WE note with a deep sense of responsibility, the government’s ongoing efforts to reach out to all sectors of the Guyanese society, and in so doing giving due recognition to a race that makes up 12 percent of Guyana’s population and who, for centuries have braved the wilds in determined endeavours to make this country their land of glory. And glory is indeed in their corner as their resilience has brought them into a desirable position in the political landscape.
The Amerindians were the first souls in human form that planted their foot prints on this soil and for centuries earned their existence by their ingenuity and application of their indigenous skills, practices and innovations. They have since come a long way, and thanks to late president Dr, Cheddi Jagan and the PPP/C, Amerindians are no longer third class citizens as was the case under successive PNC governments for twenty eight years.
Today, Amerindians have grown from strength to strength and are now involved in several key areas in the administrative and development sector. It is no secret that successive PPP/C governments have been keeping the hopes of the Amerindians alive, and only recently assistance was promised to the only Amerindian Mission in Region Three, Santa/Aratak Mission.
Santa/Aratak Mission is in the Kamuni Creek, a branch-off from the upper Demerara River. The creek runs for several miles through thickly wooded areas before reaching Aratak, the smaller of the two missions in the creek. Further down the creek is the larger Santa Mission which has a much larger population, a school and a church.
The two missions have since been merged into the Santa/Aratak Mission for administrative purposes. The people in the Mission have over the years depended on mainly logging for their livelihood. But like in other areas in the country, even in traditional non Amerindian communities where drastic changes are taking place, and different approaches have been demanded to match the changes, the people in Santa/Aratak Mission have opted to lessen their dependency on logging and instead up the ante in agri and aquaculture.
Quite remarkably, the Region Three Administration in which region the mission is found, has come to the aid of residents of the mission who have decided to plunge into aquaculture with the rearing of tilapia. This is indeed an excellent choice of change as the tilapia is regarded as the fastest spawning fish with a potentially good market. Apart from the actual fish catch for the traditional market, the Amerindians could make use of their resourcefulness in making fish products which could also possess good potentials outside the mission.
The people will also venture into the cultivation of legumes (black eye peas and red beans). There are enough lands in the area to embark on cultivation of both red beans and black eye on a large scale. These commodities could also be sold on the local market. At the moment these two commodities are being imported, and are widely used among the Guyanese population. These are two excellent choices adopted by the people in Santa/Aratak Mission which could lead to the economic enhancement of the people.
However, it is generally believed that for the people of the Santa/Aratak Mission to be successful, the Region Three Administration will have to come good on its promises to the people there. They will also have to make sure that appropriate seeds, fingerlings and expertise are made available to the residents in the creek.
Officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, perhaps extension officers will have to visit the area regularly to check on progress and advise the people appropriately. The people of the Santa/Aratak Mission are ready for a change which calls for a lot of fortitude. We believe that if the people are ready to make this big change, they should not be left in the dark cold, but instead should be assisted by officialdom. One could never tell, Santa/Aratak could lead the way for other missions to follow, not necessarily with the same changes, but perhaps with other commodities that might be suitable in the respective areas.
The world market and economic trends today have been sending distressing signals to countries as to their ability to feed their population. We have been blessed with the necessary land space and a resilient people and a caring government, who, together could meet their obligation, given the resources readily available.