Amerindians mounts protest against cuts from Amerindian Development Fund

April 15, 2014, By KNews, Filed Under News, Source

Scores of Amerindians, including of Toshaos from the National Toshaos Council (NTC), lobbied the members of the National Assembly who were sitting in Parliament as budget discussions continued yesterday.

About 150 Amerindian people protested the Opposition’s disapproval of the funds allocated by Government, for Amerindian Affairs. They were not in agreement of monies slashed from the Amerindian Development Fund (ADF).

Some of the Amerindian woman holding their placards

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There was a steady shower but it did not daunt the protesters. They had gathered to record their dissatisfaction with the combined opposition who, during budget debates last Thursday only approved $454M of the $1.554B that was allocated by the Government for the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs for 2014.

This decision has been met with sharp criticisms from members of the indigenous communities. Those who mounted the protest wanted to have their voices heard. Many had travelled to the city in the wake of the cuts. For the protest they assembled at the corner of Avenue of the Republic and Brickdam (opposite Parliament).

The demonstrators carried placards which decried that the position taken by the combined opposition was “brutal” and “unjustifiable” citing that they have been betrayed by their indigenous representatives who hold posts in the parties.

In their calls for the Opposition to reconsider their actions, the demonstrators who braved the rain claimed that hundreds of Amerindian youths stand to be directly affected. The cuts have the potential to deter development in Amerindian communities, they said.

“We want development, the Opposition is a waste,” the protesters chanted.
Toshao of Region Two and Vice Chairman of the NTC, Joel Fredericks, said that he was supporting the protest action because he strongly believes that the move has the potential to hinder development in Amerindian communities.

“We want to develop our communities and if we don’t have money we cannot do that. Our young people are also looking forward to it (development).”

Stating that he was angry and displeased at the position taken by the Opposition Fredericks said, “It’s too long indigenous people have been in the background and people just feel that they can do what they want.”

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC), in disapproving the funding, had expressed concern over the way the government was using the fund, claiming that it was for political purposes.

Claiming that the fund could better serve Amerindians if the money had been invested in the construction of a technical institute, the two parties have since defended their position.

They have stated that they decided not to support the funding without the assurance that the programme is on a sound, non-political, education foundation.

“We are people; we know how to manage our money. We are not those that misuse money, and we know how to do it and develop our selves, give us our money.”

Toshao of Moraikobai, Derrick John, who is also Chairman of NTC in Region Five expressed sheer frustration over the situation.

“I am angry. We are desperate. We are disappointed because of the brutal acts on our budget allocation. The Opposition has denied us of our future.”

Protestors brave the rain

“There are a lot of young people who are denied employment. Our communities need Government subvention and we see this year’s budget as an unjustified act of the combined opposition. We are totally against it.”

“We are out here to make our voices heard. We need and we demand respect. As Guyanese we have to be treated as Guyanese. We are the first people of this land.”

“Moreso we have indigenous representatives who sit with the Opposition and they have betrayed their brothers and sisters. That is why we have mobilized ourselves to come out here.”

“Since we got the news the NTC reached out to mobilize the people to send the message across and this is the response that we have received. We are condemning it and we are raising our voice.”

“As a people we need the opposition to listen to us and we need to get back what they are taking away from us!”

Also protesting was former Chair of the NTC, Yvonne Pearson. “This is not the time that we run in fear; we will stand up and fight for our rights and we want full recognition to our rights to development for the future of our future generation.”

“We want them to know that we are totally dissatisfied and we reject what is happening in Parliament. We totally condemn it and we will continue. Our voices will be heard.”

Leader of APNU Brigadier David Granger has since defended the position taken by the Opposition.

He said, “We do not feel it is a justifiable use of the money and we voted against it because we feel it must be accountable.”

The APNU Leader added that instead of “sharing out the money”, the government should invest in the establishment of a Technical Institute that the people have been asking for.

“We did not vote against the indigenous people, we voted in order to make sure that the YAEP is put on a proper footing and brought under the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs. In fact, the Ministry lacks the resources to run an educational programme.”

Granger stressed that even the indigenous leaders in his coalition were against the “gift giving” habit of the government to the area which only promotes a dependency syndrome and not independence.

Shadow Minister of Local Government, Ronald Bulkan, said that the money was voted down because APNU was reliably informed that, that the money was being used to pollute and politicize the Amerindian communities.