Guyana's people

05 Oct
Guyana’s Wai Wai establish a precedent for Indigenous People

During the second Latin American Parks Congress this week, the Wai Wai established a new precedent for Indigenous People, becoming the first to declare their territory a ‘Community Owned Conservation Area.’
Backed by a government decree and supported by US-based Conservation International (CI), they also banned miners and loggers from their section of the Amazon jungle in remote southern Guyana, near the border of Brazil–and pledged to pursue a sustainable economic strategy based on ecotourism, research and traditional crafts.
According to Cemci Sose, the Kayaritomo of the Wai Wai, this plan has been developed as a means for them to preserve their culture, the need for which has increased in recent years. Their are only about 240 Wai Wai today; and as young people venture out to find employment, that number will decrease.
There are also rising fears about the damage caused by loggers and miners that illegally enter their territory, coupled with the concern that the Government will soon give in to pressure, paving a veritable road of development straight to Brazil.
Under the plan outlined at the conference, some of the Wai Wai would train to become forest rangers who will report any miners or other threats they spot to national authorities.
“We have always been keepers of the forests that support us, and now it is official, recognized by the government and the world,” said Cemci Sose, the current Kayaritomo of the Wai Wai.
Thankfully, the plan is being applauded by the Government, “The Wai Wai have confirmed what the Government of Guyana has always espoused; that is, settling Amerindian land claims is one way of protecting the environment for future generations,” said Hon. Minister of Amerindian Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues. “Who is better placed to protect the environment than those who have been doing it for time immemorial.”
The Wai Wai have also extended an invitation to foreign researchers and other visitors–but they say they do not want tourists inside their village. Instead, they’ve begun to restore a nearby village that was abandoned in 2000, where they will display their production of traditional items such as baskets, jewelry and beaded aprons

Good news on Guyana

MCC’s Partnerships throughout Latin America
What’s equally smart and strategic is the power of effective partnerships to fight poverty in the Americas. With nearly $1 billion committed to compacts and threshold programs in the Americas, MCC is proof of positive and constructive U.S. engagement throughout the Western Hemisphere.

MCC CEO Ambassador John Danilovich shakes hands with Bharrat Jagdeo, the President of Guyana
I was reminded of this just yesterday when I welcomed Bharrat Jagdeo, the President of Guyana, to MCC to discuss progress on Guyana’s nearly $7 million MCC threshold program, which is aimed at overhauling fiscal policies, creating a more business-friendly environment, and streamlining business registration. Guyana’s progress is proof of the deep resolve in the Americas to replace poverty with prosperity, and we are proud of our role in helping our partners achieve their self-determined, country-driven antipoverty plans.

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Good news on Guyana

Why the West should put money in the trees

VIEWPOINTBharrat Jagdeo

This is why in 2006, I suggested that the UK and Guyana could work together to identify bold rainforest solutions that could be used as models for the world.
For our part, we are willing to place almost our entire rainforest - which is larger than England - under internationally verified supervision if the right economic incentives are created.
This does not mean sacrificing sovereignty over our forest or restricting the development aspirations of our people. It simply means allowing globally recognised supervision to verify that activities within the forest are sustainable.

Robert doing he ting for Mash

Robert can do he ting,

Just throw up u hand and have a fling.

This is a man of action,

Check out the motion and gyration,

From left to right,

This man can wine with a might,

So tell Vinci and Van West,

Dancing Corbin is PNC best.

So people here and people there,

Come join Corbin,

As he wine and do u ting.

Next wine down is on the 23rd Feb, 2009.

Guns at Berbice Bridge

What kind of guns do you think I am talking about here????? and whose vehicle am i talking about????

Could it be

Benschop Truck

This Banna pick up truck is a royal red ford F150 Pickup with starting price of US$ 20,000.00 or in Guyana sells for 5.2 MILLION. This fool register his pick up in GLL and expect to pay private car rate. This man wants to become a politician in Guyana when he living fat and trying to tell us that he is working for the poor people of this country. When are we going to wake up and see that having come out of prision penniless he is just trying to make some money under the pretex of helping us poor guyanese.

What's the deal dude?

These two dudes were caught in the act. Can anyone say what is the deal?

Do you know this man?

Anyone who can identify this man will be rewarded.

Donkeys at Stabroek News

This is the picture on today's edition of the Stabroek News. It is directly under a bold highlighted headline which reads "Opposition boycotts debate" A casual reader may ass-ume that the stabroek news is referring to the opposition as ..... you guessed it .... donkeys.

More to the point however is the clear message that since the death of David DeCaries the new editorial team at the SN are all ...... you guessed it .....donkeys or more to the point a bunch of asses.

Flood in Guyana & Iowa

This is a picture of a flood in Guyana

These three are from a flood in Iowa:

And this is Guyana.

Where would you prefer to experience a flood. Climate change is everywhere. Want to see more go to: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/06/mississippi_floodwaters_in_iow.html

Getting it right in Guyana.

This is Guyana and we are all guyanese. When we see this picture we understand different things from those living in the 'developed' world. We all come from the land of many waters but some would have you believe that we do not know how to live in our own land. The Stabroek News in particular carries pictures of buildings on stilts and captions that read " This shop has been flooded since the heavy rainfall began in December last year." The picture clearly shows that the yard is flooded and not the shop. It also tell us guyanese that the man who buildt the shop knew what he was doing and that the location is subject to floodwaters so he buildt on stilts.
The article is titled "Dochfour still swamped: no action taken" Yet in their own edition the following day they proclaimed "Pumps relieve Dochfour flood". On the other hand other media houses in Guyana were carrying items on the numerous interventuions by the government and the people of Dochfour even to the building of a dam to empolder the village in an effort to relieve the flooding. It is this type of misinformation that gives Guyana a bad name and it is time we stop this nonsense.