HGP Nightly News – A parliamentary debate over the interpretation of recent census data escalated sharply on Wednesday, with APNU Member of Parliament Juretha Fernandes accusing government officials of using cultural arguments to justify economic disparities faced by Guyana’s indigenous population.
The exchange was triggered by the recently released preliminary report from the 2022 National Population and Housing Census. MP Fernandes directed the House’s attention to data indicating that the average household size in hinterland regions, which are predominantly inhabited by Indigenous peoples, is among the highest in the country.
“These numbers are not presented to us just like this. It’s presented to us for our analysis,” Fernandes stated, framing the statistics as a call for policy action rather than passive acceptance.
Her remarks constituted a direct rebuttal to prior statements from government members, including the Minister of Amerindian Affairs, who had defended housing conditions in hinterland communities by referencing cultural practices and traditional architecture. Fernandes passionately rejected this linkage between culture and economic status.
“Not because you’re born as an indigenous person in this country, [does it] subject you to a life of poverty. That should never be the case,” she asserted from the floor of the National Assembly.
The APNU MP then challenged the consistency of this cultural argument, questioning why no government official advocated for a return to older forms of housing in coastal regions while appearing to accept them in hinterland areas. “How dare you come to this house and subject indigenous people by using culture as a means to suppress our economic advancement in this country with a trillion dollar budget,” Fernandes charged.
She further alleged hypocrisy, contrasting the living conditions of average citizens with those of government officials. “You ask indigenous people to be satisfied with substandard living while you drive around in your fancy car,” she stated, calling for greater honesty and equity in national development.
The confrontation highlights a deepening political divide over how to interpret demographic data and translate national wealth into improved living standards for all geographic and ethnic communities, setting the stage for continued debate over resource allocation and regional equity.
