OPPOSITION Leader David Granger, at a recent media conference, lambasted the Government for neglect of hinterland communities in general, and Region 7, in particular.

Never in the history of this country have Guyana’s indigenous peoples enjoyed so many benefits as under the PPP/C administration’s watch. And while there is still much to be done, as is a fact throughout the country, Amerindian communities are constantly being upgraded, with lifestyle enhancement appreciating by leaps and bounds, although there would always be naysayers and doomsayers who depreciate the efforts being made to reconstruct and elevate the development paradigm of communities all across the country.
Certainly, the social development and economic growth is being relentlessly stymied through Opposition shenanigans in Parliament and through their extra-parliamentary activities, but Government is still working hard to enhance the lives and lifestyles of the Guyanese people – without fear or favour.
On 10th September 1995, His Excellency President Cheddi Jagan announced the dedication of September as Amerindian Heritage Month.
Simultaneously, Dr. Jagan was honouring for all time to come the first Amerindian Member of Parliament, because it was on this day – 10th September 1957, that the late Steven Campbell entered the National Assembly and created history as the first Amerindian to do so; and it is for this reason that Amerindian Heritage Day is celebrated on September 10th every year.
What is significant about establishing September as a month dedicated to honouring Guyana’s first peoples, is that Dr. Cheddi Jagan meant to cast in stone the fact that Guyana’s indigenous tribes have contributed much to this land, not least their sustainable use of the rainforest in which they primarily live, which made possible the President Jagdeo driven Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS); as well as to reinforce in the national and international psyche how much Guyanese indigenous citizens have achieved as a people.
They have had a combined representation in the National Assembly of more than 15 Amerindians.
The appointment of a Minister of Amerindian Affairs in 1992 by the PPP/C administration, which was considered a bold initiative by President Cheddi Jagan, should in no way be underestimated but should be seen as a step towards bringing Amerindians to a different level altogether and is a first in comparison to even developed countries with indigenous peoples. Today, Guyana’s first peoples, long neglected, sidelined, and treated as pariahs within the social and economic landscape of Guyana, have come into their own and have a strong representational voice in the corridors of power in their native land under the watch of successive PPP/C governments.
The presence of Amerindians in the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Defence Force, the medical and other professions is becoming more and more visible.
Scores of teachers are trained every year and several programmes have been specifically developed to upgrade those who would have been placed in unfortunate situations through no fault of their own. The number of Amerindian graduates from the University of Guyana is continually increasing, especially since the establishment of the Hinterland Scholarship Programme.
However, there are still many challenges within Amerindian communities, which the various arms of the Government are addressing in a continuum of developmental initiatives.
For example, due to high transportation costs to remote and hard-to-access areas, building a modern school may cost more than thrice the amount of that on the coast. Nevertheless, Government is steadfastly and, as committed in the PPP manifesto, taking full responsibility for all of the citizens of this country and it would be a great underestimation to say that in the circumstances Amerindians have not done well.
In areas where traditionally schools at any level were not available, students can now access secondary education. Several Community Health Workers, Dentists and Medexes have also been trained and placed in the various regions.
There are still many difficulties as they relate to potable water, electricity, education, health care, exploitation in various ways, lack of jobs, etc, but all these issues are being addressed, with Government partnering with the private sector, donor communities, and Amerindian communities, to continue working to improve these conditions.
At present, Amerindians account for approximately seven per cent of the Guyanese population.
Inroads are being made on challenges facing the indigenous peoples, and this is reflected in the percentage and in the number of doctors, lawyers, engineers and even politicians now emerging from Amerindian communities, with some opting to return to serve their home villages and their people.
Today, one of Guyana’s best – Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birlett, is a daughter of the hinterland; as was the brilliant and gifted former PPP/C Minister, the Late Desrey Fox; as well as the current Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai.
School feeding programmes, uniform and other aid projects have also gone a far way toward poverty alleviation in hinterland communities.
When Father of the Nation Dr. Cheddi Jagan mandated his then Finance Minister, Bharrat Jagdeo to craft a National Development Strategy and subsequently a Poverty Reduction Strategy, there emerged a complete developmental programme, based on successive PPP manifestos, to take Guyana on a trajectory to eventually reach the zenith.
This eventuality is yet to be attained, despite the naysayers and doomsayers, and the escalating destructive actions and negative rhetoric by the joint Opposition.
The intellectual capability and immense abilities of Guyana’s first peoples are now being recognised and utilised by the administration. Amerindians are also now recognised as a gifted people who have the capacity to hold their own in any social construct, even while embracing their identities and celebrating their traditions and culture.