Want amidst wealth – the tragedy of Indigenous Peoples

Sep 01, 2023 Editorial

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Kaieteur News – Each year, Guyana’s indigenous leaders embark on a pilgrimage to the city for the National Toshaos Council Conference (NTCC). A week of activities, eloquent speeches, sumptuous dinners, and cultural extravaganzas add spectacle to the arrival of the leaders of the country’s indigenous communities.

However, beneath the veneer of the conference and its side attractions, the indigenous communities, despite residing in the resource-rich hinterland, face deep-seated challenges that have gone unaddressed for far too long. While the new Secretariat for the Council and the coming together of indigenous leaders are steps in the right direction, it is high time to revamp these conferences into platforms that can bring resolution to the systemic problems plaguing indigenous communities.

It is a painful irony that indigenous communities, living amidst the natural wealth of Guyana’s hinterlands, bear the brunt of the country’s highest and most extreme rates of poverty.

Hinterland resources are being exploited without adequate rewards flowing to indigenous communities. Mining activities have ravaged the environment, leaving scars that are not only visible on the land but also in the communities. Indigenous peoples face the harsh consequences of soil degradation, deforestation, and polluted water sources, which severely impact their way of life.

Mining, despite its promise of economic advancement, has unleashed a slew of social problems upon these communities. The surge in alcohol abuse, prostitution, and sexual abuse has eroded social relations, while the mass migration of young people to the gold fields due to a lack of economic opportunities threatens the continuity of these communities.

Indigenous communities witness the plunder of their forests by timber companies, who often depart without offering adequate compensation or sustainable alternatives.  The more resources are extracted, the poorer the indigenous communities.

Such exploitation only exacerbates the vulnerability of indigenous communities, as these forests are intertwined with their cultural heritage, sustenance, and spiritual practices.

The Mahdia tragedy resulted in the loss of 20 innocent lives, mostly children. This tragedy, a stark reminder of the dangers facing indigenous communities, has been strangely relegated to the periphery of public discourse. The collective memory seems to have forgotten the pain the families of the victims endured. The lack of information, thus far, as to when public hearings for the Commission of Inquiry will be held, and the limited mention of the incident at the Conference is disheartening.

This incident underscores the need for an overhaul of the conference’s purpose – from political maneuvering to genuine transformation. Tragedies like the Mahdia incident should not be forgotten. The conference should serve as a platform to address such incidents openly, ensure justice for the victims, and prevent future occurrences through systemic changes.

The current trajectory of the National Toshaos Council Conference is not yielding the desired outcomes.  It’s high time for a shift in focus from handouts to substantive efforts to uplift indigenous communities and extricate them from the grips of poverty and despondency. This transformation must be aimed at resolving problems that 1have plagued these communities for generations.

Rather than forcing the youth to migrate into gold fields, there should be initiatives aimed at creating sustainable economic opportunities within indigenous communities. This could include support for agricultural ventures, ecotourism, and skill development programs that empower individuals to thrive in their own villages.

To combat the environmental degradation caused by mining and logging, a commitment to environmental stewardship is vital. The conference should promote discussions on sustainable resource management, reforestation efforts, and responsible mining practices, ensuring the delicate balance between development and preservation.

Addressing the social issues that plague indigenous communities requires a comprehensive approach. The conference should foster open dialogues about alcohol abuse, sexual exploitation, and other social challenges.

The National Toshaos Council Conference holds immense potential to reshape the trajectory of Guyana’s indigenous communities. No longer should the conference be a mere spectacle of political enticements, but rather a conduit for transformation.

The future of Guyana’s indigenous peoples depends on a collective commitment to change – a change that starts with a fresh perspective on the purpose of the National Toshaos Council Conference, beginning with the removal of the shadow of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs over conference proceedings.

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• activities, Conference, eloquent speeches, National Toshaos Council, sumptuous dinners

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