Dear Editor,
I completely reject the contentions of Vincent Alexander, who is parroting the Government /ACDA’s position with their own insidious and nefarious agenda; and I state in no uncertain terms that as a representative Member of Parliament of the Amerindian people, the first peoples of Guyana and all affiliate bodies absolutely condemn and object to the establishment by President Granger, on March 11, 2017, of a Commission of Inquiry under the Commission of Inquiry Act, Chap 19:03 of the Laws of Guyana, for the following purpose:
“… to examine and make recommendations to resolve all issues and uncertainties surrounding the claims of Amerindian land titling; the individual, joint or communal ownership of lands acquired by freed Africans, and on any matters relating to land titling in Guyana.”
Amerindian land rights and the rights of freed African slaves or their descendants are separate issues. We, Amerindians, are extremely fearful that our lands would be usurped through this mechanism. More so, we have heard the utterances of Eric Phillips, ACDA representative and a Government advisor to the President, whereby he asserted that Africans, not Amerindians, are some of Guyana’s first peoples.
Given these facts and the composition of the CoI, also the fact that the terms of reference of the Commission of Inquiry were only published on March 11, 2017, one day after six of the seven commissioners were sworn in without prior consultation with the NTC and any other Amerindian rights-based organization, the Amerindians have a justifiable fear that their hard-won land and related rights would be nullified, although enshrined by law and international protocols.
President Granger projects himself as a man of honour and a President who cares about promoting cohesion and equality in this country. However, it seems that some are more equal than others, as has been evident throughout the coalition partners’ term in office so far.
In 2015, he promised the Amerindian community that a “Hinterland and Indigenous People Lands Commission” would be constituted; instead, he has reneged on this, as he has done on almost all of his pre-election promises.
The National Toshaos Council, which is the sole legitimate representative body of all the Amerindian peoples and communities, as well as the recognized non-governmental organizations representing Amerindians in Guyana have all been side-lined by President Granger in the establishment of this CoI, which is neither representative of the Amerindian peoples nor have members sympathetic to our cause. So how can any reasonable, rational person expect impartiality from its considerations and findings?
Through Dr Bharrat Jagdeo’s Low Carbon Development Strategy and the REDD Initiative, Guyana has obligations for which we have received funding through the Norway protocol, the disbursement of which will be jeopardized if the conditions are breached or compromised in any way through decisions made by this irrational and impetuous decision to establish a CoI, the TOR of which seemingly contravene Amerindian Act 6 of 2006.
No other formulation except that already entrenched in the Norway pact would be accepted. Integral to the conditions outlined in the deal is the implicit understanding that the Amerindian rights are sacred and protected. Land titling for Amerindians is not dependent on taxpayers’ dollars, because it is fully funded through the LCDS.
However, all arguments regarding this subject are moot, because the CoI is regarded by Amerindians as extraneous to our lives, living, existence, and any other dynamic pertaining to Guyana’s authentic first peoples; and we refuse to acknowledge, much less accept, such a body.
The brevity of this letter in addressing the tortuous history of Amerindian land rights in no way depreciates the strength of my contentions, that:
1) President Granger revoke in entirety this CoI and accept the fact that Amerindian land rights are already established and need no CoI to examine any further considerations, especially by his entirely partial and prejudiced government, which is heavily influenced by some representatives of ACDA, with its peculiar claims that seek to trample on the rights of other Guyanese.
2) Amerindians reject the promise he made in 2015 to the Amerindian community, to constitute a “Hinterland and Indigenous People Lands Commission.” Point to note is that this is another promise to Amerindians, albeit irrelevant, that he has reneged on.
3) At no time – now or in the future – should he attempt to infuse land issues of other communities into the land rights of the Amerindian People of Guyana;
4) The coalition government begin to respect the Amerindian peoples and their rights to peaceful existence in their traditional habitat in their entitled lands; and
5) Guarantee that the rights established to protect Guyana’s legitimate first peoples through the Amerindian Act 6 of 2006 and international charters be upheld and respected.
I urge all Amerindians to be united in this cause, and whichever side of the political divide you stand on, vehemently and unequivocally reject this nefarious agenda that will ultimately depose Guyana’s first peoples from their traditional lands.
Sincerely,
Alister Charlie
