Government's Amerindian Development programmes will not
be derailed
Georgetown, GINA, October 2, 2003
Government continues to address Amerindian concerns
and attempts by political commentators to misrepresent this sector
will not succeed.
This was emphasised by Minister of Amerindian Affairs Carolyn
Rodrigues yesterday in an interview with GINA.
Responding to issues in some sections of the media that Amerindians
are being neglected, Rodrigues pointed to several issues currently
being addressed by Government that were never addressed by the
previous Administration.
One issue is the Revision of the Amerindian Act which began last
February. This process was very consultative, since more than
90 percent of the Amerindian communities as well as Amerindian
NGO's were engaged in consultations, and submitted recommendations
to be made in the revised legislation.
These recommendations, after the conclusion of the consultation
exercise, were sent back to the various communities to ensure
that their recommendations were accurately captured and reflected
in the general recommendations.
Presently, the recommendations are being summarized by the legal
officers, which they would be submitted to Cabinet for its consideration
before being taken to the National Assembly next year.
The revised Act aims to address a number of issues of concern
to Amerindians, as it relates to the changing society. The existing
Act gives the Government the autonomy to reduce Amerindian land,
for example, but how can it reduce or increase any land if it
does not have clear boundaries of the existing communities?
This is one of the major reasons for revising the Act and for
embarking on the land demarcation exercise.
"Some communities are not even sure where their boundaries
are and Government is trying to get those boundaries set so that
we could be better able to deal with encroachment," the Minister
emphasised.
During the entire former Administration's rule, an attempt was
only made to demarcate one Amerindian community, Orealla and this
process was never completed.
"What should be noted is that with President Hoyte, an order
was made to be retroactive and he did not sign it and he actually
presented that to the people of Orealla. Now we are discovering
that," Minister Rodrigues reported.
Government further completed a land-use study for untitled communities
in Region Ten (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice). This was done in
collaboration with the Lands and Surveys Commission.
Government is now in the process of negotiating with the communities
the titling of their lands. This, the Minister pointed out would
have to be carefully considered and may take some time, because
some persons are requesting individual titles while others are
interested in communal ownership.
"Even though democracy says that the majority rules, we want
to make sure there is adequate consultation," Minister Rodrigues
said.
Responding to the criticism that miners are taking advantage of
Amerindians and of pollution of Amerindian communities by miners,
the Minister acknowledged this being a concern but added that
the Ministry together with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission
(GGMC) are working to have Amerindians trained as Mines' Officers
and Wardens so that they can monitor local mining activities.
Training should begin in November, Minister Rodrigues disclosed.
Meanwhile, a model for benefit-sharing as it relates to mining
is also being developed. There have already been some consultations
with the Captains of the communities in the Upper Mazaruni areas.
It should be noted that Amerindian communities receive loyalties
from mining and logging activities in their reserves. But there
have been cases of irregularities in some communities.
To curb this situation, and in promoting transparency at the village
level, Government has moved to institute Village Offices in several
Amerindian communities.
Amerindian Heritage Month has been designated by the PPP/C Government
to give national recognition to the contributions as well as the
culture and heritage of Amerindians, who were previously seen
as second-class citizens.
"If Amerindian Heritage Month has done nothing else, it has
created an awareness and Amerindian people are now proud about
that … people realize that good things are happening to
Amerindians and so they want to add negative things to say that
they have nothing to be proud of," Minister Rodrigues said.
To say that that the Amerindian head-dress, which was presented
to President Bharrat Jagdeo on September 10 reflected a crown
of thorns is degrading to Amerindians. It simply shows that Amerindians
unlike some Guyanese, respect the Head of State, Minister Rodrigues
pointed out.
Together with the Ministry of Education and CIDA, the Ministry
is working on a pilot project to have the Wapishana and Macusi
dialects integrated into the schools' curriculum. Hinterland students'
performances have been improving at the CXC and other levels.
Prior to 1992, many of them never had the opportunity of attending
secondary schools. Now they can do so within their regions. These
are achievements of which Amerindians have to be proud.
As it relates to poverty in the Hinterland, Government has set
up several Poverty Alleviation programmes that address the needs
of education, health care, food and nutrition, among others. To
say therefore that Amerindians have been more impoverished over
the last ten years is unfounded. Visits to hinterland regions
would reveal evidence of development in every sector. Roads to
access hinterland regions have been built by this Government.
Today many communities have been brought together because of access
roads.
The Ministry has faced criticisms also for its 2003 budget. There
are allegations that this year only one dollar was budgeted for
employment costs. However, Minster Rodrigues refuted this claim,
pointing out that $26.3 M is in this year's budget for employment
cost including NIS benefit, allowances and other indirect labour
costs.
It should be noted that the Ministry also has employed, Community
Development Officers (CDO's) in each of the ten administrative
regions who will benefit from these allocations.
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Thursday,
October 2, 2003