The Kaieteur News carried an article in its Monday March 31, 2014 edition under the caption “Amerindian Communities not consulted on Mazaruni Hydro Project – APA says several Communities would be submerged.”Permit me to state the following:
The Kaieteur News article is definitely misleading, particularly in relation to its caption and before its publication should have sought comments from the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs to ensure balanced and responsible reporting. Unfortunately, this did not happen.
In relation to the proposed Hydro Project in the Upper Mazaruni River, the Government, through Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and other Government officials commenced consultations with relevant stakeholders, including the National Toshao Council (NTC) and the residents of the Upper Mazaruni. The residents were concerned about flooding but felt relieved when they were informed by the officials that with the advancement of technology there will be a totally different approach to the project’s design, reducing the reservoir significantly by 90 percent or more when compared to the one in the 1970s.
However, a pre-feasibility study will be conducted by a Brazilian consortium very soon to determine Guyana’s potential to develop hydropower stations in both the Middle and Upper Mazaruni in Region 7. This information was provided to the residents of the Upper Mazaruni by the Government officials who visited the communities. So the information provided by the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) to the Kaieteur News is, expectedly, misleading and erroneous, and that newspaper was, as usual, happy to run with misleading statements that would harm the image of the Government and derail a transformational project that would benefit Amerindians, as usual without checking facts, because truth and facts are not on their agenda.
The Upper Mazaruni Communities were engaged and consulted in relation to the proposed hydropower station in the Upper Mazaruni.
PETER PERSAUD