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National Toshaos Council Conference

Aug 24, 2024 Editorial

Kaieteur News – The 2024 National Toshaos Council Conference (NTC) is now history.  We look at a couple of the developments surrounding the NTC and wish that some things were different.  What could be more of a new beginning, a different day for Guyana’s Toshaos, one that possesses lasting substance.  It seems that the more that hopes spring locally, the more it becomes obvious that the government comes up with moves that dash them.  In the larger picture, the treatment of Guyana’s indigenous community provides a primer as to what other segments in this country’s diverse demographics could expect from a government that is more committed to show and sound bites than to what stands the test of time.

President Ali turned up and these days it has become more apparent that he takes increasing delight in rolling out one costume after another, as if to exhibit the versatility of his wardrobe.  In a time of seriousness, one that demands soundness, the best out of each one of us, there is a head of state, who is the manifestation of the unreal, the unusual now the usual.  It is good to identify with the indigenous in this country, but there is difficulty in figuring out what is the endgame, where all this leads, and from there to where.  We think that there must be an end to this fascination with the flimsy, or this country and its peoples are not going to go anywhere other than where they are stuck.  The world tells Guyanese that there are winners and by the most powerful of margins, yet there are stubborn national political leaders who are pleased with themselves to make losers out of citizens.  Time is rushing past at breakneck speeds, and Guyanese already started out with many disadvantages.  The issue then becomes how long will the fanfare and masquerades go on.

In handing out land titling certificates and six Absolute Grants from the Land Titling project of the Amerindian Affairs Ministry, President Ali could not contain his tendency towards exuberance and self-congratulation.  Pointing to 25-fold increase in capital expenditure to Amerindian communities, the president could barely restrain himself from breaking out into a dance: “isn’t his commitment, isn’t this love, isn’t this a government those cares….”  When the president drives himself into these frenzies of expression, it is wise to give him as much room as possible.  Perhaps, he forgot about some of the troubles experienced by the Amerindian community in the Chinese Landing area.  It could be that he forgot the harrowing Mahdia Dormitory inferno, and the ugliness that passed for an inquiry, and which only added insult to the injury of a group of citizens who lost their hopes for a better life.  Seasons come and seasons go, and the indigenous of Guyana have endured one exploitation after another, continued political maneuvering and scheming that leave them in the same place of hardship and ongoing vulnerability.  Politicians must learn to stop their practice of viewing the indigenous of Guyana as people on whom their self-serving games can be played, with no accountability.

Right on cue, Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, noted that the theme of this year’s NTC fosters accountability and transparent leadership.  If only there could be half of the usual empty chatter about accountability and transparency and delivering on both at a tiny 10-20% level, there would be so many more vibrant communities around Guyana.  It is a standard that talk is cheap, and that there are few better than politicians in that respect.  Transparency and accountability are what have shamed this government by a glaring lack of both.  In these talk fests that have become the norm, we question whether some Guyanese are seen as people worthy of genuine attention and sustained action.

Of interest was the point made by the president that involves $10M of roads, fence, and furniture contracts earmarked for indigenous communities.  On its face, it is a start, but in this time of plenty $10M amounts to a pittance, and the president should know that.  The 14-month finish date for all the community project that President Ali made such a huge splash about looks like a neat election gimmick, another slick political ploy.

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