Dear Editor,
GIVEN the recent activities at the National Toshaos Committee (NTC) Conference and the commendations for the government’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and the associated sale of carbon credits, I feel compelled to remind Guyana of developments which seems to sidestep the significant role that the Amerindian Peoples’ Association (APA) has played in obstructing the development of Amerindian communities.

While the APA publicly claims to advocate for the rights and welfare of Indigenous Peoples, its actions tell a very different story. One that is marked by a consistent pattern of obstructionism and delay.
A glaring example of this obstructionism is the APA’s stance on the LCDS and the associated sale of carbon credits, which has resulted in the largest financial injection ever seen in Amerindian communities.
Instead of supporting this groundbreaking initiative, which has the potential to transform the economic landscape of these communities, the APA has chosen to criticise and undermine it at every turn.
Had the APA had its way, the implementation of vital projects would have been delayed and has also jeopardised the well-being and future prosperity of the very people it claims to represent.

The APA’s obstruction is a consistent pattern. Over the years, the APA has repeatedly opposed and attempted to block numerous government initiatives aimed at improving the lives of Amerindian communities.
These initiatives, many of which have been developed through extensive consultations with the communities themselves, have included critical infrastructure projects, educational programmes, and healthcare advancements.
The APA’s opposition to these projects often hinges on exaggerated or unfounded claims, which seem designed more to stoke fear and resistance than to genuinely protect the interests of the communities.

The organisation has repeatedly positioned itself as an obstacle to progress, often promoting alternatives that are unrealistic or unfeasible, thereby stalling meaningful development. This approach has caused frustration and disillusionment within Amerindian communities, many of whom are eager to embrace the opportunities that these government initiatives provide.

It is time to call out the APA for what it is: An organisation more interested in maintaining its relevance and power by opposing government initiatives than in genuinely advancing the development of Amerindian communities. This obstructionism has had real and damaging consequences, and it is my Amerindian brothers and sisters who are likely to pay the full price.
Yours sincerely,
Alvin Hamilton