“While Baldeo’s abrasive style of bare-knuckle politics may not win him many allies in the political establishment, it’s been effective in voicing the concerns of his community…If’s there’s one person qualified to represent the underdogs, it’s Baldeo.” – Queens Tribune/Press of South East QueensSome leaders and visionaries are born before their time. His political battles against the status quo have often classified him as such, but Albert Baldeo sees it a bit differently. “It’s not that we are born before our time. It is more like seeing the long overdue need for economic and social justice to be dispensed across the board to those who are disadvantaged historically, and I have lived in such an environment both in Guyana and the USA where my crusade against such injustices probably make people think that way of me. But social inequalities are there for every minority person to see and experience, and I am one of those who feel strongly that it has no place in a democracy. Human rights do not have a timeline. They are fundamental to man’s existence and dignity,” Baldeo explained.Albert's parents-Harry and Latchmin made tremendous sacrifices and instilled values in them, to help them become an engineer (Fred), a doctor (Philip), a teacher (Grace) and a lawyer (Albert).On February 7, 2012, Albert Baldeo utilized his vision and initiative as a District Leader and community advocate to organize an unprecedented march and rally by the large Indo Caribbean community upon Queens Borough Hall to demand a seat at the table of government, and to keep Richmond Hill and South Ozone Park or “Little Guyana” together as a district, instead of being fragmented into several Assembly, State Senate and Congressional seats.? This redistricting exercise is done every 10 years, and previous attempts were quashed by those who wanted to preserve the status quo. “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi have both talked about the urgency of now, and have installed in us that we must be the change we want to see in the world. We just cannot sit on the sidelines and expect that we will see changes. Democracy has never been a spectator’s sport,” Baldeo philosophized.His initiative was well supported by other community leaders, as Vishnu Mahadeo,? President of the Richmond Hill Economic Development Council, John Albert and Rachana Shah of the Taking Our Seat, Jerry Vattamala of the Asian American Legal Defense Fund, Ashook Ramsaran of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin, Richard David of the Indo Caribbean Alliance, Garth Marchant of the Civil Rights Alliance, Darrel Sukhdeo of Agenda 21,? Rohan Narine and Aminta Kilawan of? Tri Murti Bhavan and SADHANA,? Ali Najmi of SEVA, Maf Uddin and Leela Maret of DC 37, Kawal Totaram, Kris Gounden,Jerseys China Wholesale, Rosanna Beaumont, Jeewan Persaud of Century 21 Crossroads Realty, Vishnu Bisram, Pandit Yoga, Stanley Raj, Bhola Ramsundar, Ramesh Kilawan, Frank Singh and Hari Dukhram, all coalesced in a strong show of support for a unified Richmond Hill district.Albert Baldeo has built coalitions with progressive leaders-even with his detractors. Some call him the Al Sharpton of Richmond Hill; others refer to him as the Cheddi Jagan of New York. The Queens Tribune probably analyzed Baldeo best when they endorsed him as a champion of the oppressed in September 2008: “While Baldeo’s abrasive style of bare-knuckle politics may not win him many allies in the political establishment, it’s been effective in voicing the concerns of his community…If’s there’s one person qualified to represent the underdogs, it’s Baldeo.”He is not a professional politician, but “became involved in politics because he knows that real economic, social and political reforms are best achieved through legislative action or by revolutionary initiative. Advocacy in the court room has its limitations, whereas you can help an entire nation through political initiatives,” he reasoned. His passion for civil rights and social justice found a natural ally in his professional instincts as a successful attorney.Albert fought for the Gounden family against injustice, and advocates for better health care.In the legal field, he carved new horizons by becoming the youngest lawyer at 22 years, and a Magistrate and Senior State Counsel at 25 in Guyana. He was one of Guyana’s finest prosecutors and the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges complimented him many times for his presentations. His efforts rid the country of many violent criminals who terrorized and killed innocent hard working families. His most famous case was The State v. Alvin Mitchell, which was reported in the West Indian Law Reports. He prosecuted Mitchell for strangling a young waitress to death in Bartica, and then dumping her out of a land rover. In other cases, he secured convictions against D

Summit of the Americas…By Tusika Martin Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, outshone her foreign affairs colleagues at the lead up meeting to the Fifth Summit of the Americas on Friday last, when she agreed with indigenous leaders that development must not proceed at the expense of the indigenous peoples.Rodrigues-Brikett was among Foreign Affairs Ministers in the hemisphere to deliberate on recommendations made by the private sector, the indigenous peoples and youths.The youths, the private sector and the civil society in the hemisphere met two days before the summit and were engaged in separate discussions.Guyana's Foreign Affairs Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett,Wholesale Jerseys, left, chatting with Trinidad and Tobago's Foreign Affairs Minister, Paula Gopee-Scoon at the meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers Speaking to the participants of the Indigenous Leaders forum, the Guyanese Foreign Minister who was also a former Minister of Amerindian Affairs said,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, “I think that it would not be development if you proceed with projects or programmes that would affect the lives of indigenous peoples.”She added that she is of the strong belief that dialogue is very important at the level of the hemisphere, while noting that there is much more need for dialogue.“Many times when we are engaged in conversation at home our objectives are not very different on how we achieve them. We might have different strategies and I take your point that development must not proceed at the expense of the indigenous people. I think that it would not be development if you proceed with projects or programmes that would affect the lives of indigenous peoples.She told the gathering that just three years ago,Wholesale Jerseys, legislation was passed in Guyana enabling indigenous peoples to have access to land.This legislation also included clauses on governance and mining for indigenous people.In the declaration submitted to the Foreign Ministers, the leaders for the indigenous peoples stated that their rights must be recognized, respected, promoted and implemented by Indigenous Peoples, the Organisation of American States and its members,wholesale nfl jerseys, and other regional, national and international agencies and institutions.These include self-determination, rights to the lands, territories and natural resources, civil and political rights, economic, social and cultural rights.According to the plan of action that was also submitted to the Foreign Affairs Ministers for their Heads of Government consideration, the indigenous people noted that administrations should take effective measures to reduce the extreme impoverishment and social and economic marginalization of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas.They also called for Heads of Government to take effective measures to ensure protection against human rights violations related to child labour, forced conscription into armed conflict and trafficking,Cheap Jerseys Store, migration,Wholesale Football Jerseys, forced displacement and forced relocation of Indigenous Peoples.The facilitation, support and promotion of the appropriate use and development of information were also negotiated by the leaders.They said that effective measures should be taken to ensure the rights of Indigenous children and youth to a clean, healthy, sustainable and prosperous future and to an adequate standard of life, to be able to maintain their cultures and traditions.