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Dear Editor,
Kindly allow my letter to be published in your daily column, so I can express my profound disappointment with the present PPP government, who have failed to adequately address a number of very serious matters, as related to indigenous rights issues. These transgressions were committed over a period of time, and should have had warranted some intensive investigations by the relevant authorities; so justice could have been served, without any political interference. However, it does appear as if these matters were just treated with contempt and simply thrown under the rugs at freedom house on Robb Street.
In 2005 at the commissioning ceremony of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, the then President Bharat Jagdeo, in his keynote address to the audience in attendance, boasted that his PPP government will put an end to the long history of abuse, suffered by the indigenous peoples of this country. He also went on to say “speak for yourself “. There were joy and contentment in the hearts and minds of all Amerindians living across the hinterland regions of Guyana, when they received the good news of the strengthening and reinforcing of a professionally trained staff at the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, which was now fully prepared to deal with the many issues and complex situations faced by the first peoples of this country.
Meanwhile, at some juncture in time, the PPP government had indeed, improved in a number of areas, of which included in the training of doctors and nurses, and with some health infrastructure in the indigenous communities, (ect.) while other important social services, such as trained and qualified counsellors remained very weak and poor to date.
However, it is still yet far from the truth, of what was “barefacedly” propagandised by Bharrat Jagdeo at the historic opening Ceremony of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, back in 2005. During the past years, there have been a number of very serious human rights abuses and land rights violations, committed against the first peoples of this country. While these acts were perpetrated against the indigenous peoples, there were obsoletely no intervention and by no means, any efforts made by the ruling PPP government, to find those culpable and to bring disciplinary actions against them.
But instead, they have always been an elaborately cunning political machinery in making false impressions to counter these allegations made against them; at meetings and forums with the United Nations General Assembly; that things were all bright and beautiful with the indigenous peoples in this country.
Some of these dishonest gestures were particularly dramatized by Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett, Guyana’s ambassador to the UN which smacks the reality and defeats the purpose of her role. Moreso, as a former Minister of Amerindian Affairs, she is much aware of these transgressions, which is no longer a secret, for the average man in the street; and is aware of how often times, we the indigenous peoples are mistreated, which is on record in our country.
This undemocratic practices by this ruthless and uncaring government, has now exposed their inhumane nature of their party’s political culture, which has now climaxed to a point, where we as the minority group in this country, are fast becoming vulnerable to suffer human rights abuses, in particular, under this present PPP government.
Editor, I wish to point out just some of the most blatant human rights violations that were committed against our defenseless peoples under the watch of the PPP government in the past and of most recent times.
■To begin with the young indigenous teenager, “Tyon Thomas” who was tortured by the police, when a flammable liquid was thrown on to his genitals and lighten up and left to decay in a cell, to the horror of other police ranks. The ranks who committed this crime walked free and this was covered up by the PPP.
■ It was under this PPP government that our young indigenous teacher “John Adams” was brutally assaulted by an armed presidential guard, in full view of villagers while he attempted to speak out at a political meeting in the presence of former President, Donald Ramotar, at Aishalton village in the South Rupununi. No charges or disciplinary action was ever taken against this rank.
■ It was under the PPP government, a Regional Executive Officer and PPP political activist of region nine, Rupununi, shot and wounded a young indigenous woman, and no charges were ever laid against him, by the police.
■ It was under the PPP government that a Community Development Officer and PPP political activist of the Rupununi, in region nine, was allowed to freely roam, in a remote village, as a predatory nuisance where he sexually molested young indigenous teenager girls and no charges was ever laid against him, by the police, as directed by the PPP.
