…ministerial adviser, Mervyn Williams tells NTC/APA candidate forum
…Shuman, LJP shun event
THE coalition APNU+AFC during its time in governance has plugged education as key to the development of the country’s indigenous people and with more government support, the rights of the nation’s first people will be better off.
This was noted by Former APNU+AFC Member of Parliament, Mervyn Williams during a candidate’s forum organized by the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) in conjunction with the National Toshaos Council (NTC).The event was held at the Regency Suites on Hadfield Street on Wednesday night.
Several political parties, including the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP), the New Movement (TNM) , the Citizenship Initiative (TCI), Change Guyana and A New and United Guyana (ANUG) participated in the event.
During opening remarks by the candidates, Williams told the gathering that the APNU+AFC government has been “pushing for education as the main plan for development of this country.”
He said that the results of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations have supported the contention of the David Granger-led administration that the sector is worth more investment. ”We believe the indigenous people will be able to better their right to self-determination,” Williams told the gathering.
He also noted that land titling was another issue which government addressed and, according to him, contrary to what has been voiced in some quarters, 10 villages were titled in a process which was addressed in a holistic manner.
He said that the coalition has long acknowledged the contributions of indigenous people to Guyana over the centuries and has accorded the appropriate level of respect in that regard. He said that this respect for rights of the Indigenous people has led to the commencement of the consultative process for the revision of the Amerindian Act of 2006 which was passed in the National Assembly under the Bharrat Jagdeo administration.
He said following the consultations on the revision process, a report was compiled following which it will be put in the public domain and this will lead to reformation of the legislation. Williams said that since the life of the government was cut short as a result of the December 2018 no-confidence motion, the process was affected.
The first question raised at the forum by Dr. Laura George of the APA also spoke to the revision of the act and the need for this to be done with urgency.
Williams said that during the consultative process, there were 14 cluster consultations, one of which involved state agencies. He said the plan of the authorities is to have another 7 being undertaken in a short time, noting that the process had to be taken “from the ground to the top”, noting that the move to bring the indigenous village leaders to a central point eased the process.
He said that there was a push by indigenous communities for the establishment of district councils such as the South Rupununi District Council. This leads to the leaders speaking for a wider area, and, according to him, the coalition has been responding and facilitating this process.
George also posed the question to the PPP regarding the reformation of the Amerindian Act. PPP spokesperson Gail Teixiera noted that the party has made it clear to the NTC from 2016 to 2019 that it is not against changes to the act but she noted that such must be done on a broad consultative basis involving all communities. She did not support the government or an NGO undertaking a top-down approach on the issue.
On Wednesday night, the issue of environmental destruction caused by mining was also put to the floor and Teixeira noted that it was a complex one which requires a balance. She said that there are many indigenous communities which are also involved in mining and as such, she noted, that it was not a matter of “they against us.” She said that the issue needs to be addressed by a team effort.
During the forum, the smaller parties, many which will not be contesting in the Hinterland regions, provided their support to indigenous issues being put on the front burner.
Presidential Candidate of ANUG, Ralph Ramkarran told the forum that his party will give to the indigenous people, “everything” that the coalition and the PPP has promised. The former PPP Executive who parted ways with the party in 2012 after several decades, said that he has checked the manifestos of both the coalition and the PPP and according to him, they have not fulfilled their promises. ”We are not going to win the elections by votes, but we are going to attain in another way,” he said.
Dr. Danial Kanhai of TNM noted that his party was a young group of professionals with visions and goals to address the populace. He said that the party views indigenous people as being neglected and he noted that the party wants to make the country diverse with all Guyanese being included in its developmental plans.
Rhonda Lam, Presidential candidate of the TCI spoke of the rights of the indigenous people not being respected. She said the party felt that not only indigenous culture must be celebrated, during one month, but on a more long-term basis, with emphasis placed on cultural preservation.
Change Guyana’s candidate, Nigel Hinds, told the gathering that his party believes that there is lack of opportunities for indigenous people. He said education and health issues are also in need of being addressed while he noted that telecommunication is absent in many indigenous communities.
Many persons on social media and other members of the public were expecting active participation of the LJP led by Shuman which has been touting itself as a group representing the rights of indigenous people. However, at the forum on Wednesday night, the organisers mentioned that Shuman travelled to the Rupununi and that his party was campaigning in that area.
