– says it is ‘a memorable and great betrayal’ to Amerindian peoples’ development
THE Amerindian Action Movement of Guyana (TAAMOG) has expressed its deepest concern and dismay over the proposed cut of the Gy$18 billion budgetary allocation of Guyana’s LCDS by the Parliamentary opposition, APNU and AFC. TAAMOG’s President, Mr. Peter Persaud said the LCDS is Guyana’s “national initiative” to transform this country’s economy while combating Global Climate Change and its dangerous consequences.
“It is a product of country-wide consultations where the people of Guyana gave their sound approval and ownership,” Persaud declared in a statement issued yesterday.
He said the irrational cut of the LCDs budgetary allocation proposed by the Opposition will negatively affect the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Guyana and the Kingdom of  Norway in promoting Guyana’s Forest Protection Scheme to fight global climate change.

“The indigenous peoples of Guyana also stand to lose tremendously since, with the proposed budgetary cut, the Amerindian Communities of Guyana would not be able to implement their Community Development Plans (CDPs) for social and economic development,” Persaud posited.

He said it is the view of TAAMOG that should the LCDs budgetary allocation be cut, it would be “a memorable and great betrayal” to the cause of Amerindian Peoples’ development by both the APNU and AFC.
He said TAAMOG also views the proposed cut in the LCDs budgetary allocations as an attempt to violate the land rights of Guyana’s indigenous peoples, since the budgetary allocation would enable the Land Titling, Demarcation and Extension of Amerindian Communities of Guyana to be carried out.
“The Amerindians of Guyana have voted for both the APNU and AFC and should the proposed LCDs budgetary allocation be cut then it means that these political parties do not recognise the existence of Guyana’s indigenous peoples,” Persaud stated.

As such, TAAMOG is calling on both the APNU and AFC to withdraw their motions to cut the LCDs budgetary allocation.