Non-resident heads Karrau Syndicate Group

Mar 20, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
Reference is being made to a Kaieteur News article dated 7th March, 2017 headline: Way paved for National Mining Syndicate Body to be elected.
Present at the sensitization meeting on the benefits of the Government sponsored project held at Square of the Revolution was Judith David-Blair, Bartica resident.
Most interestingly is that Judith Blair was at the meeting in her capacity as a representative and head of the Karrau Syndicate Group and not Bartica. To date there are ten (10) syndicate groups and it remains a mystery how Bartica, the gate way to the interior, is not among or even mentioned in the ten groups but Albouystown and Parika/Mora were mentioned.
I fail to comprehend how, after a well published meeting held in the boardroom of the RDC of Region 7 with miners from Bartica and Junior Minister of Natural Resoures, Ms. Simona Brooms, a Bartica syndicate group is not yet possible, mentioned or published. With the absence of a Bartica Syndicate Group, could we say that the miners in Bartica are divided over the government sponsored mining syndicate project or they have united to send a message that they are not in support of the project.
The appointment of Ms. Judith David-Blair, a non-resident, as head of the Karrau Syndicate Group, an indigenous community, is generating much controversy on the way forward. Karrau is an indigenous community, eight to ten minutes drive from Bartica and whose affairs are being governed by a democratically elected Village Council.
This is disrespect, in the highest form, to the Toshao, councillors and residents of Karrau to just have a non-resident foisted on their community with leadership responsibilities, in this case, the Karrau Syndicate Group.
I am calling on the elected village council and residents of Karrau to strongly object to the appointment of a non-resident and the manner in which the entire process was handled by the Junior Minister of Natural Resources.
To the best of my knowledge, and I am subject to correction, there was no involved consultation with the Village Council or residents to arrive at a decision as to who will head the village syndicate group. Were the Minister and Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs officially notified that a non-resident would to take up leadership responsibility within the community?
Problems abound on the way forward for the Karrau syndicate group as the allegation against Ms. Judith Blair is that she wrote a letter to Minister of Natural Resources with a certain request.
Sherwyn Delano Downer

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