‘Destruction, stagnation and disrespect’
President, Dr Irfaan Ali
President, Dr Irfaan Ali

–President Ali reminds Indigenous communities of PNC-led APNU+AFC’s damaging policies
–urges continued vigilance to safeguard against historical injustice

FOR decades before the restoration of democracy in 1992, Guyana’s Indigenous communities faced systematic neglect, entrenched poverty, and deliberate marginalisation under the People’s National Congress (PNC) government’s policies, which left them isolated, forgotten, and disrespected.
This was according to President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, during his address at the opening ceremony of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Monday.
The President condemned the period of regression and neglect during 2015-2020, under the A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) administration.
President Ali said that the tide turned with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government, which embarked on a mission to not only uplift these communities but to correct the historical injustices that had long plagued them.

A DARK ERA OF NEGLECT – PRE-1992

President Ali first said that before 1992, Indigenous communities in Guyana were systematically side-lined, and their needs were often dismissed as inconsequential by the ruling PNC government.
He laid bare the grim reality of this period, describing it as a time when the state turned a blind eye to the suffering of its First People.
Under the PNC government, he said, the affairs of Amerindian communities were managed by a single department within the Ministry of Regional Development, staffed by just one person.
“That is where the affairs of the Amerindian people of this country were handled. The Indigenous people, the first people of our country, your affairs were handled by a department, a department in the Ministry of Regional Development. And guess, how many staff you had in the department? One staff, the head of the department,” President Ali said.

This blatant disregard was not just the administration’s inefficiency; it was a manifestation of the broader neglect that saw indigenous communities excluded from national development efforts.
The Head of State revealed that poverty among Amerindian populations was rampant, with nearly 80 per cent of households in the hinterland regions living in absolute poverty.
This was almost double the national average, which stood at 45 per cent. Education, a fundamental right and a pathway to opportunity, was virtually non-existent in these regions.
President Ali pointed out that before 1992, there were no scholarships awarded in regions One, Seven, Eight, and Nine, and secondary school enrolment was less than half the national average.
“As a result of this, our Amerindian young people never had the opportunity of dreaming of a secondary education. You never had the opportunity of dreaming of a university education. You never had the opportunity of dreaming to become a doctor, a teacher, a lawyer, an engineer, an architect, a specialised person in urban planning, in water treatment, in environment. Today, you’re not dreaming. You are achieving,” he said.
Healthcare was similarly dire. The entire hinterland region had fewer than 12 health centres, and the number of doctors serving these vast areas was negligible.
Most villages had no access to safe drinking water, sanitation services, or basic infrastructure.

The President highlighted that fewer than 25 per cent of the hinterland population had access to clean drinking water, while most relied on kerosene lamps or simply lived in darkness.
This period, he said, was characterised by “isolation and exploitation”, and left Amerindian communities vulnerable and marginalised.
According to President Ali, the PNC’s policies, or lack thereof, entrenched this marginalisation, treating these communities as too remote and too costly to service.

TRANSFORMATION UNDER THE PPP/C GOVERNMENT
However, the narrative of neglect began to change dramatically after 1992, when the PPP/C government took office.
President Ali said that despite inheriting a broken economy with enormous debts and “no oil revenues”, the PPP/C government prioritised the upliftment of indigenous communities, determined to rectify the historical wrongs.
With capital expenditure for Amerindian communities increased 25-fold under the PPP/C government, President Ali highlighted that this investment translated into significant improvements in health, education, infrastructure, and overall quality of life for Indigenous people.
One of the first major steps was the creation of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, which replaced the ineffective department that had previously handled issues related to Indigenous Peoples.
This ministry, which, he said, is the “most dynamic ministry” in Guyana became an active force in advocating for and addressing the needs of Amerindian communities.
The passage of the Amerindian Act of 2006 was a landmark achievement during this period. This legislation provided legal recognition of Amerindian land ownership and outlined the processes for demarcation and titling.
According to President Ali, this was not just a legal formality; it was a profound affirmation of the rights and autonomy of the Indigenous Peoples of Guyana. This act alone empowered indigenous communities, giving them the legal tools to protect and manage their ancestral lands.
Moving to education, the Head of State said this transformation was nothing short of revolutionary.

Hundreds of scholarships were awarded to Amerindian students, leading to a new generation of professionals emerging from these communities.
“From zero, we could have celebrated medex, doctors, teachers, engineers, media personalities. Your villages and your communities went on from zero to producing the best and finest in our country,” the President proudly noted.
Healthcare services also saw substantial improvements.

He added that the availability of medicines in hinterland regions increased from almost non-existent levels to 80 per cent by 2010.
This led to better health outcomes, with reduced mortality rates and improved access to essential medical care. The PPP/C Government also launched the Hinterland Electrification Programme in 2011, bringing electricity to remote communities and significantly improving their standard of living.
Among other things, President Ali said that cultural preservation was another priority for the PPP/C government.
In 1995, September was designated as Indigenous People’s Month, a time to honour and celebrate the contributions of Indigenous people to Guyana’s cultural heritage.
He added that the government also invested in the revival of indigenous languages and supported various cultural activities, ensuring that the rich traditions of these communities were preserved for future generations.

A PERIOD OF REVERSAL
Despite the progress made, President Ali said that the 2015-2020 period under the APNU+AFC government saw many of these gains eroded.
The President did not mince words in describing this period as one of “destruction, stagnation, and disrespect” for indigenous communities.
One of the most significant setbacks was the firing of 2,000 Community Support Officers (CSOs), a programme that had provided essential employment and skills training to young people in Amerindian communities.

This move, according to President Ali, directly undermined the economic empowerment of these communities and reversed years of progress.
The discontinuation of the “Because We Care” cash grant was another blow, he said, adding the programme had provided vital financial support to families in indigenous regions, helping them to afford education-related expenses.
“They took away from you, in those five years, from your children, $1.7 billion-1.7 billion that we left for your children, they took it away,” President Ali revealed, stressing the financial strain that caused in already vulnerable communities.
Healthcare services, which had improved so dramatically under the PPP/C government, also deteriorated during that period.

President Ali said that the availability of medicines in hinterland regions dropped from 70 per cent to 40 per cent, a decline that reversed the gains made in previous years. The training of local health workers was halted, further diminishing the quality of healthcare available to indigenous people.
In education, the situation was equally dire. The scholarship programme for indigenous students was slashed by 27.6 per cent, reducing opportunities for higher education and professional development.
Additionally, the APNU+AFC government-imposed VAT on hinterland travel extracted billions from the pockets of Amerindian people and further isolated the communities.

Land rights, a cornerstone of the PPP/C’s achievements, were also neglected. President Ali disclosed that no new land surveys were conducted, and no new titles were issued during the APNU+AFC’s time in office.
This, according to President Ali, represented a return to the pre-1992 strategy of ignoring the needs and rights of indigenous communities.

He reaffirmed the PPP/C government’s commitment to the development and empowerment of Guyana’s indigenous communities and urged indigenous leaders and all Guyanese to remain vigilant, protect the gains made, and continue pushing for progress.
“This is the history. These are the facts. The truth and facts will start shaping the narrative of this country,” President Ali declared.

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