The Akawini Village Council is losing millions due to bad advice

http://www.stabroeknews.com/index.pl/article?id=56522484

The Akawini Village Council is losing millions due to bad advice
Stabroek News
Friday, June 15th 2007

Dear Editor,

I refer to a letter captioned "Who did Mr Peter Persaud really
represent?" (07.06.07).

I wish to deal with this letter as per paragraph starting from the
second.

2nd paragraph: In relation to the Akawini issue, I never seek to cast
blame on others. I knew who the persons were who influenced and
maliciously advised the Akawini Village Council (AVC) to make a bad and
unpopular decision which resulted in the withdrawal of Barama from
Akawini. As a result of the AVC's decision, the village is losing
millions of dollars which could have been used to push the community's
development process. Those persons who badly advised the AVC know who
they are and should declare publicly why they had done a disservice to
themselves, their organizations, to the people of Akawini, the Region 2
RDC and the government. I was carrying out my modus operandi and so far
I am proven to be correct and better yet if an investigation is carried
out by the relevant authorities.

The fact that the AVC was badly advised was a blatant violation of the
principle of self determination where the AVC was not allowed to make
its own decisions. It is now apparent that while the old Amerindian Act
was outdated and paternalistic, there are Amerindian Organisations that
are now practicing neo-paternalism and in this case Akawini became a
victim. In this modern world indigenous peoples need to make informed
decisions that determine their development goals without being attached
to any Amerindian organization or for that matter any other
organization.

I had discussions with two senior members of the APA on the Akawini
issue but they were more interested in my "connections" to the Barama
Company than finding solutions amicably on the Akawini issue which at
the time was already blown out of proportion. Nevertheless, I informed
them, even though the meeting was confrontational, that the Akawini
village did give their consent through a transparent process to the
IWPI for forest harvesting to take place on their lands. Also they knew
about Barama's role. The forest harvesting agreement was signed after
the Akawini residents had studied the agreement. The village council
and residents were very happy with the agreement and were now awaiting
the start of forest harvesting operations. However, the Honourable
Minister of Amerindian Affairs said that the agreement between IWPI and
the AVC needs to be amended to provide for more benefits to the Akawini
community. In the meanwhile the project was shelved. I was totally now
out of the picture and was never informed about events that followed
from the AVC. Also I never saw the agreement that was amended by the
Honourable Minister.

3rd paragraph: I cannot recall telling the Akawini people that I was
"the Amerindian representative" in the earlier discussions with them.
Normally I would tell people at engagements with them that I am a
representative and member of The Amerindian Action Movement of Guyana
(TAAMOG). But many persons know me to be representing the Amerindian
Peoples of Guyana so if the designation of "The Amerindian
representative" was referred to me in any note-taking and those notes
were read I would have certainly objected. Moreover, no member from any
of the other Amerindian Organisations can claim to be "the Amerindian
representative".

4th paragraph: There was no opportunity to state my opinions to the
representatives of the APA on the inspection tour of Barama's
operations at Buckhall and Akawini because these two Organisations had
already stated their positions in a Press Statement carried in the
Stabroek News (24.05.07) which called on Barama to cease its Akawini
logging about a week before the inspection tour. Also the APA member
while being all along with the touring team never gave an indication
that there would have been a picketing demonstration - and that another
APA member was already in the Akawini village.

The APA and GOIP were harbouring illusions because with my
"familiarity" with the Barama officials,they claim I was on the side of
Barama and not Akawini. This is immaturity on the part of both
organizations and also an unqualified generalization. I am totally and
absolutely committed to the rights of indigenous peoples of which I am
a part and I am eager for them to be incorporated into the money
economy of this country. Indigenous peoples lack the technical and
financial capacity to use their resources for their own development and
I see no reason for them not to form partnerships with either the
government or the private sector to bring about the transformation in
their respective communities. I think that this should be one of the
approaches for Amerindian peoples development. But this kind of
partnership between Barama and Akawini village was killed by persons
who waged a campaign of hate against the Barama company while pursuing
their own agendas both at the national and international levels. While
they may be proud for what they have done, the residents of both
Akawini and St Monica villages are at the crossroads of doom. I trust
that the wider indigenous community take note of this.

5th paragraph: Any investor can invest in any indigenous community of
his/her choice provided the correct application of the procedures is
followed. These procedures are contained in the Amerindian Act 2006.
For both the APA and GOIP to know, the Akawini village council and
residents knew about Barama's role in forest harvesting from the start,
that was why they accepted payments for logs harvested even though the
company was called a "trespasser". Further, no indigenous organisation
should claim that an Amerindian community is its absolute preserve.
Because I am known to represent indigenous peoples issues, I was
invited to attend the initial meeting between IWPI and the Akawini
community. I used the opportunity to ensure that the Akawini community
gave its free, prior and informed consent to the IWPI for logging
operations to take place on its lands. This was done which resulted in
the signing of the initial agreement by this village council and the
IWPI officials. The APA and GOIP seem to have difficulties in
understanding which of the agreements the village council signed for
forest harvesting to actually take place, whether it was the initial
agreement that I knew about or the Hon Minister's amended agreement
that I did not see. Their accusation of me being unable to represent an
issue is therefore false and misleading to both the general public as
well as to the international community.

I visited the Toshao in Akawini to impress on him to meet with the
Barama officials to engage in preliminary discussions to set the stage
for bringing to an end the problems between Akawini and the IWPI. The
Toshao said that his council was prepared to work with Barama and not
the IWPI and that he was prepared to meet the company's officials at
any time. The Toshao also said that he was going to Switzerland with
the APA to complain against the IWPI at an International forum. At this
time I realized that the situation had become contaminated.

6th paragraph: TAAMOG will hold its Annual members conference on the
28th -29th October 2007 to elect new office bearers and Executive
Committee members to manage the affairs of the organization. The APA,
GOIP and NADF will be asked or invited to send one representative to
attend this two day event. Our Constitution is entitled "The Amerindian
Action Movement of Guyana Constitution".

Mr Editor, I do not use the press to spread groundless statements and
accusations. I speak the truth when it becomes necessary because this
is a reflection of my style and upbringing.

Yours faithfully

Peter Persaud

President

TAAMOG