By Jeff Trotman
Harold Couchman, Toshao of the Great Falls Amerindian Village, Number 58 is not prepared to share with Demerara Timbers, Mabura Hill and 47 Miles, a bus which the Amerindian Village has obtained through a Presidential Grant.
The matter was discussed at the November statutory meeting of the Region Ten Democratic Council after the Clerk of Council, Yolanda Hilliman read a letter that Couchman had written to Nigel Dharamlall, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs in response to a letter in which the Permanent Secretary had requested that the bus be allowed to transport school children at Mabura Hill, Great Falls and 47 Miles to attend secondary schools in Linden.
Noting that “Education is essential to children’s development,” Dharamlall made the request in a letter dated 12 October 2014. In response, Couchman wrote that the Great Falls Village Council will not release the minibus to Demerara Timbers, Mabura Hill and 47 Miles because it was bought to be used by Great Falls residents particularly, school children to and from Linden.
“The Great Falls Village Council sees the need for such form of transportation for the community that is why we petitioned for it,” the Toshao wrote. He added: “Comrade, I am aware that education is essential to children’s development. I am sure that the leaders of the Guyana (Demerara) Timbers can afford to purchase transportation for their children. The Great Falls Village is governed by a village council and the 58 Miles community is governed by a CDC (Community Development Council) and therefore, we don’t want the CDC to interfere with the affairs of the Great Falls Village. There will be a Toshao election and we don’t want the members of the CDC to be involved if they are not Belongers of the Great Falls Village according to the Amerindian Act of 2006.”
According to Regional Chairman, Sharma Solomon, the bus was secured through a Presidential Grant, which goes to Amerindian communities and the Great Falls Community is recognized as one of the six Amerindian communities in Region Ten. He further stated that the request by the Permanent Secretary could be viewed as being against the Great Falls Amerindian community – that is why the Toshao brought up the Amerindian Act.
Solomon said that when he spoke to the Permanent Secretary he was informed that the bus was used for activities outside of the community and that the Toshao and others are using it for their personal matters. According to Solomon, the Tosaho has denied the allegation, stating that the bus is being used for transporting the people of the Great Falls Area.
