– President says at launch of Heritage Month

PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali, has directed Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, to fast track hinterland COVID-19 interventions as government takes US$10M from a line of credit to develop Amerindian communities and their living standards.

Under the theme “Fostering traditional practices for a safe environment”,
Amerindian Heritage Month 2020 was launched Tuesday, and President Ali, in his address, advised sweeping consultations with Amerindian leaders and communities in response to emergency measures.

According to the head of state, the theme for Heritage Month emphasises the key role which cultural assets, including indigenous knowledge, traditions and customs, and lifestyles, can play in ensuring a safe environment.

“Indeed, as we confront the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, indigenous traditional practices will form a key part of the arsenal of measures intended to stem the spread of the virus,” he said.

The government, the President said, remains resolute in ensuring the safety of indigenous communities.

“We will be announcing measures, very shortly, that are aimed directly at every household in the hinterland to bring relief, to bring ease and to improve your living standards,” the President said.

Guyana’s First Peoples, the President noted, can be assured that, under his administration, their economic and social empowerment will be non-political and non-negotiable.

“We will ensure that Amerindians are not left behind in the transformative developments, which will sweep our country into a modern future over the next few years. Amerindians, like every other ethnic group that make up our diverse society, are guaranteed equitable benefits from national development under my administration,” President Ali promised.

CONCRETE STEPS
Government, he said, will take concrete steps in successive budgets to address the needs of Amerindians and all aspects of their development.
“The firearms of your farmers and leaders will be returned, as will your dignity and respect. You will benefit from a special budgetary allocation for housing and home improvements, and government, at every level, will function with the inclusion of qualified and talented Amerindians, as we have already done in the 12th Parliament,” the President said in his address.

The head of state said his government will ensure that the benefits derived from the new-found oil and gas resources in the coming years, are equitably distributed, with no policy to take away and deprive Amerindians of their rights to these resources.

“This historic year of the preservation of our cherished democracy, offers renewed hope for all of us, hope of a better quality of life and a more secured future for all; a more integrated Guyana, for the environment, for each other and together, we charter the way forward for a safer, more secure Guyana in which all of us can proudly be a part of and can say the development of our country is linked to the development of our communities,” President Ali said.
In commending the great strides of Amerindians, the President said that, not only were five talented Amerindians sworn in as members of the National assembly to comprise the 12th Parliament of Guyana, but government supported the election of the first Deputy Speaker of Amerindian heritage.
“You will see many more appointments of persons of Amerindian heritage and those appointments are not made for any other reason than the fact that they are talented Guyanese and they deserve the appointments that were made. We are sure and confident that they will make a strong contribution to Guyana and Guyana’s development,” the President noted.