response for funding |
Community will cut all wooden materials for this project |
Bee keeping to be reintroduced |
Income generation for the residents |
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Awaiting response on proposal submitted to funding agency |
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Cassava project for women |
Income generation project for the women in the community |
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By April and continued throughout the year |
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Farm Road |
Upgrade road for ease of access |
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Regional Government to say when project will be done |
Potable Water |
Have safe and clean water for residents |
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Regional Government to say when project will be done |
Electricity |
Have electricity for residents on a consistent basis |
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Regional Government to say when project will be done |
Village priority plan
Agriculture-need
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Irrigation needed to have crops all year round.
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The village plans to have an Agriculture building since they would like to bring in their finished products to a central location and have a secure place to store their tools and equipment.
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Motor driven cassava grater for greater production of farine and other cassava related products
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The farm road needs to be improved since residents find it difficult to travel to and from their farms during the rainy season.
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Cassava factory at a location which is central to the residents
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Canning factory-to preserve the fruits and vegetables so that it can be sold to other communities.
Health
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The Health Centre should be upgraded to a hospital with all the relevant staff and equipment.
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The hospital should have transportation for emergencies.
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Training provided to have qualified staff e.g. doctor ,mid-wife ,nursing assistant, Medex, dentist and microscopist
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Communication –telephone network should be improved so that public buildings have telephone access.
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Access to cell phone service
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Social activities-must have trained counselors so that people must go for counseling on various issues they are facing. The councilor must be trust worthy.
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Ambulance with equipment e.g. radio, oxygen tank, back board
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24 hour medical staff
Transportation
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Residents should have access to adequate transportation services at affordable rates
Communication-
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Internet system
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Residents must be able to access cellular phone service
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Radio set in each public building
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Improve Radio broadcast
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Television
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Satellite phone
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Improve postal service
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Wire transfer service
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Newspapers local and international
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Telephone ( cellular) to be followed up by council urgently
Education
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Library-access to educational materials(old test papers math’s, English etc
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More trained teachers in the Secondary Primary and Nursery school
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training for professional drivers
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catering e.g. cooking
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pre nursery and Primary education-
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Adults education (Distance education via internet)
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Skills training
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Community policing training
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Guide training.
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Traditional skills- e.g. traditional crafts such as basketry, matapees, sifters, fans
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Agriculture extension officers
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Carpentry training center
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Business management training
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Leadership skills
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Religions Education
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Training in financial management(in the home) Money used inappropriately especially to purchase liquor and tabaccos