Amerindian Heritage Month opens with focus on language preservation

 

By Leroy Smith

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Amerindian Heritage Month 2014 opened last evening [Monday, September 02] with both Minister Pauline Sukhai and President Donald Ramotar calling for much attention to be placed on the preservation of the language of the Indigenous People.

The President said that government has always supported the preservation of the language as he pointed out the compilation and publication of a dictionary of Amerindian words and languages in collaboration with international groups.

Ramotar also spoke about the promotion and development of the Arawak language with Arawaks in Suriname and other neighbouring countries.

Meanwhile, Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai singled out the Arawaks and Warrus as the two most threatened languages that seem to be fading away.

She made it clear that the loss of languages affects the individual identity of Amerindians and by extension damages the community extensively.

Amerindian Heritage Month 2014 is being celebrated under the theme: “Traditional Embodiment for Amerindian Development.”

Yesterday’s launch also saw cultural performance and Amerindian food and beverages which are on sale.

Upon his arrival, President Ramotar was saluted by an Amerindian Guard of Honour even as Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and several other Government Ministers and members of the Diplomatic Corps graced the occasion with their presence.