Ten Indigenous leaders were honoured for their invaluable contributions to community development, at an event on the reflection on the life of Stephen Campbell on Monday, at the Umana Yana, Kingston, Georgetown.
Among those honoured for their contribution in the area of education, health and community development were Johnathan Jarvis, Edwards Anthony Jarvis and Olga Chacon, all of Region One (Barima-Waini); Morris Leyland Jeffery of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Lloyd Andrews and Amanda Mahadeo of Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Sylvie Henry of Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); Rudolph Peneux of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); Dianna Abraham of Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and John Medas Alfred and Janet Rema Yaymochi of Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) were also honoured.
The late Stephen Campbell, Guyana’s first Indigenous Member of Parliament, is widely regarded as a hero by the Indigenous communities, and his achievements are celebrated on September 10 every year as a part of activities to commemorate Amerindian Heritage Month.
Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock described Campbell as a “Jack of all Trades and Master for the representation of land rights for the Indigenous peoples.” He said Campbell was a visionary and most of what he represented is still relevant today.
The Minister encouraged the Indigenous population to use the opportunity to remember all those who would have fought for their rights and contributed to the development of Guyana.
Also noting the importance of celebration was Minister within the Ministry, Valerie Garrido-Lowe. The Minister described Stephen Campbell as a “strong man and a fighter for the rights of the Indigenous peoples”.
Among his achievements were his efforts towards crafting an Amerindian Act, and improving access to health and education services, and agriculture development. Minister Garrido-Lowe underscored the importance of Campbell’s role in ensuring that the Indigenous peoples were given legal rights of their lands.
“Indigenous peoples must remember that their lands are valuable to them… We take for granted that somebody had to make representation for us to have our lands and that person was Stephen Campbell.”
Also in attendance of the event were First Lady Sandra Granger; Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman; Public Affairs Minister Dawn Hastings-Williams; and Minister with within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings.
