KINDLY permit me to respond to Vincent Henry’s letter in the Stabroek News in its issue of Friday June 1, 2012 under the caption, ‘The Multi-Stakeholder Steering Committee (MSSC) of the LCDS should include Opposition Members and Others’.
Please permit me to state the following in relation to this letter:

1. Can Vincent Henry inform the Amerindian communities in the Annai Amerindian district, as well as the other Amerindian communities of Region 9 why he was removed as Head of the Bina Hill Institute?

2. On the expansion of the MSSC of Guyana’s LCDS. Henry is suggesting that the MSSC be expanded to include the APNU, AFC and the APA. But the APNU is already adequately represented on the MSSC through Dr. George Norton, MP and Sydney Allicock, MP. The APA has refused to serve on the MSSC despite invitations extended to it by Guyana’s Former President on the basis that they were “too busy”. The APA however did attend the first three meetings of the MSSC then they stopped. In fact, all the minutes of the MSSC reflect the name “Jean Larose – Amerindian Peoples Association – Absent by choice.” And further, Henry must ask Sydney Allicock of APNU what was his exact reason for not attending the last MSSC meeting held on Thursday, May 3, 2012. My suggestion is that perhaps he was ashamed for voting against the 2012 LCDS budgetary allocation which will deprive over 100 Amerindian communities from implementing their community development plans and other vital projects for their social and economic development. Dr. George Norton, also other Amerindian MPs of the APNU including those in the AFC voted against the LCDS budgetary allocation. My contention is that since Norton and Allicock are APNU MPs and members of the MSSC they should have advised their party properly, providing accurate information about the LCDS and Grif funds relating to the projects submitted for the Steering Committee (SC), but they failed miserably to do so. The question is, are these two MPs of APNU capable of serving on the MSSC of Guyana’s LCDS?

3. For Mr. Henry’s information, the MSSC  also comprises  women and youth representatives; the Private Sector Commission; The Labour Movement; The Miners Association; Conservation International (CI),; National Toshaos Council (NTC); The NRDDB; Forest Products Association; three (3) Amerindian organizations; four (4) persons serving in their private capacities; government agencies and ministries; and the Office of the President.

4. On the chairman of the MSSC, Guyana’s Former President Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo performed well as chairman of the MSSC and every decision made by the MSSC was by consensus. Guyana’s new President Mr. Donald Ramotar and now chairman of the MSSC is following in the footsteps of the Former Chairman, so the question of the President being the Chairman of the MSSC is not an issue.

5. It is absolutely indisputable, that the MSSC performed exceedingly well since its formation in 2009. In this regard, Guyana has so far earned $US70Million for forest-based performance in the fight against global climate change. Another tranche is expected very soon. Guyana and Norway continue to be a model partnership in the fight against global climate change.

6. Yes, Guyana’s former President Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo must be given due praise for coming up with the LCDS to combat global climate change and its dangerous consequences. He earned international recognition and respect and placed Guyana at the international level where environmental conservation is concerned. He is “The Champion of the Earth” and “Patron of the Earth”. The Former President did not “Grapple at the LCDS” as claimed by Vincent Henry. The LCDS is a product of vigorous country-wide consultations whereby the people of Guyana claimed ownership of it and their views have been reflected in the LCDS document.

7. The National Toshao Council (NTC) under the leadership of Toshao Yvonne Pearson is currently working in partnership with the government for the social and economic empowerment of the Amerindian communities of Guyana. But Vincent Henry doesn’t like this being an APNU activist and is accusing the chairman of the NTC of being affiliated to the government. This is a blatant display of a retarded mind-set.

8. Vincent Henry is now in a position of fright. He said in the last paragraph of his politically mischievous letter that “after 2012 the LCDS will be scuttled. History and our future generations will be gentle with us for allowing this magnificent opportunity to be wasted.” I am happy that Vincent Henry, a former RDC Chairman of Region 9 and former Head of Bina Hill Institute recognised that the party of his choice APNU doesn’t care about the welfare of the Amerindian peoples of our country. I am therefore urging Vincent Henry to send a letter to his party, APNU, calling on its leader Mr. David Granger to withdraw APNU’s vote against the 2012 LCDS budgetary allocation which will deprive over 100 Amerindian communities of social and economic benefits. This letter must be supported by the signature of village residents of Region 9 and published in all the newspapers in our country. If Mr. Vincent Henry does this,it would be  proof that he has a genuine concern for Guyana’s indigenous peoples benefiting from Guyana’s LCDS; if he doesn’t, then he is simply a bluff.

9. Mr. Editor, the MSSC of Guyana’s LCDS is well constituted and continues to give effective oversight on all activities relating to the fight against global climate change and its dangerous consequences in Guyana. There is therefore absolutely no need for the MSSC to be transformed into a mini-parliament. This is time-wasting and counterproductive.