THE recently concluded National Toshaos’ Council (NTC) Conference ended on a high note of optimism.
The highlight of the Conference was an energetic and well-delivered address by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali who underscored the importance of Amerindians to the growth and development, not only of their own communities, but to the nation as a whole.

Gone are the days when Amerindians were pushed into the national background by both the colonial administration and the PNC regime. Amerindians were treated as second-class citizens and were placed at the margins of the Guyanese society. For the most part, the development of their communities was in the hands of people who were not indigenous to the communities, but who were sent from Georgetown to administer the affairs of Amerindian communities.

This marginalisation of Amerindians from mainstream development has had historical roots, starting from the early days of European colonisation which continued during the period of slavery and indentureship.

One would have thought that with the attainment of independence status, Amerindians would have been treated with dignity and respect by the then PNC regime and its junior coalition partner, the United Force, which were catapulted to office in 1964 through a process of electoral engineering. The United Force, which at the time had enjoyed significant Amerindian electoral support, betrayed the trust of the Amerindian people. The party was eventually kicked out of the coalition government, and the PNC subsequently rigged all national elections, including the election of Village Captains for Amerindian areas until 1992.

It was that lack of respect for the fundamental rights of the Amerindian people by the PNC regime, including their democratic right to elect their leaders, that set in motion a spiral of economic and social decline of the Amerindian people. In fact, the entire society suffered from the democratic rupture, but the Indigenous communities were affected the most due primarily to a dependency syndrome studiously cultivated by the then regime to place Amerindians in a situation of subservience.

All of that, thankfully, is now ‘water under the bridge’. As noted by President Ali, for decades before the restoration of democratic rule on October 5, 1992, Guyana’s Indigenous communities faced systematic neglect, entrenched poverty, and deliberate marginalisation by the PNC’s policies which left them forgotten and disrespected.

Despite all of the past injustices inflicted against the Amerindian population, there are still those who are the current faces of that dreadful past who are now seeking to disrupt the path to progress by making all manner of objections and accusations against the legitimate representatives of the Amerindian people. And while there is nothing wrong with criticisms, if they are constructive and genuine in terms of advancing the lives and well-being of Amerindians, the objections raised by the political opposition are lacking in substance and seemingly intended only to score cheap political points.

But as pointed out by President Ali, the PPP/C administration is committed to the development and empowerment of Amerindians. This is manifested in a multiplicity of policy interventions in all facets of life, including education, health, housing, potable water, greater employment opportunities and higher levels of financial resources to Amerindian communities.

This is indeed a story of development. These are the facts, which, as noted by President Ali, will continue to shape the narrative of this country.