Several activities to mark Heritage Month- September 2010 - As spotlight is placed on Guyana’s First People

Amerindian Heritage month 2010 was officially launched by Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai on August 11, 2010 during a press conference at the Ministry under the theme “Promoting sustainable livelihood and cultural heritage while transforming our village economies.”


The theme was selected from five submitted to the Ministry, and Minister Sukhai believes it is timely as Government seeks to promote sustainable development in Amerindian communities.

Since 1995, September was declared Amerindian Heritage Month by the PPP/C administration after recognising the need for Guyanese to celebrate its people.

The activities for the month’s observances will begin with an Inter-faith church service at the Umana Yana on August 31 and will culminate with a Heritage dinner and prize giving ceremony at the Georgetown Club, Camp St. on September 29.

The Hinterland students’ dormitory at Liliendaal, will also be commissioned during the month.

During Heritage month celebrations, a week of cultural exhibition and extravaganza is planned for the National Exhibition Complex, Sophia, at the Amerindian Village there. This will coincide with GuyExpo and according to Minister Sukhai, is another demonstration of how the government machinery works together for the good of all Guyanese.

Heritage Village celebrations this year will be in Warimuri, Moruca, Region One, on September 10, Amerindian Heritage Day. There will also be simultaneous celebrations in Regions 7, 8 and 9.

Below is the proposed schedule of activities for Amerindian Heritage Month, 2010.

See Calender for Details.

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Every day is like World Indigenous Day in Guyana -Minister Sukhai in Response to Kaieteur News

Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, during a press conference held at the Ministry on August 11, 2010, has expressed her dissatisfaction with the Kaieteur News’ article concerning International Day of the World Indigenous Peoples observed on August 09, 2010 worldwide.

The Tuesday, August 10, edition carried an article which stated that “the Guyana Government neglected to honour the country’s Amerindians as the world observed International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.” The article further stated that “the government issued no statement on the occasion and there were no ceremonies.”

Minister Sukhai, in her response declared “every single day in this country is like World Indigenous Day for our indigenous population” and that every day Government is engaged in activities that promote the development of the country’s indigenous people. She pointed to the sustainable development projects such as the National Secure Livelihood programme as just one example.

Guyana is one of only three countries worldwide that has guaranteed land ownership to Amerindians through legislation and is perhaps the only country in the world that has a dedicated Ministry for its indigenous people.

The Minister also referred to a second article carried in the same newspaper which stated that in a report released by Survival International “a planned hydro project at Turturba in the upper Mazaruni, will see indigenous Akawaios and Arekunas lose their livelihood and land, becoming refugees.”

Minister Sukhai noted that had Kaieteur News and Survival International examined the issue more closely they would have discovered it was the Amerindians through whose villages the access road was originally intended to pass had requested such.

The Minister pointed to the three- year old Amerindian Act that provides the “legislative framework” which sets out clearly how “any government, not only the People’s Progressive Party/Civic government, but any government here after should proceed on land issues.”

Minister Sukhai was quick to point out too, that this Government is not in the habit of making decisions for the Amerindian people as suggested by the Survival International report but that all interactions with the country’s indigenous people are guided by the Act.

The Government “facilitates, invests and provides secure investment to support Amerindian development.” She was adamant that Survival International should “think twice” about publishing a report about a country in which the information given to them is unreliable at best.

In fact, the Minister noted, Guyana could be used as a case study in Amerindian Affairs, for other nations of the world to follow.

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Transformation of Amerindian Village Economies Progressing - Crab Meat Processing Plant for Region One

Georgetown, GINA, August 11, 2010

Government through the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs is increasing efforts to provide the necessary support and interventions that are required in hinterland communities for sustaining livelihood and transformation of village economies.


Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai at a press conference on August 11, 2010, stated that the National Secure Livelihood Programme, a Government initiative currently ongoing in Region One is progressing. The construction of a building in Imbotero will commence later this month to facilitate a crab fattening processing plant. The facility will enable the processing and preservation of frozen crab and crab meat.

The crab meat will be well packaged but in the initial phase of the plant will be provided in shells. However, the project will be extended in the future to provide meat that will be packaged to meet local and international standards.

Other plants to facilitate processing of cassava and ginger will begin shortly as part of the livelihood programme. The programme not only seeks to expand production of the locally grown produce but also processing of value added products from the local produce thereby extending the shelf life of the products.

