The successful conclusion of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation (ACTO) meeting here represents another important landmark on Guyanese soil and is a reflection of the growing influence of Guyana in regional and continental affairs, coming on the footsteps of the last Rio Summit which was also held here.

The indigenous peoples of the South American continent for a long time have been facing several problems including land rights, health, degradation and suppression of their culture and ruthless exploitation, especially their women folk, among others.

A livid example of the threats to indigenous is illustrated by this OXFAM report: “A 1997 study by the Smithsonian Institute found “extraordinarily high” biological diversity and “virtually no evidence that human activities have had significant impacts” in the Lower Urubamba and Camisea areas. The report identified the biological communities in the area as being “in nearly pristine condition.” Building a gas pipeline directly through lands owned by Machiguenga indigenous communities and the likely migration of colonists to the area will cause environmental destruction and social disruption. These outcomes pose the greatest threats yet to the integrity of the land and resources on which the Machiguenga communities depend for hunting, fishing, and cultivating basic crops for their own subsistence.”

“After many months of construction, seismic testing, and heavy air and river traffic, a “biodiversity scoping study” has been proposed by the companies involved in the project without taking into account a study the Smithsonian Institution carried out five years ago and its series of recommendations for biodiversity monitoring and conservation. Entrusting the documentation, monitoring and conservation of biodiversity to private companies and their direct subcontractors constitutes a potentially grave conflict of interest.”

“The project is operating inside the Nahua-Kugapakori Reserve, an area set aside by the Peruvian government to protect voluntarily isolated indigenous peoples. At least three distinct indigenous groups are known to be living in this reserve, including approximately 450 Nahua people and 950 Nanti. Illnesses contracted by these groups from contact with company workers could be catastrophic. Past incidents of contact between the Nahua people and loggers have proven disastrous; 42% of the Nahua died from diseases contracted from outsiders in the 1980s. These voluntarily isolated peoples have the internationally recognised right to choose the moment and the manner in which they become more integrated into the larger society.”

But indigenous peoples are not facing threats of environmental harm, in more recent times they have now become innocent victims of political power struggles.

In his article: “LATIN AMERICA: ‘War on Terror’ Has Indigenous People in Its Sights” Gustavo González notes: “The ”war on terror”, identified in Amnesty International’s annual report as a new source of human rights abuses, is threatening to expand to Latin America, targeting indigenous movements that are demanding autonomy and protesting free-market policies and “neo-liberal” globalisation.

In the United States “there is a perception of indigenous activists as destabilising elements and terrorists,” and their demands and activism have begun to be cast in a criminal light, lawyer José Aylwin, with the Institute of Indigenous Studies at the University of the Border in Temuco (670 km south of the Chilean capital).”

“Pedro Cayuqueo, director of the Mapuche newspaper Azkintuwe, also from the city of Temuco, wrote that the growing indigenous activism in Latin America and Islamic radicalism are both depicted as threats to the security and hegemony of the United States in the ”Global Trends 2020 - Mapping the Global Future” study by the U.S. National Intelligence Council (NIC).”

This collective approach being adopted by the indigenous peoples of the region in addressing and bringing resolution to the many problems that confront them is a most progressive and forward thinking one. In fact, wherever a group of people face similar or common problems this should be the preferred approach rather than a resort to radicalism and extremism, which may bring some success in the short term, but in the final analysis will result in great harm and suffering in the long term-where everyone is a loser. The world is replete with such experiences on every continent.

According to our Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Ms. Pauline Sukhai, the deliberations were very harmonious and delegates agreed on actively moving forward all the issues addressed at the meeting. This is indeed encouraging because too often internal squabbles and sharp differences among members of organisations result in stalemates.

One of the notable outcomes of the ACTO meeting was the agreement on the “Georgetown Report” albeit after extended discussions. So often meetings among various groupings of countries end in deadlock and therefore after much effort and finance have been expended the exercise turns to be one of futility.

Here in Guyana while there still many problems facing Amerindian communities improvements have been steadily observed since the establishment of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs - the brain child of the late President Dr Cheddi Jagan.

Many communities now have secondary schools which were non-existent, health facilities have improved; and on this score the Community Health Workers Programme by the Ministry has been a great success. Many communities now have river transport through boats and engines provided by the government, as well agricultural tools and equipment to improve agricultural output.

And with the establishment of Amerindian Heritage Day and Amerindian Month which we are currently observing, there is an increasing focus on the life, history and culture of Amerindians. As such the other sections of the Guyanese populace are developing a greater appreciation of the contributions of their Amerindian brothers and sisters.