Poverty higher among Indigenous population – UNICEF

…most children depend on warm meals served at school

By Lakhram Bhagirat

The recent study on Indigenous Women and Children in 12 communities in Guyana, found that the Indigenous population is seriously disadvantaged economically, hence accounting for their high poverty rate when compared to the rest of Guyana. Additionally, it found that most primary aged students, in the 12 communities, depend on the school feeding programme for one proper meal per day.

Guyana has the largest number of Indigenous peoples in a single country in the entire Caribbean and according to the last census, they account for 10.3 per cent of the population. The Indigenous population is settled mainly in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), which serves as the home to approximately 80 per cent of the population.
The study was conducted by UNICEF in Region One, Region Seven, Region Eight, Region Nine and Indigenous communities in coastal communities in Region Two – Akawini (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Region Three – Santa Mission (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Region Four – St Cuthbert Mission/Pakuri (Demerara-Mahaica), Region Five – Moraikobai (Mahaica-Berbice), Region Six – Orealla and Siparuta (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Region 10 – River View (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
It also found that although the Indigenous population is culturally rich, they are among the most materially poor and socially excluded people. They experience poverty at twice and sometimes even five times more than non-Indigenous populations, the study found.
The report stated that Guyana does not have a recent measure of monetary poverty identifying that the most recent was from 2015 with data from 2006 but it identified that the Indigenous population continued to exhibit the highest level of poverty in Guyana.
The qualitative assessment showed that lack of money is not the only contributing factor to the level of poverty experienced by Indigenous communities; rather it is coupled with access to land, culture, medicine, food, education and safety. It was also discovered that most of the villagers depend on the help of their neighbours and religious organisations for assistance to deal with their situation.
“It was reported that some would use traditional medicines not because it was part of their culture, but because the drug was not available in the health facility, and they did not have money to buy in the local shops. Many adolescents would say that they knew other people their age that would come to school without having eaten, and/or without money to buy something at the canteen. For some teachers, and a considerable group of students, the warm meal served in some of the primary schools would constitute the main meal for the day,” part of the report read.
In the 12 communities assessed, it was found that Indigenous women and children are seriously disadvantaged with it comes to accessing good quality education, health and social services due to the lack of access to infrastructural and modern life facilities. That was coupled with the lack of employment opportunities resulting in male migration, which quite often ends up with the male counterpart leaving their families to fend for themselves.
The Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry in collaboration with UNICEF conducted the study. The aim of the study was to contribute to a greater understanding of Indigenous women and children regarding cultural/traditional practices as it relates to medicines; sexual and reproductive health issues; build or strengthen the resilience of children, families, communities and systems to natural disasters, conflicts chronic systemic crises and social conflicts.
Additionally, it sought to examine decision-making processes on health and protection issues; strengthen the provision of equitable prevention and response to different forms of child violence, including gender-based violence; inform the development of a robust, sustained, early childhood development and equitable and inclusive education programmes for Amerindian children.
It also sought to explore women’s leadership skills and their capacity building needs at the community level; explore livelihood and, empowerment opportunities; provide evidence for national and sub-national planning and developmental processes to contribute to an enabling environment, for Indigenous women and children, and determine the knowledge, perceptions and roles that were played by Indigenous peoples in the preservation of the environment and climate change and what are their current roles.

It is unconscionably that Granger et al fill their pockets with 50% raises and left these folks in abysmal poverty. Note that d2 the professed champion of Amerindians have now abandoned the indigenous people in preference to PNC soup. 

Drugb posted:

It is unconscionably that Granger et al fill their pockets with 50% raises and left these folks in abysmal poverty. Note that d2 the professed champion of Amerindians have now abandoned the indigenous people in preference to PNC soup. 

Hold your horses! Let's wait on the Guyana Non-Resident Buckman expert. He might throw a Sobers' googly on you.

Drugb posted:

It is unconscionably that Granger et al fill their pockets with 50% raises and left these folks in abysmal poverty. Note that d2 the professed champion of Amerindians have now abandoned the indigenous people in preference to PNC soup. 

Its unconscionable that Jagdeo filled his pockets and built a mansion while demanding that these people vote for him. And bribing the tochaos in order for them to do so.

Jagdeo in fact calls himself the champion of the Amerindians and squeals that blacks want to kill and rape them.

caribny posted:

Drugb posted:

It is unconscionably that Granger et al fill their pockets with 50% raises and left these folks in abysmal poverty. Note that d2 the professed champion of Amerindians have now abandoned the indigenous people in preference to PNC soup. 

Its unconscionable that Jagdeo filled his pockets and built a mansion while demanding that these people vote for him. And bribing the tochaos in order for them to do so.

Jagdeo in fact calls himself the champion of the Amerindians and squeals that blacks want to kill and rape them.

Look at this racist clown Carib.

Obama just bought an 8.5 million mansion cash while some blacks cannot afford food in the USA.

