-future never brighter for Guyana’s First Peoples
HIS EXCELLENCY, President Jagdeo recently launched a revised version of the Low- Carbon  Development Strategy. This revelation is very exciting for the national development  benefits that will accrue to this nation. But of particular interest is what it entails for the Amerindian communities.
So much has been said about the hinterland communities and their relationship with the LCDS. The private press, always ready to negate and find fault with transformational issues, had accused the government of foisting the LCDS upon the Amerindian peoples. Now this was a bald  accusation and so far from the truth.
Of course, broad-based consultations were held throughout the hinterland areas, and the residents participated. No one can deny this. As is always the case whenever innovation will occur, there may have been some hesitancy in terms of a general understanding and acceptance. But generally, Amerindians were supportive of the strategy, as they instantly recognised the benefits that will come to their respective communities.
With the release of details of this groundbreaking, transformational scheme, it is evident that  the indigenous peoples are central to the LCDS. After all, the forests are their natural habitat, and it is under their stewardship.
The appreciable fact to note about this grand plan is that the Amerindians will not be forced to become a part of this process. The opt-in clause proposal, now being considered by a broad-based committee, will give the hinterland areas until 2015 to board the carbon vehicle.
And even if they opt to remain outside of the strategy, they will still benefit from a US$4M fund, in addition to participating in another sum of $7M for food security and profit making activities.
No penalty for exercising their democratic right.
This is very good news for Guyana ’s First People. Surely, they and their communities are now to be brought fully into the mainstream of national life. Already, this movement has started gaining momentum; but it will accelerate as this great national economic plan evolving from the President’s green plan takes shape.
And to those quarters from which distortions about government’s treatment of Amerindians have been emanating, let it be known that this government, much, much more than the last administration, have done tremendous social and economic interventions throughout the hinterland communities. Never before has the future been brighter. There are visible, positive changes that can be quantified in the daily lives of these people, because the government cares about their existence.