IN any situation, because of human nature and various personalities, there will always be people who are good at talking the talk but not delivering tangibly, and those who let their actions speak way louder than words.

One such case in point is the APNU and AFC’s paltry attempt to lecture the PPP/C government on how much of the funds earned from the sale of carbon credits should be disbursed to Amerindian communities.

On Wednesday, February 16, 2023, toshaos across Guyana began the process of receiving funds set aside for their villages as a result of a multi-year deal that Guyana signed last year with Hess Corporation for the sale of jurisdictional carbon credits for at least US$750 million. Guyana is receiving the funds in tranches, and at the end of it, Amerindian communities would benefit directly from injections of at least US$112 million.

First of all, the decision to disburse 15 per cent of those funds directly to Amerindian communities is a direct acknowledgement of the First Peoples own efforts to protect the country’s forests and natural ecosystem.

Without hesitation, the PPP/C government incorporated this initiative into its Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030, which has other measures that will not only ensure that Guyana’s forests are protected, but also that revenues are generated through this process and passed on to the people of Guyana, either directly or indirectly through key investments.

Unlike the former APNU+AFC administration which failed in five years to contribute tangibly to improvement of the lives of Amerindians despite making big promises, the PPP/C made a commitment and stuck to it as soon as the opportunity arose.

“In every country there are the doers and the talkers… there are the builders and the destroyers. But if we allow the falsehoods to ever take root in any society then we will build a country and a society that is not built on the truth,” President, Dr Irfaan Ali said in an impromptu Sunday morning public statement.

In direct response to the APNU and AFC’s criticisms, Dr Ali said he finds the position of the opposition parties hypocritical, but marked it down as the “opportunistic” nature of persons within those groups.

The PPP/C administration is the only one that has offered to pay (or reward with various resources) indigenous communities for protection of the forests in their communities. Jobs and other economic opportunities are created with the funds. While emissions are reduced in the forests, the economy of indigenous communities grow, enriching the people and improving their standard of living.

Although the remoteness of communities has created gaps in development between the hinterland and coastland, there is no doubt that the PPP/C government has been working towards eradicating any existing disparities and creating a better life for all.

This is evidenced by critical investments in the improvement of healthcare, education and social welfare across hinterland communities. Despite the impediments that exist, President Ali has made it clear that he intends to do everything that is possible to ensure that every Guyanese benefits equally and equitably from the government’s investments.

The Amerindian Land Titling project is ongoing; the CSO programme that was terminated by the former APNU+AFC administration has been restored, returning billions of dollars to Amerindians, and Indigenous Peoples are also benefitting from the education grant and other initiatives that are being implemented nationwide.

“We are the doers… we will continue to build. Together, we will build a Guyana that is strong and secure and prosperous in which every Guyanese will be proud to be a part of, and will be part of the transformation,” President Ali said.

Considering his track record of delivering on his commitments, there is no doubt that Dr Ali and his administration are doers, who will surmount any challenge to deliver a better life to all Guyanese despite the efforts of naysayers.