Indo Jagdeo builds a nice house but this racist clown wants to see Indos live in Logies. It may appear that Jagdeo was working for buttons during the many, many years that he served Guyana with distinction.

Jagdeo will continue to haunt you for the rest of your life !!!

FYI, Jagdeo still has a mortgage on his house. And please don't bring up this BS that Jagdeo stole because your PNC brothers cannot prove Shyte. Talk is cheap.

SMH.

yuji22 posted:

caribny posted:

Drugb posted:

It is unconscionably that Granger et al fill their pockets with 50% raises and left these folks in abysmal poverty. Note that d2 the professed champion of Amerindians have now abandoned the indigenous people in preference to PNC soup. 

Its unconscionable that Jagdeo filled his pockets and built a mansion while demanding that these people vote for him. And bribing the tochaos in order for them to do so.

Jagdeo in fact calls himself the champion of the Amerindians and squeals that blacks want to kill and rape them.

Look at this racist clown Carib.

Obama just bought an 8.5 million mansion cash while some blacks cannot afford food in the USA.

.

Obama sold two books and has being going on book tours.  This being disclosed in his annual tax returns.

Your Jagdeo has accumulated assets well ahead of what his income can afford him.

THAT is the difference.  If Obama stole taxpayer's funds you Indo KKK and your Trumpster fraud friends would have been screaming and he would have been in jail by now.  

You racist clown want Indos to love in logies and Blacks in Mansions.

yuji22 posted:

You racist clown want Indos to love in logies and Blacks in Mansions.

I see so. So Jagdeo could destroy Guysuco, snatch the money to steal land, and then put his own supporters in a position where they may well end up back in the logies.

Because Jagdeo destroyed GuySICKO!  Even has he enriched himself.

caribny posted:

yuji22 posted:

You racist clown want Indos to love in logies and Blacks in Mansions.

I see so. So Jagdeo could destroy Guysuco, snatch the money to steal land, and then put his own supporters in a position where they may well end up back in the logies.

Because Jagdeo destroyed GuySICKO!  Even has he enriched himself.

The fact is that you peddle lies. Jagdeo did not use tax payers money to build his modest home that you refer to as a mansion.  He already provided the source of his income for affording the home. If you claim that Jagdeo stole tax payers money to build his house, how come after more than 2 years and umpteen forensic audits, he is not jailed?

Carib Junk is changing the focus from Granger et al to Jagdeo, a man who left the presidency 6 years ago. PNC in charge, they are the ones responsible for the plight of the Amerindians. 

Drugb posted:

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  He already provided the source of his income for affording the home.

Yes extortion based on the power that he had to punish those who didn't pay up.  It didn't come from his salary you can be assured of that.

Drugb posted:

Carib Junk is changing the focus from Granger et al to Jagdeo, a man who left the presidency 6 years ago. PNC in charge, they are the ones responsible for the plight of the Amerindians. 

And why not.  Granger in power for a scant 2 1/2 years. Jagdeo directly or indirectly in power for 15. If the Amerindians are still poor it seems as if Jagdeo should get more of the blame.

caribny posted:

Drugb posted:

Carib Junk is changing the focus from Granger et al to Jagdeo, a man who left the presidency 6 years ago. PNC in charge, they are the ones responsible for the plight of the Amerindians. 

And why not.  Granger in power for a scant 2 1/2 years. Jagdeo directly or indirectly in power for 15. If the Amerindians are still poor it seems as if Jagdeo should get more of the blame.

There was no mention of the Amerindians complaining about poverty during the PPP years. So Granger must take the blame, he gave himself 50% raise and let the people suffer. Now oil money will be funneled to pnc operatives personal accounts. 

Drugb posted:

 

There was no mention of the Amerindians complaining about poverty during the PPP years. So Granger must take the blame, he gave himself 50% raise and let the people suffer. Now oil money will be funneled to pnc operatives personal accounts. 

Amerindians have always complained of poverty.  You just don't listen if Jagdeo is indicted.

Jagdeo gave himself a pension which is the highest in the Caribbean for a head of state even though Guyana is the poorest.  Imagine he gets more than he would if he had been the PM of T&T!

Even though he isn't a retired man, given that he is the Leader of the Opposition, he still takes this pension as it is higher.

I am also willing to bet that the PPP MPs are taking their higher salary that they received as part of the same increase.

caribny posted: 

Amerindians have always complained of poverty.  You just don't listen if Jagdeo is indicted.

Jagdeo gave himself a pension which is the highest in the Caribbean for a head of state even though Guyana is the poorest.  Imagine he gets more than he would if he had been the PM of T&T!

Even though he isn't a retired man, given that he is the Leader of the Opposition, he still takes this pension as it is higher.

I am also willing to bet that the PPP MPs are taking their higher salary that they received as part of the same increase.

Nonsense, these indigenous people know that living in the jungle far away from the city will invariably result in lack of opportunity other than farming and mining. It in fact has been a way of life for them for 1000 years. But what is significant is that their chafe in life got worse ever since pnc took over. Jackass Granger made a show of giving a few bicycles and then abandoned them, kicking many out of jobs and giving away their lands to minders. 

