Rambharat: First Peoples may build their own school

MINISTER of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Clarence Rambharat says the creation of a school by and for TT’s First Peoples is possible.

He said the group has already said its 25 acres of land will include education programmes.
Rambharat announced this at UWI’s virtual symposium Our First Peoples – Leading us Toward Environmentally Sound and Sustainable Communities, on Monday morning.

In addition to land ownership – which he says they are entitled to, and he supports – he said there is “the issue of education.

“We’ve seen that from a religious point of view, various entities – one in part has a concord with the State – but the other religious groupings have been able to function within the national boards in education and received support from the State.

“We’ll be culminating the First Peoples school, curriculum – special schools for the education of the First Peoples and the descendants of them in the country. That is a fundamental issue we must address,” he said.

Having practised law in British Columbia, Canada and dealing with First Nations law, he shed some light on topics that are likely to be addressed when the First Peoples pursue the implementation of legislation.

He spoke about land, constitutional recognition, protection of traditions and culture, funding, education and perpetuation of First Peoples.

Rambharat also said there is need for more secure funding for the First Peoples, as “We cannot leave it as a government that is favourable or a minister that is favourable comes in this year, so this year we will get the funding.

“How do we perpetuate? How do we establish pre-eminence for the First Peoples in our society in a way that it is non-negotiable? Via legislation, via policies, via the restructuring of the society.”

He said the group deserves utmost respect and recognition.“How do we perpetuate? How do we establish pre-eminence for the First Peoples in our society in a way that it is non-negotiable? Via legislation, via policies, via the restructuring of the society.”

He said the group deserves utmost respect and recognition.