…at Waramuri Heritage Day celebrations
WARAMURI, a small but thriving Amerindian village in Region One, and home to the world’s 27th Shell Mound, was a hive of activity on Friday as Guyanese from various regions across the country joined their Amerindian brothers and sisters in celebration of Amerindian Heritage Day 2010.
The event, declared open by village Toshao Bernard Laud, featured cultural presentations in the form of traditional dances, poetry, and songs, while several booths displayed indigenous food, craft and medicine.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who represented President Bharrat Jagdeo at the event, acknowledged the large gathering in attendance as he expressed pleasure at being part of the celebrations.
The Prime Minister, in his remarks, alluded to the vision of the late President Dr. Cheddi Jagan which was to build a better and more comfortable life for all Guyanese, of which Amerindians are very much a part.
The Prime Minister said that for them to actively participate in the development, they have to be equipped with the necessary skills and tools. In this regard, Government has been working to improve services and facilities in hinterland communities, including the construction of new schools, hospitals and infrastructure, while making training in various fields such as education and health more accessible to residents in those communities.

Recalling the origin of Heritage Day, the Prime Minister said that it is observed because of the dedication of the Government to the development of Amerindians, and more so, because Dr. Cheddi Jagan had designated September as Amerindian Heritage Month, and September 10 as Heritage Day.
He urged all Amerindians to recognise the significance of their involvement in the social and economic development of their individual communities and the country.

Referring to the Hinterland Scholarship programme, Mr. Hinds said the number of Amerindians benefiting from this programme is increasing, a testament to the commitment and dedication of the Government towards enhancing the lives of Guyana’s first people through education.
Mr. Hinds also commissioned the Waramuri Shell Mound during his visit to the village.

Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai, in her address, acknowledged the importance of Region One to the country’s development programme. She however challenged the residents to be more conscious of the preservation of their culture and use opportunities such as Heritage Day to harmonise their development with cultural preservation.

The event is not only about celebration, it is also about refining and enhancing our culture,” Minister Sukhai said.
She added that Region One needs to catch up with some of the other regions in this regard, and should be able to include cultural development in the overall scheme of things.
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Kellawan Lall also noted that Amerindians are becoming part of the mainstream of the country’s political, economic and cultural life. He commended them for taking the opportunities given by the Government to enhance their development.
Meanwhile, leaders at the community level also expressed their appreciation for the efforts made by Government to provide a more comfortable life for them.
Chairperson of the National Toshao Council Yvonne Pearson stated that “one does not have to search for evidence of development because it is obvious, as the theme ‘Promoting sustaining livelihoods while transforming our village economies’ applies to what is taking place in the villages”.
Amerindian Heritage Month is currently being observed with a month-long calendar of activities organized by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs.
Among the Heritage Day sponsors were Digicel Guyana and the Ministry of Agriculture. (GINA)