South Rupununi’s youngest Toshao passionate about promoting culture, expanding ICT

Sand Creek is a Wapichan-Amerindian community that is situated on the bank of the Rupununi River in Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo). The village depends heavily on livestock ranching and subsistence farming.

With potential in agriculture, the village’s new Toshao, Alex Augustine is hoping to foster development through the promotion of culture and the expansion of ICT (Information and Communication Technology).

“Some of the things I am hoping to achieve is to bring the community more closer. I am trying a way to preserve our culture, how to promote our culture. A lot of people demanded that we protect our culture. We don’t see much of that within our community.

“Right now I have a project going within the village where I would involve the youths in the ICT hub…I am also engaging my elders to ensure that they have a comfortable life in Sand Creek,” Augustine told the News Room during an exclusive interview.

Born and raised in the community of Agricola on the East Bank of Demerara, Augustine, 21, is the youngest Toshao in South Rupununi.

It was the roots of his family, his grandfather to be specific, that made him move to the community of Sand Creek.

Several weeks ago, the small and close-knit community expressed their confidence in Augustine, when they elected him as the leader of the village.

“I did not grow up here…I came sometime in 2017…My father is actually from Region 9….We moved because of my grandfather because he was sick.

“The people had confidence in me…When they came to me before nomination they said they know I have potential…I said if they see something in me that I didn’t see then no problem,” Augustine said.

Since taking up the role, Augustine has hit the ground, listening to residents’ concerns and working to get them addressed.

“Some of our long-term work we have talked about within our village meeting is the village benab which is a long standing issue within our village. We haven’t had a benab for years. The village would like to have a benab.

“Our other project would include having a library…Other things but I still have to consult the village because we had some many things we had prioritize,” Augustine noted.

Personally, Augustine, a young teacher at Sand Creek Secondary School, said his main focus is to serve the people of his village.

“My aim is to respect my people, fulfill what they want, what they see fit for development,” he told the News Room.

In a race against time, Augustine has just three years to set this in motion.

“It feels good…it sends a message to other young people in Guyana that you are not too young to lead…So this for me is actually a learning experience,” Augustine said.