Dear Editor,
Mr Christopher Ram’s letter in SN of September 8 relating to “transfer 20% of the royalties from mining activities to a fund designated by the Minister for the benefit of the Amerindian villages,” was a stunning revelation that has the potential to become a major political buster for the government among the Indigenous people, if proven to be correct (‘The Amerindian Act 2006 has not yet been brought into force’).
The sum of $1,700,000,000 is indeed very large and would have gone a very long way towards helping the Indigenous people. Where is this money? And how was it spent, if indeed it was? The Indigenous people expect an early response from the Minister of Amerindian Affairs on this. If not, then she can expect a lot of uncomfortable moments during this Amerindian Heritage Month.
I thank Mr Ram for this most vital information. I only hope that our high profile Indigenous NGOs don’t do what our opposition frequently does and try to duck this bouncer. Their people expect them to give this issue as much importance as some of the other main issues such as land rights, and report the facts to them.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
