THE National Toshao’s Council would like to respond to the Editorial of Stabroek News dated April 28, 2014 under the caption, ‘What the Permanent Secretary said’. What was being discussed at that point and time was relevant to the situation; and so, if the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs Mr Nigel Dharamlall said that the Low Carbon Development Strategy is the Government of Guyana and the people of Guyana’s project then in our view he is quite correct. The Community Development Plans (CDPs) were developed by the people of the various communities and are supposed to be funded through the MOU between the Government of Guyana and the Kingdom of Norway. These projects are not funded by UNDP.
UNDP is the executing agency and not the funders.
It is expected that the Community Service Officers and Toshaos will be working very closely with these projects and it is important that they have a clear understanding of the role of UNDP.
The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs has an open-door policy and so Mr. Dharamlall’s door is always open to those who have issues or matters to be addressed.
We believe that this matter is being blown out of proportion purposely. This matter is being used as a smokescreen to divert the public’s attention from things that will affect the wellbeing and livelihood of the Amerindian Peoples of Guyana. Our villages and communities cannot develop without financial support so the non-approval of the Capital Budget of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs and the LCDS and the other areas that will have direct effect on the lives of the Amerindians is a criminal act. It is crystal clear as to who the perpetrators are with regard to hindering development within our various villages and communities.
So what did the Permanent Secretary say? Mr. Dharamlall was just trying to explain to those attending the meeting that they are not working with UNDP. The CDPs and the LCDS are not the UNDPs project.
No one was threatened, neither bullied nor harassed, so why make a mountain out of a molehill. Remove the smokescreen and let us deal with the real issues that will have negative effects for our people.
The NTC is greatly disturbed by this fiasco in targeting Mr Nigel Dharamlall, since he was only supporting the stance the NTC had taken in reacting to the sickening development in Parliament by the combined Opposition on Amerindian development.

DERRICK JOHN