According to Minister Sukhai the support that these communities is being given both now and in the future will enable them to make available to the international market products such as ginger powder, ginger concentrate, passion fruit concentrate and cassava by products such as casareep.

The National Hinterland Secure Livelihood Programme is an initiative of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs in collaboration with the Voluntary Services Overseas International (VSO) aimed at addressing the challenges of economic development in Amerindian villages and hinterland communities.

The programme is being rolled out as a pilot project in 15 communities in Region One and is a form of economic diversification which provides employment opportunities, food security and generates income.

Several communities in Region One including Tobago, Hobodai, Hotoquai, Arukamai, Kamwatta, Whitewater and Wauna are being monitored to ascertain the progress of the projects.

Catching crab is one of the major economic activities for residents in Imbotero since the environment is suitable but the crab fattening technique being employed is new.

Minister Sukhai highlighted that the continued success of the project in Region One will chart the way for other communities to benefit from the National Hinterland Secure Livelihood Programme.

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Gov’t Accelerating Demarcation of Amerindian Communities … Demarcation Completed in Toka, Shulinab, Region Nine

Land demarcation has been completed in two more Amerindian communities as the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs continues to advance its mission to ensure equal rights for Guyana’s indigenous people.

During a press conference held at the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, on August 11, 2010, Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai informed the media that the demarcation process has been completed in Toka, North Rupununi and Shulinab, South Central Rupununi and the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) is in the process of preparing the relevant maps and plans.

The Ministry aims to complete demarcation in five more communities before the end of this year.

“The programme is extensive and “another US$ 3M is available to complete other villages that are eligible for demarcation,” Minister Sukhai stated.

This investment will create employment and promote security among Amerindians with the guarantee of land rights. Guyana is one of the three countries in the entire global community where Amerindians are given rights to land ownership.
During a recent visit to Rivers’ View, Region Ten, Minister Sukhai said it was “a privilege that was conferred on the Amerindians by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government.”

Prior to 1992 only 74 villages were titled. This number has increased to 96 titled villages and 70 demarcated villages in less than a decade. This reflects the importance which Government has placed on the issue of Amerindian land rights in Guyana.

Minister Sukhai explained that even though some Amerindian communities do not officially own the land they occupy because of the lack of evidence by documentation, Government has registered those communities based on their individual population of more than 150 and the fact that they may have been established longer than 25 years.
This signals Government’s recognition of the occupation of these lands by Amerindians that have been traditionally used in the past and continue to be used today.

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Kaieteur News Sensationalising Stories

It is with strong consternation that Ministry of Amerindian refutes an article that was printed in the Kaieteur News on July 29, 2010 “Amerindian refused entry into hostel- claims victimization.” Kaieteur News daringly printed this article without any comments from the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs and without an investigation to ascertain what the issue was. Instead of informing the nation of the truth, Kaieteur News, as is customary to print half-truths and deceptive articles, reverted to sensationalism.

The article claims that Gilbert Thomas, a fifty-five year old man from Matthew’s Ridge, is alleging that he was not accepted at the Hostel because of the assertive stand he took months ago in revealing the advantage that is being taken on the occupants of the Hostel.

The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs does not, and by any means indulges in victimization and discrimination of any person and more particularly Amerindians, in spite of their beliefs, religion, political association or creed. Any Amerindian who approaches the Ministry for assistance is paid due attention, since the Ministry has a mandate to protect and promote the social and economic welfare of Amerindians in a culturally compatible manner.

It was further stated that the Newspaper tried to make contact with the Ministry but no one was available. It is not the fault of the Ministry if the relevant authorities are unavailable at the moment because of other important functions. However, the Ministry did make contact with the Editor-in-Chief of the Newspapers after to give a comment, but was told otherwise. This is a clear indication of the Newspaper attempt to smear the name of the Ministry and the Hostel and once again reflects the agenda of Kaieteur News.

The Hostel is guided by a Hostel Management Plan which outlines the operations of the Institution. A person is refused entry to the in-patient facility based on a history of misconduct and inappropriate behaviour, without efforts to reform or adjust, is then deemed unfit and threatening to other patients at the Institution.
The said individual has a track record of misconduct and inappropriate behaviour of which he was warned on several occasions. Nevertheless, he along with his immediate and extended families was accommodated at the Hostel during the months of April, June and July where they were assisted with receiving medical attention.
It is therefore highly irresponsible and irreprehensible for Kaieteur News to publish such an article without clarity from the appropriate personnel on the matter in question.

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