Dear Editor,
IT is wholly unfortunate that the author of a letter of mistruths, Mr Mervyn Williams, would seek to peddle false claims about various issues, including continued disrespect and suffering of the Wai Wai’s of Masekenari.
Mr Williams must have forgotten that it was an APNU+AFC minister who accused Amerindians of being avaricious and failed to apologise when requested to do so at the 2019 National Toshaos Council (NTC) conference.

It was at that conference that ministers refused to spend quality time to dialogue with the leaders who travelled to the city to engage the government in priority development matters and issues which affected them.
The record must be corrected. It was the APNU+AFC government that wantonly neglected the Amerindians, when they dismissed 1,972 young Amerindian Community Service Officers (CSOs) and withdrew the financial assistance to students under the ‘Because We Care’ programme.

Mr Williams must have a short memory, since it was as a result of his purported brazen and bullying attitude towards Amerindian leaders of Guyana that led to them calling on the then Head of State to remove him from his position at the then Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs.

Specifically, for Masekenari, Mr Williams has attempted to spread mistruths about the matter concerning the return of the students. The ministry has continued to provide return transportation for the Masekenari students attending Aishalton Secondary school. Contrary to allegations by Mr Williams, preparations for students to return home were in place prior to the conclusion of the school term. However, there was a delay in the process due to the inclement weather and poor state of the airstrip which could not accommodate landing.

This information was conveyed to Toshao Paul Chekema, who assured parents that their children would be flown in as soon as the weather permits. The Toshao, cognisant of the existing weather, made the informed decision to travel overland to ensure his attendance to the NTC.

It must be noted that the public has been misled that parents travelled out of the village to retrieve their children. This was not the case, the Toshao has confirmed that some parents and other villagers travelled overland with the village truck to Lethem to purchase supplies.

The Government of Guyana has remained committed to supporting Hinterland Scholarship students, including the students of Masekenari. This support includes covering the cost of transportation, dormitory accommodation, as well as dietary and financial assistance. These efforts are in addition to the reintroduced government-funded programme, the “Because We Care” cash grant which is specifically focused on financially assisting students.

The continued deliberate action of the APNU+AFC administration failed to deliver school uniform materials to students for three years and failed to pay suppliers, leading to lawsuits against the government, a matter which the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs had to rectify upon the PPP/C’s resumption of office.

When the PPP/C government returned to office, these initiatives were reintroduced. Masekenari was the first hinterland village to have internet access in the early 2000’s under the PPP/C administration.
The connectivity of the village has remained consistent and internet connection is not the sole means of communication for the village, as Mr. Williams is falsely trying to convince the public. Periodically, there is disruption in the Wi-Fi system, which is addressed by the National Data Management Authority (NDMA).

In this current period, the NDMA has scheduled a visit to address the disruption of the Wi-Fi service. The village also has an internet phone which remains a stable and viable option for communication, even in circumstances where the Wi-Fi is unavailable.

Contrary to Mr Williams’ mistruths, Masekenari has a health post and a Community Health Worker. Further, the Government of Guyana through the collaborative support of the Regional Health Department and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs offers support to persons seeking tertiary medical attention outside of the village.

In the first instance, the regional administration assists patients to travel to Georgetown for specialised medical treatment and the ministry offers full support for discharged patients by providing accommodation, meals, medical tests and x-rays and the cost of returning to their village.

The PPP/C Government will continue to support all Amerindians across the length and breadth of Guyana, regardless of geographic location. It is vivid that the PPP/C government has restored respect, support, dignity and hope to all Guyanese, including the Amerindian people. It is evident that there is a new approach to addressing developmental needs of Amerindians and there is now expansion of services to the people.

Yours respectfully,
The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs