Indigenous people best environmentalists — Carrera
Panama’s indigenous people are the best environmentalists and struggle to protect the environment not only for themselves but for future generations. said Ngäbe Bugle leader Silvia Carrera, on Thursday, March 22.
She was speaking following the approval on third reading of Bill No. 415 – a law guaranteeing the protection of natural resources of the Ngäbe Bugle region. Carrera has played a lead role in the dialogue between the government and the Indian community but stressed that she was just a spokesman for her people, who are in charge.
She emphasized that in the Ngäbe Bugle area there is no pollution, and that's something liked by tourists. The leader took the opportunity to draw attention to comments in the media during the negotiations when different people referring to to Indians as drunks, drug addicts and criminals. She said that Ngäbes Bugle and the rural poor are those who work for the rich, in coffee plantations and cane and melon fields. "We take care of the earth and work," and they have taught their children to care for the environment and farming.