GEORGETOWN: To make a pair of earrings, it takes the Indigenous people a little over two days since they have to get the right beads, feathers and strings for the perfect combination.
Once the product is completed, it is the marketing that is considered the most challenging part.
For Amerindians residing in the interior locations in Guyana, the heritage month is what they consider “Christmas” as it is during this period they sell most of their products.
Their items range from hats, jewelry, baskets made out of branches, cassava bread, farine, cassareep, among others.
Every year, during the month of September, which is designated heritage month, the Indigenous people would travel to the city from various parts of the interior to sell their art and craft, food and to also showcase their culture.
Because their products are hand-made, it would cost a little more than those imported.
During the past week at the Sophia, Georgetown, heritage exhibition, a number of Amerindians were heard complaining about having to travel back home with their products; since it was the imported items that mostly attracted customers.
They claimed that the exhibition, which was supposed to be about the Indigenous people and their culture, turned out to be about all the other races.
Persons who visited the site would prefer to pay $200 for an imported necklace than to buy one for $500 from an Amerindian.
An Aishalton, North Rupununi resident, Joyce Lawrence, expressed her frustration to the media.
She claimed that on the first day of the exhibition she was shocked to see barbeque, potato chips, burgers and fried rice on sale when it was supposed to be wild meat, cassava bread, farine and other Amerindian delicacies.
Lawrence, who has been a part of the Amerindian exhibition for the past five years, said that there are Indigenous people in the interior locations who are eager to participate in the annual heritage celebration but cannot afford it.
“They breach the contract because we coming here to sell our produce and we see everyone here. People are here selling beers, rum and the Chinese products,” the woman lamented.
Lorna DeCambra, who was selling at the craft section, said that she too was disappointed when she noticed there were other items, a part of those made by Amerindians, on display.
“In Guyana, we have the Indian, the African and the Amerindian.
When the Indians or Africans have their events, you don’t see the Amerindians there showcasing their products,” DeCambra exclaimed.
She related that the reason why the imported items would sell more than the ones made by the Indigenous people is because they are made out of plastic and are cheaper.
“We make our products with materials from the tree, with beads that come from plants. Everything we use is what can be found in the interior so our items would be a little more expensive,” she stressed.
The Minister of Indigenous People Affairs, Sydney Allicock, when contacted by this publication said that he is aware of the concerns raised by the Amerindians.
He explained that the problems faced by the Indigenous people during the exhibition will be rectified. He said that a committee will be formed to deal with these issues so that come 2016, the same problems will not be repeated.
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