Dear Editor,
The National Amerindian Develop-ment Fund (NADF) states that it is unbelievable that in today’s politics the ‘cut down to get on top’ strategy still obtains. The NADF is of the view that such a strategy will send Guyana’s hard-earned gains down the pipeline. One must be honest and acknowledge the sterling progress made since 1992. NADF does not have to count on fingers to outline these gains as they are very visible in all sectors of our environment and society.
NADF notes with surprise and grief the joint opposition’s proposed budget cuts to the LCDS and GRIF-funded projects in our National Assembly. This will be a complete turnaround for Guyana’s development as it will impact on all sectors of our society. The opposition must realize that such a proposal is high risk and will have negative consequences in the long term.
Proposing cuts to the LCDS and GRIF is sidelining Amerindians from development programmes. It means that funding for the Amerindian Development Fund will not materialize. It suggest that our homes will remain in darkness and our children will not be able to pursue academic and other programmes of their choice. It means that the demarcation of our titled areas will cease or slow down. It also means that these proposed cuts will seriously affect the small Guyanese entrepreneurs who strive to better their lives through micro and small businesses. Our children will grow up ignorant of the digital world thus creating a gap between those who can afford and those who cannot. The APNU and the AFC enticed the Amerindians and other Guyanese into voting for them under the pretext that life will be better under their watch. This indicator certainly is not pointing to a better path.
NADF is fearful that in expanding their blurred vision of development APNU and AFC will compromise our hard fought for Amerindian Act, especially those clauses which empower communities and village councils to veto small and medium-scale mining activities. AFC has in the past indicated such a strategy.
These proposed cuts will destroy many poor people’s lives across the country, electrical costs will spiral, and it will also effectively derail the Amaila Falls Hydro Project which is designed to reduce the high cost of electricity to the Guyanese people.
Internationally, the status and recognition that Guyana enjoys as a world leader in the fight against climate change will be snuffed out. This move by the opposition is designed to cede Guyana’s global leadership on climate change. One must acknowledge the pride Guyanese experience when international recognition is showered their way. A tiny country with such assertive powers, we must give credit where it deservedly belongs – to former President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo.
Our LCDS is recognized as a national initiative, and must be peddled as such. Seeking to sow discord and creating divisions within our structured national effort will be pursuing goals of destruction. If the opposition is aware that Guyana’s LCDS has been lauded by global leaders as a model for the world to follow, LCDS would not even come to their lips. But, they have and a strategy will have to be developed to answer such challenges; the partnership with the Kingdom of Norway is at high risk and Guyana must be on red alert as the benefits of over US$250M accruing in the next five years for our forest services in the fight against climate change is about to be compromised.
The Chairman of the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has said Guyana’s LCDS is one of the most progressive strategies of its kind in the world. Global NGOs, presidents and prime ministers have commended it, while some from as far as from Africa have sought our input to help them develop their strategies. More importantly, the people of Guyana support the LCDS, especially the Amerindian sector.
The proposal to cut the budget will damage our socio-economic thrust, and will negatively impact on our population and damage our efforts to make life better for all. NADF urges the opposition to be more responsible in their thoughts and concepts. NADF also seeks to inform them that sitting on the opposition benches does not mean saying no to every issue presented for their perusal, for to do so is immature and only reflects the hungry politicians they are. NADF’s position on this is that it’s absurd and will not benefit Guyana in the long term.
Yours faithfully,
Ashton Simon
