Dear Editor,
In an interview appearing in the news Mr Sydney Allicock announced urgent plans for minimal reformation of the Amerindian Act 2006. This comes after many calls and a string of defeats in court cases involving Indigenous villages, the Minister disclosed. He promised to meet with the Minister responsible for mining, Mr Trotman, to iron out issues affecting Isseneru and other villages affected by mining operations.
This meeting was held, and except for the exchange of paperwork nothing beneficial came out of it. At this meeting Mr Trotman communicated to the senior Minister of Indigenous Affairs that it is not on the government agenda to stop mining in close proximity to Indigenous villages because miners have rights, so a mutual arrangement will have to be reached.
This statement coming from the Minister is downright disrespectful to the Indigenous people. In effect what he is implying is that we would have to negotiate for our right to a decent existence.
It is imperative that the Indigenous people understand that any amendment to the Amerindian Act must be accompanied by relevant changes to the constitution so as to avoid conflict between the two items of legislation. For instance, Section 48 of the Amerindian Act gives village councils authority over rivers that are within their boundaries, but the constitution provides that rivers belong to the state and village councils have no authority over them.
If the Indigenous people have to negotiate for their survival then l would suggest that legislation be immediately implemented in the Amerindian Act and the constitution prohibiting mining activities in rivers that run through Indigenous villages between the source and mouth of the rivers and also rivers and creeks that empty into them. All mining operations presently in the rivers must be closed and withdrawn from the areas. Like the Berbice Bridge arrangement, miners should be compensated for their losses by the government. Income to the Indigenous people lost as a result of the closure of mining operations can be offset by tourism ventures and sustainable use of the rivers and surrounding forests.
Yours faithfully,
Patrick Fitzpatrick
