Happy Amerindian Heritage Month to all Indigenous Guyanese. Sunday, 1st September, we join with all other Guyanese to commence commemorating in the entire month of September Amerindian Heritage Month.
In terms of the development of Indigenous Guyanese, much has been achieved, but is dwarfed by what remains to be done. If, therefore, we were to suggest a theme for this Heritage Month, it would be “Breaking the vicious cycles that impede the development of Indigenous communities and families.” These cycles relate to, for instance, persistent poverty, poor access to social services, food insecurity, women disempowerment, male migration from families, and scarce local economic opportunities. As such, indigenous Guyanese continue to lag the general population on most quality-of-life indicators, such as on nutrition intake and maternal and infant mortality.
Government efforts and expenditures in the past have not fulfilled the needs and expectations of the Indigenous People mainly because such efforts have been disjointed, insufficient, misdirected, and surficial. So is the current approach under the PPP government.
PNCR/APNU commits to working with the Indigenous people and all other stakeholders in breaking these vicious cycles.
As the next government, we will implement a CRITICAL or SUFFICIENT MASS of coordinated programs aimed at overpowering the key hindrances to the development of Indigenous people, families, and communities. We will adopt a Whole-of-Government approach, meaning all government agencies will be involved in this comprehensive endeavor. We will work to develop shared understandings of the problems and solutions.
We will promote community self-empowerment and self-determination. We will measure results and success not by budgetary allocation or monies spent, but by quality-of-life indicators. Included in those measures will be what the people themselves say about their lives and livelihoods. Breaking these vicious cycles requires long sustained work. PNCR/APNU is confident that together we can do it.
We salute all Indigenous Guyanese on Amerindian Heritage Month.
