GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC—The Guyana government Wednesday said it remains confident that it will be victorious in the Indigenous Amerindian communities in the next election, even as the main opposition party criticized the cash and other disbursements it has been making in a bid to dent the opposition’s chances of winning Amerindian votes in next year’s general and regional election.
The leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Aubrey Norton, commenting on the announcement of the government this week that Amerindian villages would receive US$23.2 million this year, although Guyana earned 15 percent less from its carbon credit sale to the American oil company, Hess, said: “I believe that the PPP’s (People’s Progressive Party) support will increase our votes.”
Norton said that the increased funding was arbitrary rather than consultative, as most Indigenous communities had been calling for 50 percent and more.
He said the Toshaos (Amerindian village chiefs) were resisting domination, so the government’s approach could backfire in the polling booths at the 2025 general and regional elections.
“When you dominate people, and they resist, they will not come out and tell you ‘I ain’t going to vote for you,’ but they will end up not voting.
Norton said contracts were being awarded in Indigenous Amerindian communities “in large measure” to supporters of the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), noting that, in contrast, a victory for the opposition in the elections would lead to Indigenous Amerindians receiving training in technical skills, financial literacy, and small business management.
“The PPP cannot afford that. To do that is to cut out part of the corruption money they enjoy, and so we believe that, as we speak to the Indigenous community, they are understanding,” said a confident Norton.
But in a statement on Wednesday, Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai said Norton’s statement “is a glaring testament to the deep-seated panic and desperation within the opposition ranks, as they confront the undeniable and overwhelming support that the governing PPP/C enjoys among the Amerindian population.”
She said that the opposition ‘must undoubtedly be profoundly anxious, knowing that we are poised to further expand our extensive employment initiatives across Amerindian communities, driven by the requests and discussions that will unfold over the coming days.
“As a government, we are resolute in our commitment to the sustainable development of our hinterland communities, a commitment we have unwaveringly upheld for decades through the land titling program; the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) interventions and funding via the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent mechanism; the Community Service Officers; annual budgetary allocations; and both planned and emergency interventions.”
Sukhai said she is confident that the “vast majority of our Amerindian brothers and sisters” will vote in support of the ruling party at the next general election.
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