…as Heritage Month approachesHeritage Month is mere days away,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, and while Guyana’s indigenous men and women prepare to celebrate the month under the theme “Preserving Indigenous Customs and Traditions,” the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) is spreading hope for real Amerindian development.Yesterday the PNCR said it believes that Heritage Month is of particular significance because it presents the opportunity for “our Amerindian brothers and sisters” to showcase their outstanding historical and cultural contribution to the development of this nation. On each occasion that this is done it reminds the population as a whole that Guyana is a nation of multiculturalism, ethnic diversity and social pluralism.The PNCR boasted that it has played a well-known role in the development of the various Amerindian communities. The party noted that it hosted the first Amerindian Conference in 1969 and facilitated the demarcation and distribution of Amerindian land titles.The party said that it “must give voice to its firmly held view that not enough is being done to protect these communities from being challenged by such dark issues as trafficking in persons,Wholesale Authentic Jerseys, as outlined in several international reports.”The party cited a recent World Bank Report which states that the levels of poverty are highest in the Indigenous Communities in Guyana.In this regard,Cheap Jerseys Store, PNCR,NFL Jerseys Supply, which is a strong force in A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), said that the new APNU+AFC government will implement sustainable programmes to reduce the levels of poverty,Wholesale NFL Jerseys USA, in Amerindian communities,Cheap Jerseys For Sale, including programmes which will empower them to become self-sufficient, rather than those that are now prevalent and which perpetuate their dependency and reliance on handouts from the previous Government and other agencies.“The PNCR wishes our Indigenous Brothers and Sisters Happy Heritage Month celebrations and assures them that our Party continues to be irrevocably committed to the implementation of programmes for the empowerment of the Indigenous Communities while respecting their way of life”.

By Romila BoodramA woman who says she was raped 25 years ago is now speaking out, and is contemplating seeking justice against her alleged perpetrator, whom she claims now holds a prominent place in society.She says that fear for her safety is one of the reasons why she waited until now to speak out. But the woman says she also wants to protect other potential victims from the same individual, whom she claims hold a position which allows him to be in contact with rape victims.How it all started‘Opal’ (not her real name) says it was sometime in January, 1990 when she was invited by a close female friend, to have a drink and hang out at a hotel poolside.Earlier that day,Wholesale China Jerseys, her parents had departed the Cheddi Jagan International Airport for a scheduled heart surgery that had to be performed on her father in neighbouring Venezuela.At around 16:30 hrs, Opal said she decided to leave, since it was getting late.Her friend also decided to leave.Just as the duo were about to walk out through the door,Jerseys NFL Wholesale, they were stopped by a male relative of Opal’s friend. The woman said that she knew the individual and had even attended his wedding.“He asked us where we were going so early and I said that we were going home and he told us to stay back a little but I tell him that my parents were not in the country so I have to go home. He offered to drop us to the car park but I refused and I said we will take a bus,” the woman said.She recalled that it suddenly began to rain, so she eventually accepted the man’s offer to drop her to a car park.“When I accepted the offer,Cheap NHL Jerseys, my friend suddenly decided that she would no longer be going home, so I ask her what happened and she said she will be staying back a little and she tell me to let him give me a drop.”She said that although she was a little skeptical, she took the chance, since she knew the individual and it had begun to rain heavily.“When he reach to the car park, he didn’t stop and when I asked him, he tell me that he gun drop me by the Harbour Bridge. Now when he reached by the bridge he didn’t want to stop and then he tell me that he is going to buy gas.”She said he even refused to allow her out of his car when he reached the gas station. In fact, he told her that he was taking her for a drive, but when she refused, he ignored her and “put on his power lock.”The individual was allegedly a race car driver back then and according to Opal,NFL Jerseys Outlet, every time she tried to open the door, he would drive faster to scare her.“He told me that he taking me to Linden and he took me to this place behind the racing circuit where it was bushy. I tried to open the car but I couldn’t. He said if I don’t allow him, he will kill me,” the woman, who is now 51, related.She recalled trying to fight off her attacker, who dragged her to the back seat and raped her repeatedly.According to woman, she fainted during the ordeal. “He choked me and beat me and he raped me. He said if I tell anyone, he would kill me.”After her one-hour ordeal, she said that her attacker took her to the East Bank Demerara where she was left to take a bus? home.Scared and traumatized, Opal said that she did not make a police report because she was worried that her ailing father might find out.Also, she was scared that her attacker would have sent people to harm her.“The day after I was raped, my friend (the one she was with) showed up by me and asked if everything was alright. It was very strange and sometimes I think, she played a part in my attack,NFL Jerseys Cheap,” Opal stated.She said that she cried for days and stayed indoors.At one time, Opal recalled that she wanted to end her life. “I wanted to take my clothes off and jump over the Harbour Bridge but I had a friend who helped me out a lot. He counseled me throughout that time.”Although it has been over 25 years since she was molested, what happened on that day is still fresh in her memory and she would still sit and cry,Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping, the woman said.“Once you were raped, you can never get over it. In fact, it haunts you forever. Reading stories about rape drives me crazy because I know what that victim will have to go through.”She noted that when her attacker sees her at public events, he would look at her, bow his head and then walk away.But Opal is now speaking out because she believes that other victims will also expose her attacker.She said she also believes that her story will help others to make the right decision and not allow the alleged perpetrator to walk freely, as did 25 years ago.