THE Amerindian Village at the Sophia Exhibition Site has been transformed into a microcosm of the wider national network of Guyana’s indigenous peoples. The official launch was well-attended by government functionaries, members of the various opposition parties, members of the business community, non-governmental organisations and other Guyanese and visitors to this country. 
The event represented a melting pot of the indigenous tribes of Guyana, whose cultural performances were done in several Amerindian languages by representatives of several Amerindian communities.
September was designated Amerindian Heritage Month by the late President, Dr. Cheddi Jagan.
Formerly relegated to the periphery of existential dynamics within mainstream national demographics, with little or no access to the amenities and facilities coastal dwellers take for granted and little hope for advancement or development for their children, Amerindians have come into their own since the current government assumed office in 1992.
Their achievements today are phenomenal, with two Amerindian women being powerful members of the Cabinet, and a host of other Amerindian professionals serving in various capacities across the nation.
Many have opted to return to serve in their home villages upon completion of their formal education.
They are allowed choices within their development paradigm and second to the government, they are the second largest landowners in this nation.
Once treated without respect as a backward people allowed the dregs from the nation’s coffers, the indigenous people of Guyana are today fully integrated in the wider society, while yet maintaining and sustaining their traditional, cultural and social identity.
In his address during a previous Amerindian celebratory event, President Bharrat Jagdeo said:  “Every year we set aside a month specifically to focus on the richness and diversity of the culture of our indigenous people, and since this month was dedicated to such a celebration by our late President, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, there has been growth, not only in terms of the number of people who participate, but in terms of the knowledge of this rich, wonderful culture of the nine tribes of our indigenous people.
“So we are extremely grateful to our Amerindian people for broadening and deepening our culture and our cultural identity.
“I have been privy to the many debates that have characterised our most recent history, particularly the conclusion that indigenous peoples need to preserve their culture and that any intrusion of modernity could lead to a reversal, or an erosion of this culture.
“In many parts of the world there is this view that our indigenous people and population must become museum pieces; that they must be kept in a historically-intact state, but…I have said this for a very long time, and the government and the party I come from share the view that we can balance the two – we can ensure that our indigenous people progress materially, and that they can also dream big dreams while, at the same time, we can create and sustain the conditions for the preservation of this wonderful culture.
“My government will never impose on you any development model, or theory, or idea that is aiming to undermine your culture.
“Whatever model or initiative we choose to institute at the village level will have to be done carefully and with the consent of the people who live in those areas, because we respect the right of our Amerindian people to have choices.
“We have worked for a very long time to give them choices, not only at the local level, but at the national level. Their children can go to school and further their studies after primary school.
“Now they can get secondary education through dormitories built in their communities, and they can come to Georgetown, and go even further afield, on scholarships.
“They have choices to become young doctors and nurses and, at the same time, maintain their cultural identity.
“We are going with renewed commitment, every single day, to ensure that a child born in these communities has the same opportunities as a child born on the coast. It is not an easy task, but it is something that we are committed to.
“We have a $2 billion programme that will be rolled over the next three years that will see several road accesses being developed in the hinterland.  Also, there are 10,000 Amerindian households and we plan that, within four years, every household will have a solar unit so that they can all have access to electricity.
“We are also working…we might have at some point to subsidise it, but hopefully GT&T will expand their service to bring greater access – and these things will benefit the communities so that they also can get into the future  ICT revolution that I think will take place in this country.”
Since the President made the foregoing speech Amerindian development has escalated by leaps and bounds, with a dormitory for students being commissioned earlier this month and the Indigenous People’s Commission sworn in on Wednesday, among other initiatives that are aimed at providing relief to Amerindian communities and enhancing the lives and lifestyles to the first peoples of Guyana.