Dear Editor,
As we head into local government elections, a request is hereby being made to Gecom or the relevant ministry to publish a map of the boundaries of the proposed new townships, especially Lethem.
Up to now the residents of Lethem, and more importantly the neighbouring Amerindian villages, have no idea where the boundaries of this proposed township actually run.
There are a few Amerindian villages, Nappi Village in particular, which are uneasy about the boundaries of the proposed new township of Lethem. There have been disquieting rumours that the boundaries encroach upon land applied for by the village, as an extension to its titled lands. To date this extension has not been granted, though the relevant consultations were already completed by the former Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, now Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs.
Under the principle of FPIC (Free, Prior and Informed Consent), communities such as Nappi village are entitled by law to be informed of the new boundaries of the Lethem township since if it encroaches on their lands it would then have an impact on their way of life.
In the haste to run off local government elections, it is hoped that the rights of the Indigenous people are not being trampled upon. Let us at least be fully aware of what is going on and if we have any objection to the boundaries then give us enough time to have our concerns heard and an amicable solution found.
President Granger, time and again, has stated how much the Rupununi and its people have impacted him. Certainly he would not allow the peoples’ rights to be arbitrarily trampled on by anyone.
So the residents of Nappi and other Indigenous villages anxiously await verification of the proposed Lethem township boundaries.
Yours faithfully,
M Abraham
