Dear Editor,
I wish to refer to a letter under the caption ‘How was Toshao Xavier chosen to serve on the UN forum?’ in Stabroek News’ issue of January 3, written by M Maxwell.
Toshao Bertie Xavier’s nomination to serve on the UN permanent forum on Indigenous issues was made by the Government of Guyana since that act of nomination was within its own jurisdiction. The identification and nomination of Toshao Bertie Xavier was therefore an act of wisdom by the Government of Guyana.
What is even more important is that Toshao Xavier had to undergo an elections process to serve on the permanent forum on Indigenous issues where he defeated his Bolivian opponent.
The nomination of Toshao Xavier to the forum is indeed special and historic for Guyana, since for the very first time a Toshao or village chief of a remote hinterland Amerindian village was nominated to serve at the level of the United Nations world body.
In this regard Mr Maxwell stated that I should “stop making mountains out of molehills,” which in my opinion demonstrates disrespect for Guyana’s indigenous peoples.
The ongoing positive interventions by the government to empower the Amerindian communities of Guyana both socially and economically must not be viewed as Mr Maxwell does, as “Political desperation for the Amerindian vote… [clouding] our judgement,” but should be seen as strong efforts by the government of the day to lift the Amerindian sector above its 77% poverty line, which the indigenous peoples fully acknowledge. Mr Maxwell said in his letter, “Peter Persaud seems to be the government propaganda man on Amerindian affairs.”
Please be informed that when I write on Amerindian issues I provide factual information for public consumption and what is deemed to be accurate and acceptable to the indigenous peoples of Guyana, which has nothing to do with “Political desperation for the Amerindian vote.”
Yours faithfully,
Peter Persaud
