By: Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News |
Indigenous Member of Parliament and We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) representative Leslyn Lowe has issued a sharp rebuke of the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), accusing the government of long-standing neglect, disrespect, and failure to uphold the dignity and human rights of Indigenous peoples in Guyana.
In a strongly worded statement released Thursday evening, Lowe said Indigenous communities have historically endured hardship in silence—not because their struggles are minimal, but because their concerns have repeatedly been ignored by those in power.
“The Indigenous peoples of this nation have never been vociferous or vocal about issues affecting them, not because their challenges are fewer, but because their dignity has often been met with silence from those elected to serve them,” Lowe stated. “But silence from a people does not grant leaders the license to ignore their fundamental human rights, nor does it absolve the state from its duty to ensure equal treatment, dignity, and access to the necessities of life.”
Her comments were made in response to what she described as deplorable and inhumane conditions at the Amerindian Hostel on Princess Street, Georgetown—conditions that have recently come under national scrutiny.
Lowe noted that during a recent visit to the hostel by Presumptive Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, residents felt empowered to openly voice concerns about their living conditions for the first time.
“Mr. Mohamed’s presence did not ignite these concerns; it simply created a safe moment for truth to be spoken aloud,” she clarified.
She further defended Mohamed’s role, describing him as a humanitarian committed to listening to and advocating for those he represents.
“His visit to the Amerindian Hostel was in direct response to concerns raised by residents. In his role as a Member of Parliament and Opposition Leader-in-waiting, that responsibility is even more urgent,” Lowe said.
The WIN MP expressed deep frustration with what she described as the government’s continued neglect of Indigenous welfare, particularly regarding access to basic services and humane living conditions. She also levelled pointed criticism at Minister of Amerindian Affairs Sarah Browne-Shadeek, accusing her of deflecting responsibility and attempting to silence opposition voices.
“Any fair-minded observer knows that the claim of ‘bullying’ is untrue,” Lowe said, rejecting allegations that WIN MPs intimidated the minister during the hostel visit. “The Minister was neither overwhelmed nor silenced. She engaged in defence, as any experienced political figure would.”
Lowe further questioned the timing of the government’s response, noting that plans to address hostel conditions appeared only after opposition intervention.
“As an Indigenous woman herself, the Minister should know deeply and personally the suffering our people have endured,” Lowe said. “Yet the PPP has governed for 28 of the last 33 years, and the neglect has continued.”
She posed a series of direct questions to the minister, asking why action was not taken earlier during her tenure as Parliamentary Secretary, and why Indigenous communities continue to endure substandard conditions.
Lowe also raised concerns about what she described as the manipulation of Indigenous institutions to shield the government from accountability.
“It is deeply troubling that Indigenous institutions, including the National Toshaos Council, are being used to divert attention from the real issue—the degrading conditions at a facility meant to support vulnerable Indigenous people,” she said.
Highlighting the irony of Guyana receiving millions of U.S. dollars in carbon credits while Indigenous people remain marginalized, Lowe questioned whether adequate benefits are reaching the very communities that protect the country’s forests.
She concluded with a call to action, urging Indigenous peoples to demand respect, equality, and humane treatment, and calling on the government to accept responsibility for addressing decades-old injustices.
Lowe’s statement was publicly endorsed by fellow WIN Members of Parliament Dawn Hastings-Williams, Duarte Hetsberger, and Deon La Cruz.