■ It was under the PPP government, when a senior functionary of the government and member of Parliament was involved in a rape and buggery scandal, involving a young indigenous teenager student. The victim was locked away by the state and denied legal representation, while people took to the streets in protests; and a large payment was made to the family of the victim by the perpetrator. The director of public prosecution (DPP) assisted by the PPP and the Guyana Police Force, (GPF) disallowed any charges against the accused, while there were similar allegations that surfaced and established against this member of Parliament and PPP strong man. (Cover up)
■ It was under the PPP government that when twenty young indigenous female students, were baked to death in one of the most devastating fires at a school dormitory; a penal like constructed institution system in a remote hinterland region; because of the fact that no precautionary measures were taken into consideration, despite the PPP government being warned to urgently put fire safety systems into place, by the legitimate fire prevention authority of the state and UNICEF a concerned children’s international organisation. The caretaker of the said institution was subsequently sworn in as a PPP councillor in the small township, as a reward to sway any future commission of inquiry in favour of the PPP government.
Editor, it is most likely, that we the indigenous peoples will come under more attacks and continue to be victims of the most dastardly acts, committed against human rights here in Guyana. Since predatory elements are allowed to roam freely in our villages to recruit and groom our young ladies, hence, to traffic (TIP) them into mining districts and logging concessions, etc. in full view of law enforcement authorities. Moreso, very important constitutional bodies of the state: National Toshoas Council, ( NTC) and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, whom are our indigenous peoples legitimate representatives, which is expected to stand in solidarity with us in the dark hours of our difficulties, and to officially advocate for protection, condemn and launch investigations into these circumstances (etc.) are in most instances muzzled by the PPP hierarchy; when these human rights violation and abuses are carried out against our young indigenous women and children.
Editor, it is with disgust and great frustration that we will continue to live a life of delusions and with false hope, where superficial promises are manufactured by these smooth talking political gangsters, with trickery and organized schemes with criminal enterprises to illegally exploit and smuggle the rich and precious minerals out of the hands and lands of the poor and oppressed and unrepresented peoples; of which our great indigenous fore parents, accompanied by freed creole Africans, whom have paddled their canoes on some great and long journeys in the demarcation and the naming of the many sources of our rivers and creeks and famous mountains and landmarks; of which they have worked so tirelessly in the demarcation of this filthy oil rich land.
These resources should have been equally shared and enjoyed, among this multi-ethnic Guyanese nation, of our beloved country. Unfortunately, the indigenous peoples of this country remain the poorest of the poor.
Editor, these continuous atrocities that are perpetrated on our indigenous peoples by this uncaring government, must now be made known to the international communities and be put forward to the visiting USA delegation, which is expected to visit our country very soon. It will be a golden opportunity for us the indigenous peoples of this country to have an audience with the visiting team, so that we can be engaged in speaking out on these human rights violations, so an investigation can be launched by a neutral body.
Hence, when the findings can be proved to be facts, we can hold the PPP responsible and let them be accountable in a court of law and be punished for the crimes committed against humanity. While we must not forget the powerful gold miners, alongside senior corrupt government officials, who have now turned their attention to the invasion of Amerindian titled lands, where they now drive fear in the local natives to deprive them of their peaceful existence; with the brandishing of high powered weapons, and the roaring of heavy duty machinery, that are doing great damages to the ecosystem, which was so long very well kept by us, the indigenous peoples.
It is now again, under the PPP that a law is being tabled to give the Minister of Natural Resources, the ultimate power to make decisions on the exploration on Amerindian titled lands, where oil exploration license can be granted without any free prior and informed consent; a continuity of gross disrespect, neglect and contempt with failure by the PPP government to protect the rights of the first peoples of our beloved country.
Editor, it must be noted, that despite being encouraged by Bharat Jagdeo, to “Speak out yourself ” now contradicts his political versions of old and new, where he has now launched his attacks to spider webb, trap and muzzle all Amerindian activists rights groups in this country.
Editor, as I close in speaking out for my indigenous brothers and sisters, for justice to prevail, ” I close by urging them that we the indigenous peoples of this country have had enough of their false promises and being abused by this ruthless, and brutal dictatorship regime of the PPP high- jacking cabal”.
Better must come!
Yours truly,
Indigenous voice
Name Provided
