COVID-19: Indigenous Leaders call for more to be done to protect residents

The Amerindian People’s Association (APA) has raised concerns that with the restrictions placed on non-essential services, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and other bodies tasked with protecting Amerindian rights and their lands have not been operating.

As a result, miners and loggers have been traversing in villages, posing a threat to the residents of those communities since there is no way to find out if they have been in contact with anyone affected by COVID-19.

APA’s Mapping and Geographic Information System (GIS) Specialist, Michael McGarrel, emphasized that “having one person infected in a community can destroy that community and that can be the end of that community.”

“Our communities are very close-knitted and just having one person coming in there can really just wipe out that community,” he stated.

Guyana has confirmed 63 cases of the COVID-19 thus far with over 80% in Region Four.

Governance and Rights Coordinator at the APA, Laura George, pointed to an instance at Chinese Landing in Region One. The villagers and miners have been involved in a battle over who owns the landing for some time and with no final decision, she said “mining has increased, mining continued and the village council is left at a loss trying to safeguard its residents.”

It was pointed out that while some communities have put systems in place to block out intruders, this is not always possible.

She was speaking on a panel discussion hosted by the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) on Friday.

APA’s Executive Director Jean LaRose who is from the village of Santa Rosa in Region One said “some of the communities [like hers and some communities at the border with Brazil in Region Nine] took very early decisions to prevent persons moving in and out of the communities… because many of them do not have good access to medical and health care.”

She noted that another challenge experienced is that some of the messages about social and physical distancing and hygiene are not in the languages the Indigenous peoples most understand.

LaRose said the APA has been sharing information to communities from the World Health Organisation on how to protect themselves.

The Indigenous leaders are very concerned about the COVID-19 disease getting to their communities since access to healthcare is not readily available nor is telephone contact.

LaRose explained that while there are COVID-19 hotlines in the regions, not all villages can readily access a telephone to contact the hotline. She added that if someone contracts the virus in a far-flung community, the time taken for contact to be made with officials, for a plane to get into the area and then leave, can be detrimental to the entire community.

Speaking to some indigenous students and residents who have been stuck in the City and other parts of Guyana during the lockdown, the leaders have asked that they stay where they are and stay at home to protect themselves and their families.

“I would advise if you are safe and do not need to go back home, stay…” La Rose urged.

For those from Warapoka in Region One, the Village council has set up a system to help persons who want to return home.

She called on the government to collaborate relief efforts with the district councils and district development boards in the regions, adding there needs to be a long term plan which can be used in future pandemic or disasters.