Region Nine residents fume at Allicock’s remark

Rupununi, Region Nine residents  have expressed disappointment in A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament Sydney Allicock, following a statement he made during the budget debate, that the Rupununi is the most backward place in the Caribbean. On a visit to Lethem, Allicock apologised for his remarks, according to a report carried in the Sunday Chronicle.

Wowetta senior councillor Bertie Xavier expressed dissatisfaction over the statement made by Allicock, who himself is a Region Nine resident, a release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) said.
“We have seen progress, whether it be small-, medium- or large-scale,” Xavier said.
Disrespectful
“It is disrespectful to Amerindians… I want to make it clear that having made statements that somewhat undermine Amerindian development is really an “eye-pass” to indigenous people, because over the past years, things have been happening for us; and today, Amerindians are able to live a more comfortable life,” Xavier asserted.
How can one compare Region Nine to the Caribbean?  Xavier asked. He pointed out that as a young man he expects more from someone who claims to be representing indigenous people at the national level
Xavier said that things may not be happening as fast as they should because of challenges within the mainstream, but he is optimistic that, with time, positive things will happen for the development of indigenous communities and Guyana at large.
North Rupununi Community Development Officer Priscilla Torres said it was disturbing to know that such a statement was made about the region, since MP Allicock hails from the North Rupununi and would have benefitted from the developments by the government.

“I feel so bad to hear that, because I know we are slowly developing in Region Nine, and I believe that we are heading somewhere,” she said.
According to Fairview Toshao Albertino Peters, in most instances the MP would make condemnatory remarks about people in the region, failing to acknowledge that there have been improvements.
“How can you condemn your own people, it’s like condemning your own self because he came from here,” Toshao Peters said.
Improved living standards
The toshao said everything takes time, but “our standard of living has been improving year by year”.
He remembered as a child he did not have the opportunity to receive the kind of education the children in his community are now receiving.
He stressed that today his community now has schools, a health post, and modern means of transportation.
Region Nine boasts a new hospital at Lethem; a commercial zone; numerous schools, including three secondaries; and health centres and outposts. Now, one can easily travel to that region through the investments made on roads by yearly budgetary allocations.