General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, Clement Rohee today told a press conference that the opposition's recent recent parliamentary vote against the $1.1B Amerindian Development Fund during the consideration of the 2014 budget estimates is a move to punish the indigenous tribes for their support for the ruling PPP/C administration.
Rohee vowed nevertheless, that his party will continue to champion the cause of Amerindians as he recalled initiatives by the administration over the years to foster social and economic development among Amerindians and in hinterland communities.
Hundreds of Amerindians also protested the move for several days outside parliament. The PNC/APNU in response mobilized a group of its supporters which was then transported to an area opposite where the Amerindians were. They then hurled a series of abusive and racist comments while taunting the Amerindians.
Rohee described the move to disapprove funding for Amerindian development as outrageous, highly unconscionable and said that it also exposes the true nature of the APNU and the AFC both of which conspired to “deny the Amerindian people their inalienable right to a decent and dignified life.”
“The PPP has consistently held the view that Amerindians under the previous PNC regime were reduced to second class citizens and were denied basic fundamental rights which included the right to quality education, quality health care, employment opportunities and recreational facilities. It is quite evident from the actions taken by the combined opposition that they are bent on repeating their past performance, namely to starve Amerindians of developmental funds and to stultify their material and cultural advance,” he added.
The PPP called on the Opposition parties to desist from “playing politics with the lives and wellbeing of Amerindians and hinterland communities” and urged the Opposition parties to immediately restore the cuts and stop putting “narrow partisan interests ahead of the lives and wellbeing of our indigenous people.”
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