Authorities should undertake thorough probe of Wakapoa deaths, bitter cassava industry badly hit

Dear Editor,

A fortnight ago today, the Indigenous community of Wakapoa on the Pomeroon laid to rest two of its members who allegedly consumed food processed from bitter cassava.

It is known worldwide that we the Indigenous tribes have processed cassava bread and other products from the bitter cassava root for hundreds, if not, thousands of years.

This process is never allowed to be handled by the very young and inexperienced, Editor. At the least, one very experienced person belonging to the immediate family must supervise the process for obvious reasons.

Never before has this writer heard of persons dying from improperly processed cassava, or bitter cassava products. In fact, for your information, bitter cassava products are used by untold amounts of persons recuperating from various ailments, the world over.

Editor, I am subject to correction, but suffice it to say that if the persons did die from eating improperly cooked food, and so far nothing is definitive, it is nothing but an isolated case. Medically, nothing so far has been forthcoming to allay the fears of citizens. No one has so far even given a report following the post-mortem examinations, and I’m sure pm’s were done.

Following the deaths of these two Indigenous persons, the deaths which shocked the entire nation after they allegedly ate Indigenous food, life to many is far from being restored to normal, thanks to numerous speculations that help to keep John Public’s fears alive.

There are those who were making a livelihood from the sale of bitter cassava products, but that now has to be put on hold as buyers have literally closed their doors until further notice, maybe, when Guyanese would have forgotten the whole episode. For example farmers, especially single parents who depend on the sale of cassava products, are adversely affected and no one is coming to their rescue. No one is saying anything.

When officialdom remains silent over any issue it serves only to provide fodder for speculation and doubt. It is this which is causing to a great extent, an adverse image of our Indigenous culture, our cuisine, more so the popular Pepperpot.

May I say, Editor, that ever since the incident which is the subject of my letter, I paid a visit to that very community of Wakapoa and ate my fill of cassava bread and pepperpot and so have concluded that there is nothing to fear. It is all an isolated case; apparently a ‘much ado about nothing’ situation.

May the relevant authorities quickly order a thorough investigation and thereafter make a public statement to bring closure to the issue above once and for all? With thanks.

Yours faithfully,

Joseph C. Atkinson (Indigenous first and foremost) Lake Tapakuma Village, Region 2