Objecting to another political appointment

Dear Editor,
On my recent visit to North Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) residents, teachers and students condemned the decision taken by the Indigenous Peoples Affairs Minister, Sydney Allicock, to install Astell Collins as Director of Bina Hill Institute (BHI) in North Rupununi.
The Minister had usurped the position of the designated principal and had instead appointed a less qualified and inexperienced teacher, who is an active coalition member.
The designated principal has since alluded to his working up to this term’s end. He also condemned the clandestine way of operation at BHI which has shown a bad example that one does not have to obtain a university degree and experience to hold the prestigious position of principal.
The student body remains resolute not to submit to this imposition, which has consequential implications that could prove to be detrimental and an inhibiting factor to the quality and requisite standards pertaining to their education.
An Indigenous student attached to the institute (name provided) volunteered the information that a letter was submitted to the Indigenous Peoples Affairs Minister on behalf of the students of BHI outlining the deficiencies and difficulties presented by the current imbroglio, especially given the fact that there were no prior consultation/s held with the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB) and the Indigenous communities before the decision was made to install Astell Collins. The position for Director was not advertised, as is required by law – both nationally and the statutes of the NGO.
The student related that the institute is an NGO but it is apparent that it has now been appropriated by the coalition Government and become a politically-governed institution.
Since Collins assumed office as Director of BHI, he has made many changes that are completely unacceptable to the student body. Students lament that the institute has become semi-militarised, similar to what obtained in the National Service under the People’s National Congress regime. Up to the time of the students speaking to me, the student body had not received a response from the subject Minister, who unilaterally and dictatorially created the contretemps that the students contend are very distressing and are detrimentally impacting their studies.
This current impasse in another hinterland community, where the Government and its agents act with impunity against the welfare of hinterland-dwellers, willfully ignoring the wishes and needs of the Indigenous peoples, is additional proof that there is absolute contempt by government and its functionaries for Guyana’s First People.
The complete absence of consultative processes and non-compliance of FPIC conventions by the Indigenous Peoples Affairs Ministry/Government of Guyana is a display of absolute arrogance and lawlessness on the part of Government and its representative/functionaries as it pertains to the rights and welfare of the first peoples of Guyana.

Sincerely,
Alister Charlie, MP
Region Nine