Govt urged to help heritage village

Head of the Santa Rosa First Peoples Ricardo Bharath-Hernandez, yesterday, urged Government to establish a committee to ensure the community’s vision for a heritage village is realised.

He made the appeal while addressing a function to mark the one-off public holiday for First Peoples descendants at Arima Velodrome. The function followed a procession through the streets of Arima to symbolise the historic occasion.

Bharath-Hernandez said strategic steps must be taken to achieve their dream of a heritage park on a 25-acre parcel of land along the Blanchisseuse Road, Arima.

“I ask the Government to establish a committee from various arms of special ministries, private sectors and NGOs that will bring their skills and other resources to the assistance of the First Peoples in developing our heritage village.”

Bharath-Hernandez said, in the last fiscal year, an allocation was set aside for the First Peoples under the Public Sector Investment Programme “which the community was unable to access for various technical reasons.”

He added: “Without meaningful recognition and input of our Government, we cannot advance our cause. Our long-term vision is to see the establishment of a village on the 25 acres of land that will be a flagship, not only for Arima but for the wider nation.”

Bharath-Hernandez said the heritage park, once operational, would assist in the country’s diversification thrust.

“We are presenting a model, not as a show-piece but for economic returns while at the same time preserving our heritage,” He said. “I appeal to the Government representatives and those who will hear my voice through the various channels of the media, to look at it as a billion-dollar project because at some time, it will surely be that in the future.”

Recounting the struggles of the First Peoples over the years to gain recognition, Bharath-Hernandez told celebrants that successive governments had played a part in the march to recognition.

He recalled that in 1976, late prime minister Dr Eric Williams had approved a grant of $157.50 to enable registration of the community.

“This was a princely grant considering that the only other direct contribution to the community was $200 from the Arima Borough Corporation for the Santa Rosa Festival.

“Subsequently, every political party in office has provided some support to the community.”

However, he said formal recognition of the First Peoples came through the National Alliance For Reconstruction.