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.