Wednesday’s Leadership Training in Muritaro going ahead

…Residents rebuff Sukhai’s Georgetown meeting demand

A one-day training has been planned for the Muritaro community Wednesday to orient them
about the vagaries of leadership in preparation for those willing to contest the upcoming Toshaos
polls, Deputy Toshao Mr. Nick Estwick said.
The Indigenous Peoples Commission will conduct the one-day event in Upper Demerara/Berbice
(Region Ten) and three presenters will tackle different aspects of leadership, including character
of leaders, the roles and responsibilities of leaders along the continuum, what to expect of public
officials and communicating effectively with residents and other community leaders.
Estwick said the training is vital considering the increased challenges that residents have been
experiencing from the wretched example left by embattled and controversial Toshao Ms. Loretta
Fiedtkou.
“We anticipate a great turnout as there are quite a number of persons who are seeking leadership
roles. As such, a number of nearby villages will see persons attending and this is expected to be
about 50 persons. Elections are expected to be held sometime around Easter, probably the first
Sunday after Easter, but I am not sure right now on the confirmation of the date,” the Deputy
Toshao noted.
He admitted that while the residents are willing to support his candidacy, he is still undecided.
CEO of the Indigenous Peoples Commission, Neil Bacchus expressed elation at the prospects of
Wednesday’s training programme in the Amerindian community.
www.aroundtheregions.com learnt that after going more than a year without holding any Council
meetings, the planned meeting had to be aborted because of a raucous confrontation between
Toshao Fiedtkou and several residents.

“Instead of conducting the Council meeting to address several pertinent and burning issues
affecting residents, the Toshao sought to spew her hate and vindictive behavior by telling
residents that several of them will be removed from the community,” Estwick said.
Said he: “I think that the Toshao is so insecure and with the elections quickly approaching, her
arrogance, hate, selfishness and vindictive manner in operating are becoming more and more
evident. She didn’t want to have a Council meeting she wanted to have a cuss out with persons
and this manner of operation will not be tolerated any longer from the residents as we are
determined to move ahead with or without her support.”
He is also peeved about Amerindian Affairs Minister, Ms. Pauline Sukhai’s lukewarm attitude to
the community now that her party is in power. He is also perturbed that Sukhai has taken a
hands-off position about credible complaints of fraud against Toshao Fiedtkou.
“We remain disappointed with Minister Sukhai’s behaviour and inaction on this matter as we
don’t know what else to do in convincing the government that the residents of this community
have had enough and we are truly fed up,” a disappointed Deputy Toshao said.
During the runup to the March 2015 polls Sukhai and Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill,
frequented the Upper Demerara/Berbice (Region Ten) indigenous community to secure their
backing. According to poll results, the community voted overwhelmingly for the Peoples
Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) coalition although the A Partnership for National Unity,
Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) ran away with the Region.
Since then, both Ministers have been avoiding the community. Neither said that while they have
no issues in meeting with the has visited the residents, and Edghill has been quoted in the press
telling them to come up with solutions for the community problems.,
For her part, Sukhai is refusing to meet with residents in their community but wants the long-
overdue meeting to be held in the capital city.
The residents, understandably, have rebuffed Sukhai’s invitation.