Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Lenox Shuman yesterday berated the PPP/C government for not consulting with the Indigenous Peoples and he cited the South Rupununi mining deal as an example and called for its rescinding.
In a letter that appears on page six of today’s edition, Shuman flayed the deal to allow mining in the Marudi Mountain but also took wider aim at the PPP/C government.
A surprise deal to restart mining in the Marudi Mountain has attracted flak from the South Rupununi District Council and other members of the Indigenous community and yesterday Shuman added his voice.
A former Deputy Chair-man of the National Toshaos Council which groups leaders of Indigenous villages, Shuman said the government did not enable meaningful dialogue on the agreement to allow small miners back into the Marudi Mountain which has sustained serious damage from mining.
“In the supposedly `re-invented’ PPP post the 2020 elections, it was my sincere belief that the PPP was a transformed organisation and that they were open to dialogue on issues surrounding Indigenous Peoples. I can say with absolute conviction, nothing is further from the truth. The PPP Government did not facilitate meaningful dialogue with Indigenous Peoples on the Marudi Mountain gold mining agreement. The agreement should be rescinded and returned to the table for discussions to ensure they are in compliance with Indigenous Peoples’ rights at their core.
Shuman, who is the leader of the Liberty and Justice Party and shares a seat in Parliament with two other groups, said that understanding the variety of issues and the impact of mining on Indigenous Peoples, he offered his services to the Government to assist in resolving these and many other issues that continuously plague Indigenous Peoples.
That offer, he said, was initially taken up by Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat. Shuman, a former Toshao of St Cuthbert’s Mission, said that he attended one meeting with the Minister and a team from the South Rupununi District Council and one meeting with the Minister and the Toshao of Chenapau to address mining in the Kaieteur area. In the letter, he said that he had not been invited to another meeting since on any issue surrounding Indigenous Peoples and now sees the reason for such omissions.
“It is my informed view that the Government of Guyana under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has zero inclination to meaningfully consult the Indigenous Peoples on any matter. It is also my informed view that they intend to throw money at the problems the Indigenous Peoples face instead of genuinely trying to find comprehensive solutions to addressing them. By addressing the issues comprehensively, it empowers Indigenous Peoples which poses a problem to the PPP and that is far removed from the modus operandi and intent of the PPP”, he asserted.
Shuman, who managed to secure the position of Deputy Speaker when the PPP/C MPs supported him instead of someone from the main opposition, also cited the Law Reform Commission (Amendment) Bill as an example of the PPP/C’s disregard of the Indigenous community.
“In its first draft, in terse, the first draft stated that the Commission will enjoy the input of Constitutional Commissions. I objected to the AG (Attorney General) on the grounds that Indigenous Peoples are not represented simply because the Indigenous Peoples Commission (IPC) is there. The IPC also has non-indigenous entities on it, and I recommended that the National Toshaos Council (NTC) be the body to nominate a candidate to represent Indigenous Peoples. After five months of back and forth, my recommendation was finally taken on and the law was passed with the amendment that the NTC will nominate a candidate.
“Upon completion of their process, the NTC nominated a candidate who, from an Indigenous Peoples perspective, is eminently qualified for that and many other positions relating to Indigenous Peoples. When the nomination was made to the AG’s office, the candidate was removed from the list and replaced by another more pliable candidate of non-indigenous persuasion”, he lamented.
Shuman, who has increasingly taken positions critical of the government and has complained of being threatened for posts on Facebook, said in his letter that Indigenous Peoples have consistently asked for one thing from the Government of Guyana – “`to respect our rights’ which are tied to the rightful control over the lands and territories we have traditionally owned.
“Until such, it matters not which administration preaches a mantra of One Guyana, Social Cohesion or whatever new slogan will be championed, the two sides of the coin will continue to show us their freshly polished brass in vague light trying to pass off as newly minted gold”.
A commercial airline pilot who returned from Canada to serve his community, Shuman said that Indigenous Peoples are not against mining.
“We are explicitly and unapologetically set against our rights being trampled upon. We have lived here from time immemorial and account for the least international migration as compared to our coastal sisters and brothers. Where the coast looks at our lands as places to make money and enrich themselves, we look at our lands as places to make a life, raise our families and protect our future. Our forest, rivers and farms are our neighbourhoods, grocery stores, pharmacies, and oxygen banks”, he said.
Shuman declared his support for the South Rupununi District Council and the Wapishana Nation of the South Rupununi and called on the government to cancel the mining agreement and return to the table for discussions.
“This would be a clear indication of the value the PPP Administration places on Indigenous Peoples and their intent on being one that respects the Constitution and the rule of law”, he said.
