Dear Editor,
On August 6, 2012 another National Toshaos Conference commenced at the Conference Centre, Liliendaal. I can only say that maybe I am illiterate since it’s impossible to figure out the relevance of such an event.
The only conclusions I can arrive at are that these regular bouts of conferences are really just vague gatherings to watch the demonstrations of organized tricks by government; are intended for participants to watch the signing over of billions of dollars to government in the name of the indigenous peoples of this country; to use the Toshaos and Councillors’ simplicity and sincerity to persuade Lindeners who were on protest action at the time to stop protesting; or a need to waste time and money.
And in short, there were nothing like land extensions or the establishment of a secretariat for the National Toshaos Council which still has the government, through the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, as its Indian Protector.
Also, something could have been said about former Toshaos and Councillors receiving a substantial monthly, service pension package, since Toshaos and Councillors, while elected to the council give voluntary service.
Village councils in Amerindian villages are like little parliaments, and are the main reason why it is often said that some of us don’t even know how to be nice. Moreover, these service givers are older and poorer when they leave office, and have to start over as best they can to keep surviving. As stated above, a substantial service pension package would therefore be most welcome and fitting for former Toshaos and Councillors and should be as follows: Toshaos $70,000, Deputy Toshaos $65,000 and Councillors $60,000.
It is simply not impressive enough to only acknowledge that for centuries the Amerindians have been the guardians, custodians and protectors of the forests. Instead it would do government well to start recognizing that the indigenous people’s community was a condition for the granting of independence to Guyana. It is time to start giving very generously to the indigenous peoples, who had the policy of integration rudely imposed on them, and who now have to pay the price for the high cost of living, diseases like dengue, typhoid, malaria and various kinds of pollutions, among other things.
Further, the indigenous peoples are real with real needs and wants; they have families of their own to be responsible for, and most importantly billions are poured into the government’s treasury in their name.
Owing to these facts, among others, it is felt that it would be apposite to suggest at least that something of this nature could be carefully incorporated into the Amerindian Development Fund.
This project must be treated as a special case since it is very well known that Toshaos and Councillors are the ones who are shunted off to attend events like the one they attended in early August. They are the ones who place their signatures on documents even when they don’t know what it is they are signing, owing to limited time, limited knowledge, and not understanding fully what it is that they are really undertaking.
Very often too, this is done without the free, prior and informed consent of their people. This is particularly true owing to the fact that government has targeted the independent Amerindian organisations and there is no empathy on government’s part; and many of Guyana’s indigenous people do not speak English as a first language.
This unfairness will most certainly result in the majority of Guyana’s indigenous people remaining at the bottom of the ladder, if it is not corrected.
Yours faithfully,
Penelope Atkinson
