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Culture should not be used to deprive Indigenous people of improved economic advancement – MP Fernandes
(Kaieteur News) – A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP) Juretha Fernandes on Wednesday argued that Indigenous identity and culture should never be used to justify poverty.
Fernandes was at the time rebutting statements made by Minister of Amerindian Affairs Sarah Browne, on the living conditions of Indigenous communities, on Tuesday during the 2026 Budget Debates.
Minister Browne, in her presentation, cited a WhatsApp message from a young Patamona woman from Kato, Region 8, to illustrate the importance of respecting traditional housing. The minister said, “Traditional homes are not symbols of failure or poverty. They reflect culture, climate, knowledge, sustainability and identity passed down for generations. Development should give people choices, not erase who we are…”
A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) MP, Juretha Fernandes
However, Fernandes chided the minister for the statement. “As the Honorable Minister right now, is shouting, that’s the people culture, I would like to tell persons here today and the indigenous community that is listening to me right now, not because you are born as an indigenous person in this country, it subjects you to a life of poverty,” Fernandes said.
The opposition MP argued that culture should not be used to suppress economic advancement making it clear that while some Indigenous people may prefer traditional homes, this should not excuse substandard living conditions.
“How dare you come to this house and subject indigenous people by using culture as a means to suppress our economic advancement in this country with a trillion-dollar budget,” the MP noted.
She continued: “You want to come and shout culture? Where is it? I have never once heard any member of the PPP government coming to this floor and advocating for people to go back to living in mud hut or logie. But yet you come to this house and you ask indigenous people to be satisfied with substandard living while you drive around in your fancy car…”
The APNU MP noted too that many Indigenous leaders do not live in traditional homes. “Housing is an important aspect when it comes to indigenous communities, because … indigenous people do not like living in crowded households, but that is their economic situation. That is their economic situation. So, you cannot go out there and plaster as culture, because that is not what culture is,” Fernandes added.
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