President Irfaan Ali has urged members of the Amerindian population not to fall prey to persons seeking to exploit them for their own personal and political interests.
‘Do not allow your grievances and aspirations to become somebody else’s escape route for their own legal troubles. Do not allow your concerns to be used as a ticket to avoid jail,’ he told the opening of the Amerindian Heritage Month 2026 at the Amerindian village, Sophia on Tuesday night.
Ali, in an Amerindian head dress, repeatedly warned against those persons whom he did not name, but may be seeking to exploit issues confronting Indigenous people for personal gains.
‘Be careful of some who claim to speak on your behalf, but whose true interests may lie elsewhere. Be wary of those who come among you seeking to sow division, distrust and disaffection. Who seek to turn legitimate concerns into grievances and grievances into political instruments for their own purposes.
‘I call them wolves. There will always be those who seek to use the legitimate aspirations of our indigenous peoples for their own selfish ends. They may speak the language of empowerment, justice, and representation but ask yourselves, whose interests are they really advancing?’ President Ali said.
Ali , who told the ceremony that his administration had made significant investments in indigenous communities, said the population of these areas must be aware of false prophets, especially those who appear in sheep’s clothing.
‘I say to you, our indigenous brothers and sisters, be careful about those who suddenly appear among you when there is a crisis – arriving in fast boats, bearing hampers and expressions of sympathy, presenting themselves as champions of your interests.
‘Be especially careful when people seek to turn your legitimate concerns into a vehicle for their own political or personal survival. Ali said in an apparent reference to Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, who recently used one of his own fast boats to visit a number of Amerindian communities. Mohamed and other members of the opposition We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party had travelled to Port Kaituma and Mabaruma where they met with survivors and relatives of the more than 100 people who died when the MV Barima ferry sank on July 18.
They also donated supplies to those affected, warned them against signing government documents in exchange for cash and offered them counselling and legal services.
But Ali told the ceremony that his ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) will continue to stand with the people throughout this and eery other disaster.
‘When all is said and done, it is the PPPC administration that will always remain at your side. It is this administration that has stood with you, not only when it is politically convenient, but in times of crisis. It is the PPP government that stands with you through the long journey of development.
‘Walking with you through the difficult days, building with you through the better days and working with you to secure a brighter tomorrow for generations yet to come, it is the PPP/C that will say to you, the work is not done,’ Ali said.
He said over the last five years, the PPP/C Administration invested more than GUY$41.7 billion (One Guyana dollar=US$0.008 cents) in Amerindian villages with GUY$21.7 billion injected into the Amerindian Development Fund.
‘Hydropower, solar farms, household solar. We have made those investments so that your children can become trained teachers right in their villages and thousands of your children are now becoming trained teachers in your villages,’ he said.
‘Look beyond the crisis and ask who still will stand with you when the fast boat has gone because in the final analysis you know who has stood with you for the long haul. You know who has invested in your communities and who has worked with your leaders,’ he said.
Political observers note that the Indigenous Amerindian vote, together with a sway among coastland voters, is crucial in the outcome of any general and regional elections in Guyana.