Farming, hunting, fishing, brick making, embroidery, lumber, cashew nuts, small business (shops), sewing,
Buildings
Primary and Nursery Schools, Health Post, Churches, village office, teachers quarters, hot meals kitchen, sewing centre, village bond, Church Rest house,
Local Organization
Wildlife Club, Parent Teachers and Friends Association, Sewing Group, Mothers Union, Sports Club, Red Cross, Steering Committee for school snacks
History
History of Massara
Settlement first began in the area now known as Massara around 1915. The location was first discovered by a Makushi named John Simon and his companion and son-in-law, a white man named Mr. Hinds. In that era there were white men who used to conduct business through the river, travelling by engine boat and Mr. Hinds was one of them. There was no aircraft then.
After John Simon had settled in Massara with his family, his wife and daughter died. He abandoned the place, and moved to Apoteri where his descendants live up to this day. Years after John Simon had left this settlement, my grandfather, Mr. Edward Bartholomew, arrived at Massara. Until then he had lived at Narama, now called Normandia, in the Roraima State, Brazil. Mr. Bartholomew moved to three different locations before he settled at Massara. At first he was living at Shapîtî, and then he moved to Tapieukata, between the Pakaraima Mountains. From there he moved to Toka where he remained for about ten years. Mr. Bartholomew used to come to Massara to fish in the Rupununi River. He found the area very useful, with a great quantity of fish and cashew trees. Compared with Toka location, the river was much nearer. All of these factors encouraged him to move to Massara with his family in 1935. An Anglican Church was established in the village in 1938. Until that time most of the people used to travel to Yupukari Church in order to worship. A school building was constructed in 1942. The first teacher was M. John Bennett of Kabakaburi on the Pomeroon River. Most of the people who are now living in Massara are descendants of Mr. Bartholomew.
Resources
Strengths of the village
The community is a titled village under the Amerindian Act. The community was recently granted an extension of land.
Forested and savannah area to do both ranching and farming.
A large number of lakes and ponds which provide enough fish for the community.
Forested area has enough potential to produce materials for building and sale
New leadership in the community – the community now has a new Toshao and council with a new perspective on what direction the community will take in terms of development.
Conservation area – the community decided that the preservation of part of their land was necessary so that future generations would benefit from the natural resources that the community has. An area was set aside for this purpose this area included an area where there are a lot of cedar trees.
The village has been able to plant lots of fruit trees in the community such oranges, cashews, tangerines, coconut etc. The farmlands are further away from the community, but have also been used to produce adequately for the community and for some amount to be sold to outsiders.
Has access to primary and nursery education in the community the primary school has 2 trained teachers and 1 untrained teacher, the Nursery school has1 trained teacher and 1 untrained teacher
There is good community support for community activities.
Weakness of the village
Lands are not arable near to where most people live in the village so this had made villagers have to go further away for farming e.g. Simoni
Does not have adequate transportation, no vehicles in the village
Not enough financial support for all the projects planned
Limited job opportunities in the community
Limited negotiation skills
Limited education and skills within the community, the community still has to have help from outside to help write proposals etc.
No proper accommodation for visitors to the community
No proper potable water system
Lack of trained people in the community to do catering etc for visitors.
Segregation among community members exist.
The village inaccessible by road during the rainy season. The access road is not in a very good condition even during the dry season.
Opportunities
Can produce more crops such as cassava to make farine which is in high demand in other communities.
Learn new skills when employed outside of the community which may be used in the community when they return.
Developing wood products such as furniture since the community has wood in the forests which can be used for this purpose.
Development of handicraft such as sifters, matapee, bow and arrow, embroidery, sewing etc.
Training for young people in institutions such as Bina Hill Institute.
Fruit preservation during the fruiting season
Threats
Farming land lies along the mountain and this can be an issue with the impending development of the road, the savannah land is flooded seasonally so this can only be cultivated minimally.
Migration - Some villagers have to leave for employment in other areas such as the mines and logging concessions, this can lead to a decline in family values and may also import new values to the community which might be negative.
Fairly close and accessible to the main road, this could lead to an influx of unwanted or too many outsiders.
Loss of young people due to lack of job opportunities
Competition with other nearby communities for resources.
With the imminent drilling of an oil well and large scale farming to be done not very far away from the village there is a concern that these activities will have some negative impacts on the wildlife of the area.
