Dear Editor,
I wish to address a letter published by Stabroek News dated January 11 captioned ‘Only one introductory LCDS meeting was held in Santa Rosa.’
The consultations at Santa Rosa had a capacity attendance; some did not get seating but they were still able to hear from the outside through audio technology. At this consultation, records will show that the turn-out of invitees was over 90% if my memory serves me right; only one community was unable to attend.
The launching of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) was done in June 2009, to which Toshaos and councillors were invited. The President met with Toshaos in a gallant effort to ensure that they were familiar with the LCDS; on this occasion the LCDS draft document was distributed.
The National Toshaos Conference (NTC) climaxed in Georgetown some time after the launching of the LCDS in June, and again the President exerted energy in discussing the LCDS with Toshaos, and he even pleaded with them to disseminate information to their community members on their return home. At the conclusion of this conference copies of the LCDS draft were distributed.
The sub-national consultations for hinterland/riverain areas were launched on June 26, 2009. Specifically, consultations were held at Moruka on June 28. I am not sure if the writer lives in Region 1, but for his/her information these communities were invited – Kokerite, Chinese Landing, Waikerabi, Kwebanna, Santa Cruz, Warapoka, Assakata, Waramuri, Manawarin and Moruka.
At these consultations copies of the LCDS draft documents were again distributed. Priority was given to Toshaos and councillors of the above communities to uplift copies, and many extra copies were then distributed to community members at their request. They were charged by members of the head table to interact with them to clarify or gather more info if need be. So, the writer stating that familiarization on the LCDS was not allowed is tantamount to an effort to discredit the LCDS and is an outright fiction.
In 2010, another National Toshaos Conference was held in Georgetown to which over one hundred Toshaos and councillors were invited. Copies of the LCDS draft document were again distributed, with the expectation that info would be disseminated to community members by their elected leaders. Our tireless President patiently discussed the LCDS again.
On each of the four occasions mentioned above, Toshaos or their councillors had the opportunity to access documentation and be informed about the LCDS. Specifically for the Moruka Sub-Region, utilizing the chronology of events I reflected above, every Toshao in that sub-region is expected to be in possession of four copies of the LCDS document. Councillors augmented their Toshaos presence at the NTC and consultation meetings, and likewise were recipients of the LCDS documents. So, Amerindian leaders have been adequately informed on the LCDS and the information has been robustly augmented with the distribution of LCDS documents.
The writer of the letter has brought to light a very serious flaw and has drawn attention to the inability to govern by some Toshaos.
Section 22 of the Amerindian Act 2006 articulates the duties of a Toshao: In summary, (a) A Toshao shall represent the interest of the village at all times;
(c) chair all meetings of the village council and ensure that all matters concerning the village are adequately addressed;
(f) Provide the village general meeting with a report of every meeting he attends on their behalf.
The writer clearly has been denied (a), (c) and (f) under Section 22 of the Amerindian Act 2006. I urge those Amerindians that have experienced the same scenario to be vigilant and demand their rights. They have a right to be informed through reports of meetings which their Toshao would have attended; their interests need to be represented and he must summon meetings to discuss the concerns of the village adequately with them. If their Toshao is not functioning like that, they should vote him/her out and put in someone interested in their village welfare.
LCDS is about Amerindians; their village, their resources, their opportunities, their betterment and their country, so it is critical that they know all that LCDS entails.
Finally, attendees at the Moruka consultations did familiarize themselves with the LCDS. Things are happening and we hope more consultations will be at their disposal.
Yours faithfully,
Ashton Simon
