Latest update April 7th, 2025 12:08 AM
A division in the ranks
Dear Editor,
I am appealing to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Romanex Mining Company to disregard the position claimed to be taken by the South Rupununi District Council (SRDC) in relation to the Romanex company in a Stabroek News article.
The article titled South Rupununi Council objects to Romanex’s proposed Marudi mountain mine (SN Sun 30th Sept, 2018) on the basis that the six deep South Amerindian villages that are included in the SRDC and are comprised in the “area of influence” did not endorse that press statement from the SRDC.
The claimed that neither were they aware that a press statement was sent to the press by the SRDC.
The South communities are calling for the withdrawal of that press statement by the SRDC Chairman, Nicholas Fredericks since it violated the principles of free prior and informed consent (FPIC).
The Deep South Rupununi villages claim that while Fredericks reaches about FPIC he is a false prophet in this regard as the saying goes, “Do as I say and not do as I do”. The deep south villages claim that Shulinab village of which Fredericks is the Toshao and Chairman of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) may have to withdraw from the SRDC if he cannot conduct himself professionally.
More so, Shulinab village is located in South- Central Rupununi and not in deep South Rupununi hence no South- Central Toshao can make decisions for the deep south villages because they all have their respective Toshaos and village councils.
The Deep South Rupununi Amerindian villages are calling on Nicholas Fredericks to apologize to them for not respecting their position on the Romanex Company, since they do not engage in personal agendas.
The Amerindian Action Movement of Guyana (TAAMOG) having a membership in the Aishalton village of the South Rupununi will soon send a letter to the NTC Chairman to desist from unprofessional and undemocratic conduct in the execution of his duties, particularly in relation to decision-making where Amerindian villages are concerned.
Further TAAMOG is appealing to all Amerindian villages in the Rupununi region not to allow Nicholas Fredericks to impose himself on them because he is the chairman of the NTC.
The EPA should therefore throw the SRDC press statement issued by Nicholas Fredericks into the garbage bin. The Deep South communities would be happy.
Yours Sincerely,
Peter Persaud.
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