Development Plans
Annual Community Priority Plans
Project
Objective
Activity
Timeline
Remarks
Foot Bridge
Linking Quimatta and Massara
Acquisition of materials
Lay foundation
Put up posts
Lay cross pieces
Lay planks
All year
This foot path will allow access to both villages during the raining season
Improve livestock farm
Build herd so that protein is provided for the community at a reasonable price
Acquisition of more animals
Develop site for vaquero to live so that they can focus on the herd
Fence and area for animal paddock
All year
The aim is to keep the herd away from the living quarters of the community minimize damage to crops and to the livestock
Poultry farm
Provide protein to the community at a reasonable cost
Raise domestic birds
Cultivate land for corn(feed)
Extracting wooden materials for pens
Third quarter to year end
Alternative to fish and meat that is brought in from outside
Extension of farms
Provide adequate supply of food for the community and to sell to outsiders
During the farming season for each farmer to increase their plot of farm by 1 acre
All year
Increased production and income generation
Storage of produce for long term
Multi-purpose building
Provide a space where there is general community events and gatherings and possible accommodate visitors, training
Extract wooden materials
Making bricks
Acquisition of funds to purchase materials, cement, nails, zinc and transport
Transport materials to site
Lay foundation
Put up walls
Insert windows and door frames
Lay roof
Lay floors
Complete doors and windows
Complete inner walls and furnishing
All year
At present the community does not have a place where they can have a number of activities mentioned in the objectives.
Improved potable supply system
Establishment of agro-forestry plot
Improvement of access road
Sanitation
Solar power freezer for village shop
Management of natural resources
Have clean and safe water for residents which will reduce incidence of water related illnesses
Improve soil in selected area, helping to introduce a variety of crops
Provide ease of access to community members and visitors to the community
Provide community with pit latrines
Have storage capacity for meat and fish
Ensure that the natural resources of the community is sustained
Fundraising to purchase 400 gallons water tanks and PVC pipes to run to every home in the community
Acquisition of funds for fencing of area
Hire tractor to fetch gravel to site on the road
Acquisition of materials
Build pit latrines for each home
Select appropriate machine
Buy machine
Transport
Install
Monitoring the catching methods of fishing and hunting
Look at periods for hunting and fishing
Information sharing to community members of what measures and systems that is being put in place for monitoring
All year
All year
Second quarter of 2010
All year
Last quarter of 2010
All year
General Community Development Plans for Massara/Kwaimatta
Communication
Transportation
Roads Improvement
Education-access to higher education e.g. institute of learning, adult education
Nursery School-Kwaimatta
Skills training
Electricity
Agriculture
Infrastructure
Health
Water
Livestock
Information Technology
Religion
Tourism
Sanitation
Sports
Cultural continuity
Waste disposal
Conservation
Housing
Fish Ponds
Recreational facilities
Nutrition
Bridges-Kwaimatta
Economic Activities
Cottage industries-canning factories etc.
Forestry
Communication:
Cell phone access
Public telephone booth
Multi-band HF Radio Sets
Regular flow of newspaper
Newsletters
Sky dish (satellite)
Postal agency
Information Technology
Computer – to have our own people trained in Information Technology to come back and teach their own people
Internet access for the community to use as a resource for information and research
Increase communication by use of the internet emails, chat lines
Increased business opportunities
Increased shopping options
Distance Education
Electricity
The community should have access to electricity so as to increase the standard of living of among community members, this should include home appliances among other things
Water
Solar system for water- clean and safe potable water for community, overhead tanks should be had so as to store water for distribution to the community, with water running to each home there can be an increase in the production of kitchen gardens
Agriculture
Livestock – increase on cattle rearing, sheep
Piggery
Fish farms
Poultry
Cassava production – a factory introduced to make farine, cassava bread, cassareep etc Income for the community
Agricultural equipment and machines – tractors, truck, mills,
All weather road –
Markets – proper marketing system put in place
Improved farming practices
Peanut production
Fruits farms such as Passion fruit
Citrus – improve on stock - oranges, tangerines, limes
Health
The health system in the community needs to be improved this should include access to communication systems such as HF radios, telephones.
The health centre itself should be fully equipped with beds for people who have to stay, adequate drugs, adequate staffing.
The main centre at Annai should be upgraded to a hospital with the appropriate staff and equipment.
There should be reliable transport of emergencies.
Education
The secondary school in Annai needs to be upgraded so that they can offer the full range of subject offered at the CXC level, this should include laboratory for science subjects, a wood working and technical drawing department, the dorms also need to be extended so that more children can have the opportunity of secondary education.
The school need to have a gym or something similar where students can have physical training and exercise.
There is also need for a proper play field with the proper infrastructure such as washrooms and stands, properly marked track to official standards, football field and other sports equipment
For higher educational opportunities Institutions such as the Bina Hill Institute needs to be accredited and expanded to include other subject other than those offered right now.
They should have a mechanical shop with the requisite trainers.
