MY attention was drawn recently to a newspaper article on page 9 of the March 17 edition of Guyana Times. The article was headlined “APA to remain vigilant on behalf of Amerindians’.
First, let me say that Kwabanna Village does not have a land problem or dispute with the Santa Rosa Village. What our Council had was an issue with one individual mining on land that falls within our boundaries. I myself and some of our councillors met with the individual who has since ceased mining in the area. We are not claiming Santa Rosa land. What nonsense is that?
Second, I am not aware that Kwabanna has ever asked the APA to ‘remain vigilant’ on our behalf. In fact, it was the vigilance of our residents that made us aware of what was going on with the particular miner. APA personnel cannot be in Georgetown sitting comfortably in their office and homes and be watchdogs for us Amerindians in the hinterland.
If there are serious unresolved Amerindian land issues in Guyana, the Kwabanna Village Council is not aware of same.  And certainly our village is not a part of any such land issue.
Please Ms. Jean La Rose; take care of your own business because we can take care of ours.