IT is now done. Amerindian Heritage Month came and went quite quickly. It was celebrated under the theme: “Our culture, our heritage, our life: A fusion of indigenous diversity.” The Amerindians, for too long, were overly ostracised. When this was not the case, they were either neglected or abused. However, people must acknowledge that the Amerindians have a huge role to play in national development. Their input, then, must be facilitated. But first, two of their heroes must be noted.
Her name is Desiree Fox. She was born in Waramadong Village, Kamarang, Upper Mazaruni District on January 2, 1955. Her schooling was at the Waramadong Primary, after which she moved to Georgetown to attend Campbellville Government School. Later attendance was at the Seventh-day Adventist Academy. Her CV is quite outstanding. It boasts a Master of Arts and a PhD in Linguistics from Rice University, an MA in Environmental Anthropology from the University of Kent at Canterbury, and a BSc in Sociology from the University of Guyana.
She was an Associate Researcher at the University of Oregon, Co-coordinator of the Amerindian Research Unit at the University of Guyana, Curator of the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology, and Linguistics & lecturer in Amerindian Studies at the University of Guyana. So here is a true heroine for the Amerindian people. Her untimely death on 2009-12-11 sent shock waves across Guyana, but currently, her memory can inspire anyone.
There is also the Mighty Pakuri, who has been in the calypso business for many years. He is actually one of the few of his kind in this type of music. He has participated in many local competitions. His style of calypso is very ‘Guyanese.’ He uses simple lyrics saturated with local metaphors and imagery. He seems very much like Dave Martins in that the landscape of Guyana is being highlighted. At the last National Toshaos’ Council, he was again present, accompanying a teenaged female. He is also a very popular figure in the St. Cuthbert’s area, where he now resides. It is hoped that the Mighty Pakuri will continue to perform. He can do with some more air time. However, during the month, the Amerindian emphasis was on development, too.
In July this year, a pledge from President Jagdeo saw an increase in presidential grants for Amerindian villages. The pledge jumped from $320M to $500M for the period 2010 and 2011. The President made the declaration while addressing some 170 leaders of Amerindian communities at the International Conference Centre at Liliendaal, on the final day of the fifth National Toshaos’ Council meeting. Amerindians will also benefit from government’s One Laptop Per Family programme. In the offing, there is the $2 billion road project between Regions Eight and Nine. Readers must take note that these are just some of the happenings. In this regard, one feels a sense of wellbeing. Guyana is not about the Coastal Plain alone. It is also not just about Indo- and Afro-Guyanese.
So, the hope is that every Guyanese will come to the realization that it is time for ‘unity of people and purpose’ to be made a reality. This will entail equality in everything from infrastructure to education to opportunities to investments, etc.