Georgetown : Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai has discredited statements made by representatives of the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA), contradicting Amerindian development in Guyana, during the side event at the Twelfth Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) in which Guyana participated.
The side event is an occurrence outside the formal session to allow for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to speak on matters that relate to their respective countries.
The APA took the opportunity during their presentation which was poorly attended, to accuse the Government of ignoring the principle of free prior and informed consent.
“On this matter I wish to state very categorically that the Government continues to exercise good practices on free prior and informed consent….it is appalling that the APA is claiming that the Government ignores this principle which is a principle that forms part of the UNDRIP,” Minister Sukhai stressed.
She noted that one of the latest examples of ensuring that the principles are adhered to is the recent tour of the Upper Mazaruni led by the Prime Minister where there were talks about hydro electric potential that Guyana has and the Government wishes to validate.
The APA went on to say that there are roads that are being built without the knowledge of communities. “I wish to debunk this because there is no road that the Government just goes into the hinterland or to any community across the country to build without consultation,” Minister Sukhai said.
Mention was made of the Para Bara and Massakenari road, which they claimed were being constructed to facilitate mining activities, and the road from Lethem to Massakenari, and another in Isseneru, Region Seven.
Minister Sukhai explained that Para Bara, Region Nine is an Amerindian community with its main economic activities being agriculture and mining and there is not any road under construction in that area that is heading to create any mining disaster.
While explaining the hassle that residents go through to travel to Lethem, Minister Sukhai said that, “I dare any organisation to deny Para Bara and Massakenari a roadway to services and goods and to the coast land…the residents have that right to have a road that leads from Lethem to their villages,” Minister Sukhai further stated.
“One could recall how many times the same APA tried to destabilise the opening up of the Lethem trail saying that it will have a negative effect on the Amerindians….today the Amerindians have turned full circle on that argument and are calling on the Government every time it rains to smooth the road,” Minister Sukhai noted.
She also debunked claims by the APA that there is need for security in Jawalla, Region Seven, and there were questionable characters in the village. She said that Jawalla is a titled village and has an elected village Toshao, and under the Amerindian Act the village council has the authority to decide who enters the village.
They also claimed that communities were not consulted about projects under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), when in fact Amerindians were the first to be engaged on the strategy, with the first consultation session being held in St Ignatius.
Calls were also made for the reform of national land laws, and projects that may be proposed on titled and customary lands. Recently there has been discussion about the lands and surveys Act and also the forest Act was amended and passed in parliament.
“These are the lies and the misleading statements they continue to make internationally….what can be much more distasteful than these things that were said,” Minister Sukhai added.
Meanwhile, NTC chair, Derek John, Liaison to the Minister, Yvonne Pearson and leader of theAmerindian Action Movement of Guyana (TAAMOG), Peter Persaud who were part of the Guyana delegation at the forum echoed similar sentiments and expressed disappointment with the presentation which was made by the APA.
John noted that the APA is not being honest and that there was not one good thing that was said about Guyana. He said that Guyana is not perfect, there are issues, but there are always solutions and the people have to work together to create mechanisms to deal with these issues.
Persaud said that while he was proud to be a part of the forum, he was indeed saddened by the presentation by the APA, which was a political one that was only designed to fool the UN on the situation of Guyana’s indigenous peoples.
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