We are victims of racial politics

Aug 19, 2013 Letters

Dear Editor,
We the concerned residents of the Four Miles Community of Port kaituma, North West District, Region #1, hereby wish to inform you of a very grievous situation that is affecting us and is trusting that as citizens of this country, our concerns will be addressed and an intervention will be done to bring residents at peace where we can live with love, respect and dignity.
On Wednesday, 27th March, 2013, two days after a protest by concerned residents, a correspondence was printed in the daily edition of Kaieteur News (letters…where your views makes the news.)
This being a copy of the petition that was previously carbon copied and delivered to the following individuals and offices: His Excellecy, Mr. Donald Ramotar (President of the Republic of Guyana) Ms. Pauline Sukhai (Minister of Amerindian Affairs); Mr. Ifran Alli (Minister of Housing); Chief Lands and Surveys Officer; Mr. Glenn Lall; Mr. Paul Pierre (Regional chairman) and Mr. Gerald Rodrigues (AREO)
A Copy of this petition was also issued to Mr. Bailey, Officer-in-charge of Port Kaituma Police Station within the stipulated period for permission to proceed on a peaceful protest where we did voice our concerns.
On Monday, 25th march 2013, at around 16:26hrs and just a few hours after this protest, an emergency meeting was held at the Nursery School in the Four Miles Community. Officials Present was Mr. Ignatious Adams, Mr.Kishore Etwaroo, Mr. Gerald Rodrigues, Mr.Paul Pierre, Mr. Bailey, Mr. Shawn James and Mr. Wesley.
Some residents, who managed to adjust their schedule and drew strength from the assuming positive outcome of the petition, attended this meeting.
The main focus of the meeting was for the residents to verbally voice their concerns with regards to the issues highlighted in the petition.
Many related issues were discussed, concerns raised and advice given by officials who at the time, appeared to be genuinely concerned about our predicaments and promised us representation at a higher level.
We were certainly elated.
However, in the days following this meeting, the more vocal residents who could not be coerced nor intimidated, found themselves being excluded from organized community activities and community meetings. Persons were still being targeted and intimidated.
Please note that the previous and present elected Chairman of the community distanced themselves despite being invited by Mr. Gerald Rodrigues to that emergency meeting.
A few weeks later, a team Chaired by Ms Halima (Community Development Project Officer of the Amerindian Affairs Ministry) visited the community to discuss the implementation of the Bee keeping Project, LCDS etc. Although some of us were given less than 24 hours notice while others none, we attended in great numbers after being mislead to believe that at last, we were to be given an audience with the Honourable Mrs. Pauline Sukhai. (Imagine our disappointment).
To add insult to injury, after Ms Halima’s team left, we were allowed to voice our concerns and were again promised an audience with the MOAA in exactly one week’s time. We never heard from the Minister of Amerindian Affairs nor any other official with regards to the matter. Mr. Ganga Persaud, who was very honest in acknowledging the unrest in the community and while being sympathetic to our plight, made it clear that it is not within his capacity to sanction. To make matters even worst, while some internal officials volunteer misleading information, others distanced themselves from the issue or, could not be contacted on telephone numbers previously supplied.
We are being undermined and taunted and most of us are of the opinion that we are victims of racial politics. (Our community comprises mostly of mixed races)and most of these families have been striving to attain a better way of life for their husbands, wives, children and grandchildren to come, many of whom share Amerindian parentage.
We are humble beings who are not as formally educated as our political leaders whom we have so far addressed with our issues. Yet we are very saddened by their show that lacks professional ethics.
Mrs. Pauline Sukhai visited Port Kaituma on July 29th 2013 along with a team, where she addressed the LCDS. The residents of Four Miles Community a Port Kaituma would have appreciated a courtesy call.
With this being said, we the Concerned Residents of Four Miles Community are imploring you to shine a much brighter light on our predicament that we may be acknowledged and our interest protected.
Concerned residents of Four Miles, Port Kaituma

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