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It is unjust to restrict the freedom of Indigenous people based on assumptions

Apr 12, 2025 Letters

Dear Editor,

As I continue my work meeting with Indigenous communities across Guyana, my most recent visit was to Batavia, located along the upper Cuyuni River in Region 7, was on March 29, 2025, at the request of Mr. Brian Wilson.

Sadly, the story in Batavia echoed that of many other villages—limited job opportunities, high cost of living, and children unable to attend school due to the lack of speedboat transportation. With no other alternative, students are forced to paddle for nearly two hours to get to school. This is unacceptable in a modern, resource-rich economy.

Batavia is also home to a stone quarry operated by an East Indian national, which occupies approximately 10.5% of the village land. Villagers have raised concerns about poor working conditions and inadequate wages. Moreover, they are alarmed by reports that another company may soon begin operations, potentially taking up an equivalent amount of land. This would be in direct violation of the Indigenous Peoples Act, which stipulates that only up to 10.5% of village land may be leased to outsiders.

I was informed that the quarry provides the village council with a fixed annual payment of $30 million, which is used for village needs. However, this figure does not reflect the actual volume or value of stone produced and sold. Villagers are not aware of the daily production capacity or revenues generated by the quarry, raising concerns about transparency and accountability. There is a clear need for improved communication between the company and the village residents.

As I travel across our country and witness the level of poverty in Indigenous communities—many of which are recognized as local government authorities—I also see the increasing migration of Indigenous people to Region 4 and other areas in search of better opportunities. When asked why they leave, the answer is often the same: there are simply no jobs available in their villages. This migration hinders the sustainable development of Indigenous communities.

There also appears to be a longstanding systemic land discrimination against Indigenous people. While village councils may hold authority over vast tracts of land, individual residents are not allowed to hold transport, or leases for the land their homes or businesses occupy. In contrast, people in almost all non-Indigenous local government areas are able to access such legal land tenure.

When I raised this issue with some Indigenous representatives, I was surprised by their response. There is a prevailing belief that Indigenous people may lack the financial literacy to manage land ownership responsibly. The concern is that, if granted transport or lease, they may use it as collateral to secure loans, and if they default, banks could repossess the property and sell it to outsiders. This, in turn, could lead to demographic shifts, cultural dilution, and the erosion of Indigenous identity.

As a result, Indigenous residents often leave their communities to seek land and opportunities in other regions where they can legally own or lease property, access loans, and start businesses. Ironically, the policy meant to protect their lands is contributing to the underdevelopment of their villages.

To foster meaningful development in Indigenous communities, it is time to amend the laws to allow Indigenous people to have ownership of the land their homes or businesses are on. We must also address and move beyond the fear of cultural change. It is unjust to restrict the freedom of Indigenous people based on assumptions about their capabilities or concerns about integration with other races.

Let us empower our Indigenous citizens, not restrict them.

Sincerely,

Michael Carrington

Vice Chairman, Alliance For Change (AFC)

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