Dear Editor,
Indigenous Heritage month 2022 is over and Indigenous and hinterland Villages once again face their realities. As September comes to an end and the celebrations wind down across the Indigenous Villages and hinterland communities of Guyana, there is a certain sobering process which ushers in a swift, if not rude awakening to the realities which were conveniently but temporarily set aside. The situations vary in levels of severity from Village to Village. In Region One for instance, there are serious issues which range from socioeconomic to allegations of corruption. Indigenous peoples and other residents of this region believe that, absolutely no attention is being paid to their troubles.
In the Matarkai Sub-region there are major allegations of inequalities regarding a number of issues, not least of which is the distribution of cash grants. Reports in this regard have all fallen on deaf ears. The levels of prostitution, primarily among the Venezuelan immigrant population presents both health and other societal challenges. Families are shattered, young teenage boys leave school to work in the ‘back-dams’ to raise money to enjoy the pleasures of life made available by the ‘service providers’. There is need for vigilance and awareness in the area of health and counselling for broken families and sexually exploited youths, both male and female. The authorities are numb to the realities. Even the police appear to forget that prostitution is an offence.
In the Mabaruma Sub-region, the treatment of migrant Indigenous Warao people leaves a lot to be desired. There is also the issue of jobs and its attendant scheme of rewards. Foreigners who accept less than fair rates of pay are preferred to Guyanese who demand a fair wage. The issue of the construction of a new wharf in the Mabaruma Sub-region brings with it more of the Rosignol tale of economic destruction of persons in a particular geographic space. Although this falls within a municipality (Mabaruma) and not an Indigenous Village, it is worthy of mention since it will affect a number of Villages.
The government has decided, reportedly without adequate consultation, to construct a wharf at Independence Road, a few miles up-river from the current site of the T&HD wharf at Kumaka. They cited flimsy excuses which many business persons at Kumaka have rejected. The move is intended to and will kill the economy of Kumaka, which from the inception of its existence, has been the business capital of the sub-region. This move will relocate the business centre to Hosororo. The voting pattern at national and regional election informs that Kumaka voted almost exclusively APNU+AFC while Hosororo voted mostly PPP. Readers can draw their own conclusions.
Over at Moruca, There is much disquiet regarding the Santa Rosa Village Council with respect to issues of accountability. Information received suggests that there could be a major shady operation taking place at that Village and residents are peeved. They contend that the Minister of Amerindian Affairs is aware of the situation but refuses to act. The Santa Rosa Robusta Coffee Project was established and financed by the Coalition while in government.
Reports say that the sum of 9.5 million dollars was deposited in the Village Council’s account with Republic Bank (Essequibo Coast Branch). It was reported that the Santa Rosa Village Council was given total control of the funds. The Village Council is charged under the law, to manage the assets of the Village in the best interest of its residents. In the month of April 2022, the sum of two million, two hundred thousand dollars was withdrawn. At a recently convened Village General Meeting (VGM) the Toshao, Stavros Stanley and treasurer Phillip Bess were called upon to account for the coffee project fund. The report was that ALL of the Santa Rosa Village funds had been withdrawn from the account. Villagers are alarmed. There was no consultation with the coffee farmers regarding withdrawal or use of funds.
Further, farmers have not benefited from the funds withdrawn. Given the political affiliation of those allegedly involved in this suspected financial impropriety, residents feel that an investigation may never happen. There are a number of allegations of financial irregularities in many Villages. However, in the not so distant past, the focus of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs was the establishment of Investigating Commit-tees on missions to remove elected officials believed or known to be supportive of the APNU+AFC while ignoring the blatant indiscretions of others who are known supporters of the PPP. Fueling inequality and the discriminatory treatment of citizens appear to be hall-marks of the PPP’s One Guyana policy.
Sincerely,
Mervyn Williams
