Guyana’s First People – Preserving our Culture and Land for Life

Sep 04, 2016 AFC Column, Features / Columnists

---

The caption was the overarching theme of the 4-day conference of Indigenous Leaders – 212 exactly, who travelled from communities all across Guyana in late August to participate in the annual National Toshaos Conference. They met with H.E. President David Granger and Government Ministers individually and together. They also met with a number of centrally-based stakeholders to craft a course of action for development.
Minister Valerie Garrido-Lowe, an unrelenting advocate for the economic development of our Indigenous Peoples, addressed the Toshaos and Senior Councillors during the opening ceremony. Here is the first installment of her address.

“On behalf of the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and the Government of Guyana, I bid you all a warm welcome to the 2016 National Toshaos Conference being held under the theme: Guyana’s First People – Preserving Our Culture and Land for Life”.
Most of you have travelled far distances. You have braved the rainy weather and climbed mountains when you could not ride. I do not doubt that some of you had to swim across some very high creeks too, negotiate miles of roads that are in terrible condition at this time. But you are here and that’s what matters because now you can speak one-on-one with the very hard-working and resourceful Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, and Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson.
Brothers and sisters, I will confirm that they are doing tremendous work building roads and other kinds of infrastructure. The residents of Sophia had said they wanted proper roads and David and Annette in their long boots and helmets went into action. The Vice President and I asked for a proper road leading to the dormitory at Liliendaal, and we got a proper road.
If you have not seen our capital city in the last year, you will soon have the opportunity to feast your eyes on the wonderful works that are being done to bring back our Capital to the Garden City it was years ago. It has only been a year, but in that short time we have begun to live a healthier life! We can now breathe freely.
As we had promised before we entered Government, Change is here indeed, and you have already experienced one of the most significant changes since you arrived in Georgetown – Freedom, the freedom to speak and make your own choices without fear. Last evening, you all attended a banquet with the Opposition members of Parliament, and today you are here to discuss the way forward. That definitely did not happen before 2015.
The fact is, people were afraid to speak and be seen with us when we were the Opposition, much less to participate openly in a banquet. Before 2015, those of you who were brave enough to meet with us were branded as Opposition supporters and you were ostracized. You used to be told that only the (previous) Government had all the answers for you and that the Opposition was bad. Unfortunately, many of you believed it, but I and the rest of our coalition government are showing you that this is not so! There is hardly anything more important to us than to see our First People develop your villages and communities, become economically independent, and make enough money to give your families everything you want.
Unlike the PPP/C, we believe that the Opposition is an important arm of the Legislature. We know that we ALL have to work together to pass legislations that will work, legislations that will benefit you and the whole country. So, we are pleased that you had the chance to meet with the Opposition because it is just as important that they too understand all of the issues that you have. This is how they would be able to support the many developmental plans that your Government, will be implementing for your growth.
Another major change is happening right now, in this very space. For the first time in the history of the National Toshaos Conference, the National Toshaos Council is chairing the opening ceremony of the Conference! We are loving it! Before one walks, one has to creep. Since its inception in 2006, the NTC has been creeping. That is a long time for you to creep. It is called Stagnation! Now is time for you to stand and walk, my friends.
You have a Government that is determined to see you rise above your circumstances, to see you grow and develop. For us to do that, it is very important that you are able to show us your vision and plans for your forward movement to prosperity. It cannot happen the other way around. The Government cannot tell you what you need. This is the true purpose of this conference in 2016. We will listen to you and then we will implement your plans.
For two years in a row, i.e. in 2015 and 2016, we approved $65M for this conference to take place, each year. Before, in 2013, $55M was allocated and in 2014 $58M was allocated. Your Government has increased the NTC’s purse by $10M and $7 million dollars respectively. We will continue to support you financially and build up your capacity while you learn to walk.
It is absolutely necessary that our Indigenous Guyanese be given the same opportunities that are available to our brothers and sisters on the Coast. So what if we live over and beyond high mountains and raging creeks, over vast expanses of forests and savannahs? Do we deserve less opportunity or no opportunities at all because we live so far away? Our Government says NO! Indigenous Guyanese deserve to have the very same opportunities because we are Guyanese, and living far away is just a consideration to factor into the planning …”
(To be continued…)

---

---