By Mark DaCosta-In a powerful denunciation of the current administration’s policies, Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton, has accused the government of abandoning the very people it claims to serve, particularly Indigenous communities and residents of La Parfait Harmonie. The written statement highlights not only a lack of genuine concern for these vulnerable groups but also an intentional strategy of exploitation and control, raising alarm about the future of our nation’s most marginalised citizens.
The Opposition Leader minced no words in condemning President Irfaan Ali’s recent engagement with the National Toshaos Council, describing it as a hollow gesture aimed at consolidating political power rather than addressing the pressing needs of Indigenous people. The government, they argue, has shown a complete disregard for the fundamental rights of these communities, who have long been fighting for their right to self-governance, meaningful consultation, and sustainable development.
“Our Indigenous brothers and sisters have been crying out for years, asking for the freedom to manage their lands and resources,” the Opposition Leader stated. “But this government’s only response has been to tighten its grip, silencing their voices and pushing its own agenda. This is not the path to development; it is the road to oppression.”
The situation in Region Nine, where the effects of drought and flooding are devastating Indigenous villages, was singled out as a glaring example of the government’s negligence.
The Opposition pointed out that despite repeated pleas for assistance, the administration has failed to implement any substantial measures to mitigate these environmental challenges. The Leader of the Opposition promised that under a People-Centered Development Strategy, their party would prioritise the construction of reservoirs and a robust drainage and irrigation system to support the affected communities.
But the government’s neglect is not confined to the hinterlands. The opposition also highlighted the appalling conditions in La Parfait Harmonie, where residents, many of whom are Indigenous, are forced to live in squalor. During a recent visit to Westminster, Onderneeming, and Dairy, the Opposition Leader encountered a community that felt abandoned by those in power. The streets are riddled with potholes, and empty lots overgrown with bushes have become havens for criminals. The houses, many of them hastily constructed, are crumbling, and the residents’ pleas for decent housing have fallen on deaf ears.
“Imagine waking up every day to roads that are impassable, to water that is unfit for drinking, to the constant fear of crime,” the Opposition Leader lamented. “This is the reality for too many of our people, and it is a reality that this government has chosen to ignore. How can we talk about progress when so many of our citizens are left to suffer in such conditions?”
The Opposition Leader did not hold back in their criticism of the government’s broader development strategy, which they argued prioritises the wealth of a few over the well-being of the many. The administration’s focus on large infrastructure projects, they claimed, benefits only the cronies and insiders, while the average Guyanese citizen sees little to no improvement in their daily lives. For the people of La Parfait Harmonie and the Indigenous communities across our country, this neglect is felt most acutely.
“The PPP is obsessed with building grand structures that serve as monuments to their own vanity,” the Opposition Leader said. “But what about the people? What about the mothers and fathers struggling to put food on the table, the children growing up in homes that are falling apart? Where is the government’s concern for them?”
In the closing remarks, the Opposition Leader called for a return to a development strategy that places people at its core, one that respects the rights and dignity of every citizen, particularly those who have been historically marginalised. They vowed to continue the fight for a more inclusive and just Guyana, where no one is left behind.
“We cannot stand by and watch as our Indigenous communities are trampled upon, as our citizens are forced to live in squalor,” the Opposition Leader declared. “This is our land, and every Guyanese deserves to live with dignity, security, and hope for a better future.”
As the political landscape in Guyana remains deeply divided, the voices of those on the margins continue to cry out for justice, for a government that truly cares about their struggles and aspirations. Whether these calls will be answered remains to be seen.
