Government’s treatment irritates Muritaro residents

SIX MONTHS INTO THEIR GOVERNANCE, Muritaro residents have ruled the incumbent
and their main rivals are both long on rhetoric and short on fulfilment.
The two main political coalitions ruling Guyana since it gained independence from Britain in
1966, the governing Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) and the main opposition A
Partnership for National Unity, Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) have both made honest-
sounding promises to the community of Muritaro, in Upper Demerara – Berbice (Region Ten).
But after all the glorious speeches, nothing. No follow-up! No fulfilment! No explanation!
And, Councillor Cheryl Fiedtkou is livid.

“When Mr. Sydney Allicock was (APNU+AFC) Minister we had approached him and even
presented one of the petitions to him. Even though he visited the community and held
discussions he did absolutely nothing. We approached (PPP/C) Minister (Pauline) Suhkai when
she was campaigning as she visited our community numerous times during the election
campaign and had promised to address the issues should her party win the elections. It’s over six
months since they (PPP/C) assumed office and she has not visited the community. She hasn’t
kept her promise to us and we are very disappointed,” Councillor Fiedtkou said.
Muritaro is some 25 miles from Linden, the capital of the bauxite-mining Administrative area in
Region Ten and a political stronghold of the APNU+AFC. Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo
famously wants to flip this Administrative Area for his party, or make substantial inroads by the
time the next polls scheduled for 2025 is held.
The PPP/C got the majority of votes in Muritaro at the March 2020 General and Regional polls.
“We hope that the government doesn’t forget that 121 residents of Muritaro voted for them while
only 10 voted for APNUAFC. We hope that they keep this in mind as many should know that
five years go by quickly and not because we are Amerindians, we would allow politicians to
comfort us with false promises as that is why we would be given an opportunity at the next
election to correct whatever we didn’t do right,” the outspoken village Councillor said.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr. Anil Nandlall, who now seems to be the
face of the administration in its community outreach programmes, has already visited the
community since the PPPC was returned to power in the bitterly contentious 2020 polls.
Residents seem please with the surrogate’s presence and his rhetoric.
However, Fiedtkou noted that while the Minister (Pauline Sukhai) took strong measures recently
against a Toshao in Region Eight (Potaro – Siparuni) embroiled in a corruption scandal there, she
is diligently avoiding similar actions for similar offences against the Muritaro village leader.
The Minister of Amerindian Affairs removed Toshao Ms. Marbel Thomas over allegations of
irregularities in the Campbelltown mining sector.
Wearied by decisions of their Toshao, Muritaro residents filed two petitions under both
administrations with similar outcomes. Now they are questioning whether they are only good
enough to help the major political players fulfil their selfish electoral ambitions.
A response by Public Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill to a query cemented this view,
Fiedtkou told www.aroundtheregions.com.
“He told me after I spoke to him about our dissatisfaction that it's a problem for you all. Go back
to your village and solve it. I was blown away because he was one of the persons during the
campaign that used to come seeking our support and now, he telling us that we must solve
it (ourselves). But when he wanted our votes he knew where to come. The residents are angry
and I don’t care what they say or do because I laboured. I worked exceptionally hard during the
campaign to ensure that the party got into government and now with all the blatant skullduggery
taking place, it’s as if those in authority are sheltering the Toshao,” Councillor Fiedtkou
declared.
Deputy Toshao, Mr. Neil Estwick echoed Fiedtkou’s dismay over Edghill’s dismissive treatment
of the numerous complaints against the Muritaro Toshao.
“We have followed every legal route that we are expected to and despite the many evidences of
fraud, corruption and theft that we have brought to the fore, nothing has been done and it is only

a matter of time before Amerindians shun both the Government and Opposition as only when an
election is near do we see persons pretending to be caring and lovers of Amerindians,” he said.
There will be payback in 2025 Estwick promised.
“A similar situation had occurred and after the previous administration deliberately sheltered the
Toshao, the residents voted against the APNUAFC and…should they (the government) continue
this trend history will certainly repeat itself,” he warned.
“You can’t expect us to support you at an election when you cannot help in resolving our issues
as this isn’t what we expect,” the Deputy Toshao reminded Sukhai and her colleague Ministers.
Meanwhile, Councillor Fiedtkou reiterated that the Muritaro community is not up for political
sale
“Money is not all, so showering our communities with millions will serve no purpose if only a
few are benefiting because we are interested in addressing issues within our community
everything else is secondary. So, money is certainly not all. I have done more for this party than I
did for God and this is how they are going to treat us?” the aggrieved Councillor queried
rhetorically.