OF recent we have been witnessing a wave of protest actions from the Amerindian People’s Association claiming among other things that there rights will be threatened should the LCDS be implemented. his entity which goes by the acronym APA is perceived to be a front for the Alliance For Change (AFC) as it is inundated with known AFC activists.
I wish to ask the APA and their parent body the AFC: where was the whole concept of Amerindian rights in their vernacular prior to 1992? It was only under this Government who instituted several mechanisms to ensure that our indigenous people will no longer be treated as sub humans as is prevalent in the United States, that the concept of Amerindian rights came to fore.
This Government saw it fit to establish Ministry to deal with issues affecting our indigenous brothers; it was only under this Government that we have Amerindian soldiers, policemen, doctors, nurses and lawyers. Prior to 1992 this was inconceivable.
Amerindians today are able to enjoy the same rights as every other ethnic group in this country and why not; they are an integral part of our nation and should be recognized as such and this Government stands out as one that has empowered the indigenous population and has made it part of the decision making apparatus in the country. No other country especially those that seek to castigate us on the issue of human rights are even close to achieving what we have in terms of making our indigenous population a vital cog in nation building.
Again I question the motives of those behind the scenes, are they truly concerned for our Indigenous people or are they looking after their own interests?
But the answer is clear the APA is being prostituted at the altar of politicking by those who are seeking to retard their progress as opposed to enhancing it. Make no bones about it.