As Amerindian Heritage month activities continue, President Donald Ramotar travelled to Karasabai today, one of the largest communities in South Pakaraimas that has been designated the 2013 Heritage village, to join in the celebrations.

Nursery school children of Karasabai welcome President Donald Ramotar to their community for Heritage celebrations

 

A traditional welcome awaited the President and his delegation including First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar, Minister of Amerindian affairs Pauline Sukhai, Toshaos and Region Nine officials.

Outriders on horseback, children adorned in traditional Amerindian head-dresses, and outfits made of plant materials, escorted the visiting delegation from the airstrip to the area prepared for the celebration. Delegates of the Miss Amerindian Heritage pageant were also introduced.

The President was given a military salute standing under the Golden Arrowhead and as the packed agenda of speeches and cultural performances started, the unique way in which it was done was noteworthy.

Karasabai is occupied by the Macushi tribe with a population of 1600, and as they reflected on the theme for this year’s heritage celebration, “Honouring our culture; advancing our future,” introductory remarks, prayers, songs and even the National Anthem were done in Macushi.

President Donald Ramotar, First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar, Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai and Liaison to the Amerindian Affairs Ministry Yvonne Pearson being escorted by Karasabai Toshao, Colin Marco into the village

 

Chairman of Region Nine, Wilson Lorentio brought greetings on behalf of the regional administration, doing so fluently in Macushi.

The President conveyed his great admiration for the people’s way of life, firstly as custodians of the forests whose practices have left little or no footprint, and as preservers of a unique culture.

“Nations in the Amerindian communities have a lot to offer in promoting culture in our society. That is why our government is paying a lot of attention to preserving the various languages of the Amerindian nations,” President Ramotar said.

Language, an important component of the Amerindian culture is the priority of a five- year strategic plan by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs that will seek to promote the languages spoken by the nine Amerindian tribes of Guyana.

Minister Sukhai told the gathering at Karasabai, that a language session for children in Lake Capoey, Region Two will be launched on September 19, marking the beginning of a venture to revive the dying languages of a few of the tribes.

President Donald Ramotar is garlanded on his arrival at Karasabai for Heritage village celebrations

‘There is hardly any of the Arawak, Carib or Warrau population speaking their languages and therefore, in the other regions like Region Seven and Region Eight and Region Nine, we stand tall and proud that our people continue to maintain their language,” she said.

Other aspects of the Amerindian culture like cassava bread making were on display when President Ramotar toured the village. He sampled a few of the cuisines and visited booths on display while the First Lady took interest in the farming aspect of which she is quite fond.

Sustained livelihood practices in Amerindian communities have been boosted since the creation of an Amerindian Development Fund (ADF) which has aided in economic viability of villages.

Karasabai has benefitted from tremendous development to the extent that it is now considered one of the most developed hinterland communities.

Presidential Grants have funded the construction of a village shop while capital projects saw the purchase of mobile equipment and the construction of a village market building.

Youths performing a traditional dance at Karasabai Heritage village celebrations

The village is also equipped with a modern nursery and primary school, teachers’ quarters, health center, two health posts, Regional Democratic Council administrative building, police station, guest house, village office, churches and an airstrip.

Taking into consideration the situation that prevailed in the past, when there were few schools, today there is success in hinterland education as investments by the PPPC Government are bearing fruit. President Ramotar made reference to Paramakatoi and Kato, Region Eight where there are secondary schools with dormitories and commendable performances of students at the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC).

A section of the large gathering at Heritage Village celebrations at Karasabai, Region Nine

“Two years ago, the top student at President’s College was a young lady from the North West District, an Amerindian girl and this year… another Amerindian from Tapakuma in Region Two, she wrote 19 subjects and she passed all of them, so we are beginning to see that investment in our people is beginning to pay off,” President Ramotar said.

It is the Head of State’s view that an educated population in the hinterland is a sure way of promoting economic development. As a child growing up in a tranquil Amerindian village along the Essequibo River, Karia Karia, President Ramotar spoke of the tyranny that the Amerindian people suffered in the era of colonialism and the window of opportunities that was provided when the People’s Progressive Party Civic took office in 1992.

The Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation (ACTO) recently hailed the Guyana Government’s efforts at promoting the development of the indigenous people, as member countries met for the 5^th meeting of high authorities on indigenous affairs.

Mr. President, this is how ‘Karasabaians’ make cassava bread, which is part of our daily diet, this woman seems to be saying to President Donald Ramotar

Meanwhile other activities including an evening of reflection on Stephen Campbell, the first Amerindian Parliamentarian, sports activities and a pageant are on the agenda to be observed for Amerindian Heritage Month 2013.