Dear Editor,

September, a month usually associated with the celebration of Amerindian culture and history throughout Guyana, is fast approaching and to date little or no information has been forthcoming as to the activities for this year.

Which village has been designated the Heritage Village in Guyana? What about the week of activities in Georgetown which usually includes a cultural exhibition, sports competiton and a beauty pageant or cultural extravaganza? What about the inter-district sports and culture competitions that usually occur in the Rupununi region and other Amerindian communities? Heritage activities in the respective regions are eagerly anticipated by the hinterland communities.

Then there are those large numbers of people from hinterland areas who now reside in Georgetown. The heritage activities that occur in Georgetown give them an opportunity to ‘feel like home’ with traditional food, culture, meeting old friends and most of all, revelling in the friendly competitive atmosphere that exists whenever the hinterland football teams come to town.

One remembers our previous Minister of Amerindian Affairs participating with much gusto in the sports events, from captaining the female cricket team to shouting until she was hoarse in a futile attempt to get her team, North West District, to defeat the virtually unbeatable Rupununi football team.

There have been whisperings that this year’s events are being shelved because of Carifesta celebrations. One sincerely hopes that this is not the case.

Come on, Minister of Amerindian Affairs, let your people know what will be happening for the month of September. By this time last year advertisements about the month’s activities were blaring on all radio and television stations and ads were in the daily newspapers. This year the silence is worryingly deafening.

Yours faithfully,
M. Emile