Dear Editor,
After reading the Minister of Amerindians Affairs’ response to the GHRA over how the budget cuts will affect Amerindians (GC, May 14), I have a simple question which I hope she will answer with the same alacrity she did the GHRA.
The items that she listed as being affected by the budget cuts are all critical Amerindian issues; indeed, they could be considered as all the main Amerindian issues. It therefore seems that the entire budget for Amerindians was via the LCDS – money which has not even yet been disbursed. Our government did not actually cater for the Amerindian population in their National Budget; they were basically relying on LCDS money (money not yet released) to finance their programmes. This implication speaks volumes about how the government really views Amerindians.
So is that really it, Madam Minister? Amerindians were never deemed important enough to have consideration in the National Budget?
In hindsight, all of the achievements that the government crowed about during last year for the Amerindian people were actually paid for by money ‘loaned’ from the LCDS. Again, this apart, we were never given consideration in the National Budget. Amerindians should peruse the Minister’s reply to the GHRA carefully and then they will realise how (un)important the Amerindian people are to the government. How else can we interpret not having anything budgeted for us in the actual National Budget?
Right now, Amerindians need to show more appreciation to Norway rather than Guyana. After all our development depends on them since they are to fund all of our activities.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)