Dear Editor,
Having read many arguments and comments as they relate to the Low Carbon Development Strategy I am compelled to add some of my own. Before going on, however, please allow me to thank particularly Professor Clive Thomas and Dr Janette Bulkan, among others, for at least keeping an eye on indigenous peoples as it relates to this LCDS matter, and for the priceless supporting information for which I would be forever grateful.
Our representatives are arguing that the LCDS consultations were not rushed and that no coercion was known to have taken place. Unfortunately, however, this was not what happened in our village, unless my understanding of what the terms ‘rushed’ and ‘coercion’ really mean is very limited.
Anyway, it is my humble opinion that since people had less than a week to prepare for a meeting which was to take place on Sunday, June 28, 2009 at 10am, this can be termed ‘rushed.’ Then again there was only one consultation. I recall that some Toshaos were in support of LCDS, but this was personal. Most needed time and more information to think things through before making decisions with their people.
It was also recalled that among those sitting at the head table were attorney at law Mr David James and Mr Peter Permaul. I had expected to hear quite a lot from them, but disappointingly these two were limited to making only a few hasty comments at the end of the meeting.
I personally had asked if the proposed hydroelectric plant at Amaila Falls was not being built where there were established communities, and whether it was a repeat of what was to have taken place in the 1970s when there was to have been a similar project that was going to result in the flooding of five indigenous communities and the people’s relocation. I had also recommended that more time be given with more consultations, and this was applauded by many there.
It must be said that it was immediately recognized that the presenters were not too different from me in terms of the supporting information, since the answer was that it was not thought so. That presenter was advised to do more research and to keep the public informed.
Among what was said by the Minister of Amerindian Affairs that day, was that she too didn’t think that people were living in the area, but if that was the case, her government was committed to compensating well for any possible relocation as was done when the Berbice bridge was being built.
As a follow-up perhaps, some time after that only consultation was held, some men from this region, among others, were given jobs to cut a line in the Amaila Falls area. Some reported that they were left there long after the food supply was finished, and in addition, four men had fallen from some height and suffered broken bones; one of them died. Another man related how he had feared for his son’s life, but fortunately, a good man rescued them by taking responsibility for them and even gave them some money.
It would do our freely elected representatives credit to have this matter investigated and put this thing on hold. Mechanisms should be put in place whereby persons who experience accidents be properly compensated. Often dangerous work like this goes to Amerindians. Our freely elected representatives should make it their bounden duty to ensure that they and their families are properly and adequately provided for should the worst happen.
Putting people and their safety first would allow for unbroken families and avoid relocation.
As we Guyanese would say, there are many ways to choke a dog. What finer way to do this than to commercialize the people and the forest.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)