Dear Editor,
Happy New Year to all Guyana!
Last year on the 20th December, the visit by His Excellency President Irfaan Ali to Moruca, the eldest and biggest Indigenous community and voting demographic for any of the two main parties in Guyana, was a welcome gesture. The residents really appreciated the Head of State’s presence to this unique and beautiful place.
This being said the President’s speech was very informative specially to learn of government’s plans and promises to the people of Region One and the Moruca sub-region. It was also good to hear the Toshaos from other outlying communities making their lists of requests from the President for their people.
For the Toshao from Santa Rosa the opposite happened when it was his time to speak. Leaving us very disappointed at him not requesting anything, which reflected that Santa Rosa village doesn’t need government’s assistance and everything is perfectly Ok in the area.
My assumption for his behaviour and I could be wrong, for him not requesting for government’s assistance for Santa Rosa Village and its environs, is because the Santa Rosa Village Council is plagued by scandals especially under the incumbent leadership, which can be the reason for not expressing interest for additional assistance from the authorities because there is need for scrutiny and accountability of village fund expenditures.
Editor, corruption scandals and bad administrative practices by the Santa Rosa Village Council are evils that our founding father Mr. Stephen Campbell who was from Moruca would certainly condemn and discipline the local leaders. This great Amerindian leader was a man who stood for principles and values in his work and services for the benefit of all. This being said, it is my hope that the leadership of Moruca can revisit and learn from Mr. Campbell’s true leadership skills centred on morals and principles in governing the biggest Amerindian Village in Guyana.
Against this backdrop this residents of Moruca would like to put forward the following requests to the President since our Toshao didn’t ask for anything.
1. There is need to expand the electricity and water services from the central area to residents on the main Kumaka–Kwebana road and also to other nearby communities.
2. There is need to set up a next Digicel tower in Kamwatta to feed off from the main one at Kumaka in order to obtain stronger internet signal for residents; especially teachers and other students who struggle to get quality service to pursue studies.
3. From a cultural aspect, there is need for a proper and secure place to put the monument of our heroes of Moruca. There are the few pillars displaying paintings standing at the moment at Paloma Junction but there is need for a long lasting and durable plaque to register the names of the early pioneers and great leaders of Moruca, for example Stephen Campbell and others. Allocating a proper and spacious place in the central area of Santa Rosa or Kumaka would be ideal to keep such important village patrimony. Furthermore, I would suggest that the area where the monuments will be built, should have a resource centre with internet access annexed to it. The fenced compound must be provided with security guards to protect it from vandalism and other nuisance in the area. Editor, recognizing and valuing our Amerindian pioneers of Moruca in such a significant way would certainly make Mr. Campbell and others content with their homeland Santa Rosa; where future generations can be inspired in learning of their fellow Morucans and follow their footsteps.
We hope President Ali can get these requests fulfilled for us the villagers of Santa Rosa since our Toshao didn’t ask for anything from him.
Yours truly,
(Name and address provided)
