This is not helping Amerindians

Apr 23, 2014 Letters

Dear Editor,
I have been kept abreast with the protest, via telephone, of Amerindians in relation to the non-approval of monies in the budget purportedly identified for their development.
New information reaching me today indicates what the Amerindians are to expect from this government. A teacher from one of the far-flung communities visited me when he was through with opening of his account at the bank to satisfy the new policy.
The teacher said that the Community Support Officers of his village were taken to the city under the pretext that they were to attend an urgent meeting. That meeting happened to be on the picket line in front of the National Assembly.
I want to assume that this was the case country wide, and if that is so then it is a wanton waste of public funds for narrow political gains. I want to submit that it is almost criminal.
Consequently, I would like to address this part of my letter to these protesting persons: You have been fooled in the past, and until you stop holding this government as your boss, you will continue to be fooled. The mere fact that you were taken to Georgetown under a ruse is testimony to this fact.
While I recognise that you need jobs, ask yourselves if the $30,000 per month is what you are worth. Don’t you think that you deserve more? You are in front of Parliament Buildings where all the action is taking place. Certainly you would have heard Minister Juan Edghill informing the House that Gail Teixeira is paid in excess of $1M per month, while Roger Luncheon is paid in excess of $950,000. You would have heard about the army of contract workers who all receive super salaries.
The PPP is distracting you from the real issues that you have, over the years, held dear to you.
Firstly, why not ask the government why most of your communities cannot access the LCDS funds to date in spite of its existence for more than four years now.
Secondly, why not ask the government when will the Amerindian Land Issue be settled? You are aware of the many outstanding land demarcation and extensions that have been applied for, some as long as 15 years.
Allow me please to inform you that this government is not interested in granting you more lands. They think that you have too much. So the ploy here is to wean you off from the land, make you less dependent on the land so that you would have no justification to request for extension.
So the PPP is not going to give you your lands. They do not want you to depend on the land so they decided to give a few $30,000, and the rest of the people – your parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends are of no consequence.
In dialogue with each other you will be surprised to find out how much you as a people are being short-changed.
Brothers and sisters open your eyes to the real demons.
Ask yourselves why there is no Technical Institute, or other institutions of higher learning in none of the hinterland regions. The reason is simple: get you as far away as possible from the land. This is in order that you will no longer have economic, spiritual or cultural ties to the land. While they are breaking your relationship with the land, they are shipping in their supporters everyday who are now engaged in land speculation.
Open your eyes brothers and sisters and you will see.
In your quiet moments mull over what you have read here, discuss it in groups, discuss with the elders of your villages and if what I have written here makes any sense to you, then you must do the courageous thing and denounce the PPP for who they are: a pack of con men and women masquerading as politicians, pretending that they are championing your cause while holding a double-edged dagger behind their backs.
The ball is effectively in your court. What you do with it is entirely up to you, but remember history will judge you accordingly. What will it be? Will it be a throng of courageous young people who stood their ground in the face of extreme adversity, that stood up for their Nations against a dictatorial and tyrannical PPP? Or, would it be a pack of selfish, egoistical young people, who in their own self interest, sold out their Nations for 30,000 pieces of silver, which was the catalyst of their eventual demise as a people? You chose how you will be seen in the next 30 to 40 years.
Carl Parker Sr.
Regional Councillor
Region 9

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