PERMIT me to respond to a letter in the Stabroek News of Saturday August 24, 2013, under the caption: “The Amerindian Affairs Minister expects us to respect a law which works against us” written by Dwight Larson, Secretary of the Isseneru Village Council. In relation to this letter of mischief, I simply wish to state the following:

1. My advice to Mr. Larson is that as secretary of a village council, he must studiously read and understand the Amerindian Act 2006 and apply it for the good governance of the Isseneru village instead of being misled by the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA). Larson’s current situation including the few village councils that took part in an anti-government demonstration outside of Parliament Building and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs (MoAA) on August 9 is one in which the blind is leading the blind. I hope Larson and the few other village councilors know what happens when the blind is leading the blind. Both will fall into the river and drown.

2. The Amerindian Act 2006 is not working against us; it is we who are working against the Amerindian Act. Neither is the Amerindian Act weak. It is we who are weak because as Amerindians we are not using our own Amerindian Act. If Larson and the few village councillors who took part in the APA’s political demonstration, need help in understanding the Amerindian Act, all they have to do is to seek the Assistance of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs by writing a simple letter to the Honourable Minister.

3. The Honourable Minister is always happy to receive Toshaos, Village Councillors, ordinary Amerindian individuals and even non-Amerindians at her ministry to address their concerns and problems. But honestly I doubt she could have done so at a brawl-like and coastlander-type political demonstration outside her ministry which was more a desecration of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples which Larson was a part of. Shame on you Larson!

4. Larson wanted the Honourable Minister of Amerindians Affairs to speak to the brawl-like demonstrators which he was a part of. How disrespectful you were to our Honourable Minister and I can imagine your mode of operation in the Isseneru village (where) the affairs of that village are badly managed. My question to Larson therefore is, “When last was there a well publicised general meeting in the village where at least three-quarters of village adults attended and constructive decisions taken for village development?”

5. Back to Larson’s useless political demonstration instructed by his APA slave masters. This demonstration had absolutely nothing to with land rights but moreso a selfish cause for monopolised gold mining where gold and other precious minerals remain the property of the state. If Mr. Larson and the few village councillors cannot understand this, then they should quickly resign for misguiding their respective villages on the ownership of gold and other minerals.

6. Larson in his letter said: “Guyana must honour its international obligations as it relates to Indigenous Peoples’ Rights”. Poor Larson, if he cannot simply understand our Amerindian Act 2006, how come he knows about “International obligations” on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights? This is nothing but absolute ignorance on the part of Larson who is the current secretary of the Isseneru village council. So get yourself educated first in our Amerindian Act 2006, Larson, before writing anything about ‘International Obligations’ on the rights of Indigenous’ Peoples. In other words, Larson is not even qualified to mention the phrase,  ‘The Amerindian Act 2006’.

7.  Larson, in his letter, mentioned that I wanted to be the President of Guyana and that I campaigned for this at the 2011 General Elections. Yes, I did, but because of a court matter The United Force (TUF) had only about three weeks to campaign in the length and breadth of Guyana. Nevertheless, the TUF received two regional seats in Regions 8 and 9 but lost its parliamentary status after some 50 years. TUF’s campaign funds were provided by its local and overseas members and supporters which were accurately accounted for. Also, many Amerindian communities expressed to me their sadness for not visiting them during my election campaign.

8. My current visits to the Amerindian communities are not based on any political agenda, but to vigorously pursue community awareness and more so the understanding of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). So for Larson to say that I am politically manipulating communities is a deliberate deception. Also, many communities are calling on me to return to their communities to speak on community development. I want Mr. Larson to name the communities that I am politically manipulating.

9. Larson said in his letter that because of my integrity, Amerindian communities do not believe in me. This is another deliberate deception. Well for Larson’s information, if over 100 Amerindian communities are anxiously waiting on my visit then, I certainly have to examine my integrity. Thanks to the Great Spirit.

10. Let me assure Mr. Dwight Larson of Isseneru Village in the middle Mazaruni whom I know well and he also knows me because I visited his beautiful village on two occasions, that I am a servant of the Great Spirit and I am firmly committed to my Indigenous Peoples who I always guide with positive results and in accordance with the laws of my beloved country upon their requests.

11. My only advice to Larson therefore is to work within the Laws of Guyana for the benefit of Isseneru village and to desist from being used by the narrow political agenda of the APA under the pretext of ‘Land Rights’.