Calls continue for school to apologise over treatment of indigenous student
-as Education, Social Cohesion ministries investigate
The Education and Social Cohesion ministries have launched a joint probe into the alleged discrimination against a Mae’s Schools pupil over his indigenous wear, even as the school faced another protest yesterday calling for it to apologise.
It was the first protest since the school released a statement on Tuesday disputing reports in the media about the circumstances of the case.
But those gathered yesterday were less than satisfied with the school’s response, and noted that what they are seeking is nothing short of an apology.
“I think it was ludicrous; it’s a clear-cut lie. Had the school believed its own lie, that statement would have been forthcoming since Friday. But you took [four] days to come up with something that vague, it’s a clear-cut lie…,” Erika Tularam, one of the coordinators of the protest, stated yesterday.
Several persons questioned the pervasive silence of the relevant agencies on the matter, and specifically the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Social Cohesion.
Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Education Brushell Blackman told Stabroek News yesterday that the ministry has launched a joint probe along with the Ministry of Social Cohesion. However, despite Junior Indigenous Affairs Minister Valerie-Garrido-Lowe formally commenting on the matter during a televised programme, and the Education and Social Cohesion ministries reportedly investigating the matter, none of the aforementioned ministries have released a formal statement.
“…Why aren’t they saying anything? Why aren’t they outrightly condemning this act by Mae’s? We’re just the only ones who are standing up for ourselves and that’s why we’re here but we will continue, we will keep the pressure on because we deserve better. We deserve respect and an apology that’s what we’re fighting for,” Nat Smith, another organizer, stated.
PPP/C Member of Parliament N Dharamlall, who functioned in the cap of Permanent Secretary of the Ministr Amerindian Affairs under the former ad istration, also attended the protest yeste He called the actions of the school “un ranted” and “disrespectful to indigenous ture, while noting that the rights of ind nous people are protected under Amerindian Act of 2006.
“…And to dilute and to diminish Amerindian culture, I think it is somet that requires national action against wha happened,” Dharamlall stated, before ad that the school administration need “remove itself from the high-han response that it has given so far and c down to something that is intelligent and is respectful to the culture of Amerin people in Guyana….”
Silence is consent
“I’m gonna say that the politicians those who are silent, such as the Et Relations Commission, the Ministry Social Cohesion, the Human Ri Commission…there’s a saying, silenc consent. They’re being silent, they nothing to say and they’re going to be s for saying nothing on this issue…,” C Klautky, a member of the Guya Organisation of Indigenous Peoples (G stated yesterday.