Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 24, 2017 News
The government has established an inter-Ministerial taskforce to address social issues of alcoholism, sexual and domestic abuse, and suicide that are plaguing Baramita, in the Matarkai sub-District, Region One.
Ministerial Advisor for the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Mervyn Williams, said that Baramita is a troubled village, given the social ills and the realities which existed during the last decade.
Williams explained that when the Government took Office in 2015, it immediately established a taskforce that comprised the Ministries of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Communities, Social Protection, Public Security and Health. This taskforce has set about finding solutions to the problems facing the indigenous community.
Williams was responding to calls by the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) for the government to pull back the slide in human and social standards in Baramita after the organisation researched and compiled a report entitled ‘Impact of Mining: Survival Strategies for Interior Communities in Guyana’.
Williams said that the issues affecting the community cannot be addressed overnight; however with continued collective efforts, with all state agencies, and other organisations, Government will eventually bring solid lasting solutions to the crisis in Baramita.
In the interim, with assistance from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, shops operating illegally have been shut down in the mining areas. There were also visits by the Guyana Police Force, attending to unlawful vending of alcohol and other criminal activities. The Ministry of Public Health conducted outreaches in the area; the Ministries of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and Education also collaborated and have established a hot meal kitchen at the Baramita Primary School.
“There have been countless interventions since the Government has come to office. Baramita prior to May 2015 was nowhere in the news as it related to suicide, and all of a sudden the world recognises that Baramita has a suicide problem.
“In tackling that issue, there has got to be some focus on the culture of our people, and an examination of what are the issues that give rise to that behaviour…no one as far as I’m aware has licence to sell liquor in Baramita, but it is being sold,” Williams said.
He added: “There are allegations that the police are not doing enough, but there is also a responsibility on the part of the people who operate their businesses to act responsibly.”
The process had started from the level of government, however it is up to the people of Baramita to recognise their social, moral and ethical obligation, and it is up to the leaders of Baramita to step up and help to tackle the issues affecting the people, because “we have to save our children, we have to save our culture,” Williams urged.
Baramita is the largest Amerindian settlement in Guyana, and the biggest Carib Village in the Caribbean. It has a population of about 3,000. The community’s main economic activity is mining.
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
Apr 19, 2024
SportsMax – West Indies Women’s captain Hayley Matthews delivered a stellar all-round performance to lead her team to a commanding 113-run victory over Pakistan Women in the first One Day...Kaieteur News – For years, the disciples of Bharrat Jagdeo have woven a narrative of economic success during his tenure... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]