Drugb posted:

caribny posted: 

Amerindians have always complained of poverty.  You just don't listen if Jagdeo is indicted.

Jagdeo gave himself a pension which is the highest in the Caribbean for a head of state even though Guyana is the poorest.  Imagine he gets more than he would if he had been the PM of T&T!

Even though he isn't a retired man, given that he is the Leader of the Opposition, he still takes this pension as it is higher.

I am also willing to bet that the PPP MPs are taking their higher salary that they received as part of the same increase.

Nonsense, these indigenous people know that living in the jungle far away from the city will invariably result in lack of opportunity other than farming and mining. It in fact has been a way of life for them for 1000 years. But what is significant is that their chafe in life got worse ever since pnc took over. Jackass Granger made a show of giving a few bicycles and then abandoned them, kicking many out of jobs and giving away their lands to minders. 

Just another of your nasty low life recently emancipated logie dweller meanness. Sudra status had been the status for indians for 6000 years yet when given the chance in a world without caste they made it. Both indians and blacks have amerindians in the status of the new Sudras. They get hand outs but no targeted training to utilize the land they possess and they do posses the largest blocks of land in Guyana and will continue to own that land as communal property.

It is why successive governments have tried various ruses to steal their lands. Burnham reduced it from 44 thousand sq miles to 25 thousand. Jagdeo reduced that by introducing various qualifiers to 12k They already have more than half of that and Granger with the aid of Eric Philips advocacy among others is trying to further reduce that.  It is a combination of black and indian racism and greed that has us at a disadvantage.

If we had the numbers we would have gotten our lands.  Democracy has been to our disadvantage with its majority rule in a burnham constitution that reduces negotiation to zero with after-the- elections coalitions being. Had that been in place we could have had a viable third party and constrain the authority of Indians and Blacks to steal our lands and rob us of an equal largess of the state. The Fijans on the other hand have used democracy and their  numbers to extract significant indigenous claims to the authority over the state despite Indians being the majority.

However, that is changing. Our numbers is such that we can influence make up the government. We just have to organize and in time we will organize and speak with one voice

Drugb posted:

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Nonsense, these indigenous people know that living in the jungle far away from the city will invariably result in lack of opportunity other than farming and mining. . 

So basically you are saying that they have always been poor.  So why suddenly are you concerned about their poverty?

Amerindians cannot build wealth in their communities if the continue with their traditional lifestyles. They are free to live traditionally if they choose, but we must recognize the fact that in today's world an individual or a group cannot develop economically living in isolation. 

Billy Ram Balgobin posted:

Amerindians cannot build wealth in their communities if the continue with their traditional lifestyles. They are free to live traditionally if they choose, but we must recognize the fact that in today's world an individual or a group cannot develop economically living in isolation. 

how come indians live in their cultural skin and yet "make" it. Amerindians are t he only naturally multi lingual guyanese and up to recently they were all above average literacy. Their status is not because they are a forest people but in spite of it.

Stormborn posted:

Billy Ram Balgobin posted:

Amerindians cannot build wealth in their communities if the continue with their traditional lifestyles. They are free to live traditionally if they choose, but we must recognize the fact that in today's world an individual or a group cannot develop economically living in isolation. 

how come indians live in their cultural skin and yet "make" it. Amerindians are t he only naturally multi lingual guyanese and up to recently they were all above average literacy. Their status is not because they are a forest people but in spite of it.

Same point I was making as BRB until you abandoned all reason and went on a tirade about sudras and logie dwellers. 

I am not saying that the Amerindians can not become educated and accumulate wealth like anyone else. It may be that they are content with living in rural areas and in the jungle far away from cities. This comes with a price.  How do you expect them to be university educated in the jungle?

In addition,  I don't follow why you claim that Indians and Blacks should train them to farm use their lands. In one sentence you claim that they are treated as ward of the state and in the next you are asking for them to be treated as such. You are a confused man, possibly a white one to be exact. 

caribny posted:

Drugb posted:

.

Nonsense, these indigenous people know that living in the jungle far away from the city will invariably result in lack of opportunity other than farming and mining. . 

So basically you are saying that they have always been poor.  So why suddenly are you concerned about their poverty?

Their lives got 10 times worse under the pnc. 

Drugb posted:

 

Their lives got 10 times worse under the pnc. 

So furnish data to prove that in 2 years their lives are worse.

Yes that ugly word called data which you abhor.

caribny posted:

Drugb posted:

 

Their lives got 10 times worse under the pnc. 

So furnish data to prove that in 2 years their lives are worse.

Yes that ugly word called data which you abhor.

Lord have mercy, you are a piece of work. The evidence is what started the topic of this thread. Do you see the date of this report? In 2014 and prior this report did not conclude this, only now in 2017. 

Poverty higher among Indigenous population – UNICEF

That article is from Guyana Times..the nation's shit paper.