–over peddling misinformation at UN forum

MINISTER of Amerindian Affairs, Ms. Pauline Sukhai, is not at all happy about statements made by representatives of the Amerindian People’s Association (APA) at a recent UN forum about the state of Amerindian development in Guyana.

The incident occurred during a side-event at the Twelfth Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) in which Guyana was a participant.

As the Minister explained during a press conference Friday,side-events are occurrences outside the formal session to allow for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to speak on matters that relate to their respective countries; and the APA took the opportunity during their presentation, which, by the way, was poorly attended, to accuse the government of ignoring the principle of free, prior, and informed consent.

“On this matter,” she said, “I wish to state very categorically that the government continues to exercise good practices on free, prior and informed consent… “It is appalling that the APA is claiming that the government ignores this principle which is a principle that forms part of the UNDRIP (United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People).”

One of the latest examples of ensuring that the principles are adhered to, she said, is the recent tour of the Upper Mazaruni led by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, where there were talks about Guyana’s hydroelectric potential, and the government’s efforts to validate it.
Sukhai related that the APA went on to say that there are roads that are being built without the knowledge of communities.

“I wish to debunk this,” Minister Sukhai said, “because there is no road that the government just goes into the hinterland or to any community across the country to build without consultation.”

She used as points of reference the roads in Para Bara and Massakenari, which the APA claims were being constructed to facilitate mining activities; the one from Lethem to Massakenari; and another at Isseneru, in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

In the case of Para Bara,in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), Minister Sukhai said this is an Amerindian community whose main economic activities are agriculture and mining, and that as such whatever roads are under construction there are being done in a responsible manner.

As for criticisms against the road from Lethem to Massakenari, Minister Sukhai said, “I dare any organisation to deny Para Bara and Massakenari a roadway to services and goods, and to the coastland. The residents have that right to have a road that leads from Lethem to their villages.”

Noting that it was not the first time that the government has come in for flak over the Lethem Road, Minister Sukhai said: “One could recall how many times the same APA tried to destabilise the opening up of the Lethem trail, claiming that it would have a negative effect on the Amerindians; and today, the Amerindians have turned full circle on that argument, and are calling on the government every time it rains to smooth the road.”

She also discredited claims by the APA that there is need for security in Jawalla, in Region Seven, since there were questionable characters in the village. Sukhai explained that Jawalla is a titled village, and has an elected Toshao, and under the Amerindian Act, the village council has the authority to decide who enters the village.

The APA also claimed that communities were not consulted about projects under the Low-Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), “when in fact Amerindians were the first to be engaged on the strategy, with the first consultation session being held in St Ignatius,” Minister Sukhai said.

She said further that the APA also made calls to have the national land laws reformed, and projects that may be proposed on titled and customary lands. She noted too that recently there has been discussion about the Lands and Surveys Act and the Forest Act was amended and passed in parliament. “These are the lies and the misleading statements they continue to make internationally….what can be much more distasteful than these things that were said,” Sukhai declared.

Meanwhile, National Toshao Council (NTC) Chairman, Mr. Derek John; Liaison to the Minister, Ms. Yvonne Pearson; Mr. Jude DaSilva of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs; and leader of the Amerindian Action Movement of Guyana (TAAMOG), Mr. Peter Persaud, who were all part of the Guyana delegation at the forum, corroborated the Minister’s report and expressed disappointment at the presentation made by the APA.

(By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally)