Toshao Wilson never told me they signed the contract under threat

http://www.stabroeknews.com/index.pl/article?id=56524252

Toshao Wilson never told me they signed the contract under threat
Stabroek News
Tuesday, July 10th 2007

Dear Editor,

I refer to Toshao David Wilson's letter captioned "Barama was paying us
a pittance in royalties; we plan to start our own forestry operation"
(07.06.21).

I submit the following so as to set the record straight.

1. The contract that the Akawini Village Council (AVC) signed that
caused the implementation of logging activities by the IWPI in Akawini
Village Lands was the amended version of the original contract, which
the Hon. Minister of Amerindian Affairs did. The Toshao claimed that he
and other council members signed this agreement "under threat" by an
official of the IWPI who went into the village accompanied by a
representative of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs (S/N Fri 16th
March 2007).

I have never seen the amended contract and was never privy to it since
the whole matter was then within ministerial domain. Further Toshao
Wilson never had the courtesy of informing me that they signed the
amended contract under "threat". How can he therefore say that I fooled
them into signing the "amended contract" when I was nowhere around at
the time? The Akawini Toshao needs to be honest to the general public
as well as to the international community. As a village leader he
should have admitted his mistake by signing an agreement under threat
instead of simply accusing me wrongfully and in the process tarnishing
my character.

2. Toshao Wilson said that prior to Barama's intervention in Akawini, a
purpleheart log was sold for $300,000 and under the agreement they
would receive $2000 in royalties. Can Toshao Wilson tell the general
public how much of the $300,000 the council would receive in royalties?

3. It is unfair and improper for Toshao Wilson to say that it was only
the APA that listened to the village's "pleas for assistance", because
he wanted it to be that way. He consulted no other organization and
ventured to provide cheap recognition to the APA.

4. The fact that the first contract was amended by the Hon. Minister of
Amerindian Affairs does not mean that it did not have Akawinis' best
interest at heart, but it seeks to provide greater benefits to the
community. But the truth of the Akawini issue with the IWPI will only
emerge if an impartial investigation is undertaken.

Yours faithfully,

Peter Persaud