President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday told a Lethem meeting of the PPP/C that the concerns of Amerindians are given “tremendous attention” on the agenda of Cabinet and in a surprise twist the governor of the Brazilian state of Roraima also addressed the gathering and lauded the President.
The Government Information Agency reporting on the meeting said “The event was graced by Governor of the State of Roraima, José de Anchieta Junior, with whom the President met to discuss several projects that will benefit the citizens of both Guyana and Brazil.
“The Governor lauded the leadership of President Jagdeo who will be demitting Office shortly, and said that Guyana has made tremendous progress in bettering the lives of its people. He also expressed the hope for the friendly relations between the two neighbouring countries would continue under the new administration.”
It appears from the GINA release that the President had scheduled a meeting with the Roraima governor around the same time that the ruling party had set its Lethem meeting. Critics have flayed the government for using state resources in aid of the ruling party’s campaign and of mixing state events with party events.
In this instance, diplomatic observers say it is highly irregular for a high official of a neighbouring Brazilian state to appear at what was billed as a party forum.
GINA said that at Freedom House in Lethem residents joined President Jagdeo and PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Donald Ramotar “in yet another successful public meeting as the date for the holding of the 2011 national and regional elections draws nearer.”
The state information agency said that former Regional Executive Officer, Desmond Kissoon, Regional Chairman, Clarindo Lucas and other prominent residents recounted developments in various areas that have led to an improved standard of living.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett was quoted in the GINA release as saying that PPP/C has stood the test of time.
“You cannot live without hope and this is exactly what we have restored in Guyana,” she said.
Rodrigues charged that during the PNC regime the “entire country was neglected, moreso the indigenous population, but the PPP/C under the visionary leadership of former President, the late Cheddi Jagan, this once marginalised population was given a voice and that the establishment of the Amerindian Affairs Ministry stands testimony to the fact that today they are included in the overall developmental thrust.”
She added that under the PNC, no Amerindian lands were demarcated but that this has changed significantly as many villages are now titled while work is ongoing.
President Jagdeo was reported by GINA as saying that, “political power allows us to serve our people and there is a huge difference between the Presidential Candidate chosen by the PPP/C and the people who are competing with him.”
He said that Ramotar spent his entire life working with the party during the difficult days to return freedom and democracy to Guyana. He added that Ramotar believes in the equality of all Guyanese and has made significant contributions to the policies that the Government has embarked upon since assuming office.
Jagdeo also spoke of the Amerindian Act, which gives Indigenous communities greater rights, the Indigenous People’s Commission (IPC) and the National Toshaos Council (NTC).
The President posited that the concerns of Amerindians are given tremendous attention on the agenda of Cabinet and at the various ministries because the PPP/C believes that Guyana owes a debt to the Indigenous population for all the years that they were robbed of their freedom and rights.
According to GINA, Jagdeo charged that the opposition are promising to reduce taxes, pay bigger salaries and provide everything else people need, but that they could not deliver on all the things they are promising when they are also saying that they will cut the revenue of the Government.
Ramotar said that “it is obvious that they are promising the politics of deception”.
