Show you care about people, politicians

THE EDITOR: I write in reference to reports on the outcome of a recent referendum in Australia with the goal of including the indigenous people in that country’s Constitution.

I applaud the government of Australia for recognising the need for the “indigenous people to have a voice in Parliament to advocate on behalf of the nation’s most disadvantaged ethnic minority.”

The fact that the referendum failed reveals an underlying challenge to the rights of indigenous peoples – partisan politics. That the opposition could launch a “vote no” campaign against the referendum’s objective shows the competition for power, and lack of knowledge of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

If the government is committed to “improving indigenous welfare to close the eight-year gap in average life expectancies between indigenous Australians and the wider community,” it needs to implement the provisions of the UN declaration.

One advocate has said that there was no need for a referendum, which has divided the nation. Rather, “there should have been a plan and process to unite Australians, not to divide us.”

This statement echoes my own thoughts. I have advocated for an independent voice at the local government level and in Parliament for the indigenous peoples of TT, within the context of the UN declaration.

There are 46 articles in the declaration with the goal of establishing a universal framework of standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of the indigenous people of the world. It elaborates on existing human rights standards and fundamental freedoms as they apply to the specific situation of indigenous peoples.

It is time to move beyond signing and ratification to implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous. This will show that politicians care about people, and not about their own survival.

RICARDO BHARATH HERNANDEZ

chief, Santa Rosa

First Peoples Community