PPP/C giving the Indigenous Peoples their deserved place in Guyana

May 25, 2025 Letters

Dear Editor,

I am very delighted that Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, AG, heralded the “Unmatched Amerindian benefits (thus far that prove living) evidence of PPP/C’s commitment to Indigenous rights.” It is obvious, but sometimes the obvious can be ignored when not flaunted. So, before I write anything, let me prove my case with just a simple, single example.

For this, I go back to the beginning of the year, when the Government of Guyana allocated a whopping $7.2 billion in the 2025 National Budget to further enhance development across all our Amerindian communities. Couched in this financial commitment were plans to promote growth in areas such as agriculture, infrastructure, education and economic opportunities, and these plans are now unfolding, and here is a classic example.

I refer to what I was aware of long before President Dr. Irfaan Ali rightfully boasted of the “… significant strides in education development across Guyana’s hinterland regions (by) emphasising a transformative journey that has empowered local communities (therein). This deals with the fact that “… over 83 per cent of teachers across hinterland regions have been trained.” This piece of detail was conveyed at the recent National Toshaos’ Council Conference a few days ago. The inner details show that “As of December 2024, 83 per cent of all teachers across Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine were fully trained, a significant increase from less than 43 per cent in 2020.” As President Ali noted, this is something to be very proud of, as indeed we cannot underestimate the role of teacher training and capacity building in any part of the world.

This kind of thing however is not automatic. It is by careful planning and commitment, and I am compelled to heap accolades on the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) for the insight that facilitated this transformation. Without the political will to empower the Hinterland people educationally, this type of achievement, still ongoing, will not have been realised.

May I indulge readers a bit more, as I ask that they reflect on the following, regarding the said budget consideration and catering for the Indigenous peoples of Guyana: $5 billion designated for the Amerindian Development Fund and Presidential Grants; $1.5 billion to continue the Community Service Officers (CSO) programme; $650 million for advancing land titling activities; and $93 million for the hinterland scholarship programs.

Getting back to Anil Nandlall now, he had no choice but to state the obvious, that is, via the PPP/C, massive benefits have redounded to the Indigenous peoples in Guyana, as the Government of the day continues to safeguard their rights, enhance their quality of life, and ensure that they feel ‘equally’ ‘full-fledged’ Guyanese.

I really like how the AG emphasized, that under the aegis of the PPP/C, Amerindians have a huge Constitutional ‘edge.’ What is this? It is about how, in the Constitution “The state can make a decision … and in doing so, can ‘discriminate positively’ in favour of Amerindians. (And note this as) No other ethnic group in this country enjoys that special right.” In exemplifying this, Minister Nandlall delineated that “… if anyone goes to court and says, ‘Look, this law is discriminatory against my ethnic group because it only allows Amerindians to benefit,’ the judge can hold up the Constitution and say, ‘But the Constitution authorises positive discrimination in favour of Amerindians.’” And thus “… that this is why, for example, the Amerindian community — as an ethnic bloc — is the only ethnic group in the country benefiting from the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) programme.” It cannot get any better than this.

My little prediction is that in time to come, many coastal citizens will gravitate towards the Hinterland, and I think it is about time. The region is not just exotic; it is now being well equipped.

Yours truly,

Hargesh B .Singh

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