Minister of Amerindian Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues on Wednesday handed over the title to land in Region One in keeping with the government’s survey and demarcation exercise.
A press release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) said Rodrigues handed over a 28.707 square miles land title to Toshao John Campbell of Santa Cruz (Barima/Waini) at a ceremony hosted in the ministry’s compound. In a brief address, President Bharrat Jagdeo said the government has been trying to resolve issues that have been affecting the indigenous peoples for a long time. Jagdeo said he wanted to assure the indigenous peoples that their access and rights to the lands are protected.
Officials from the ministry said that Cabinet has approved a number of titles, which will be handed over to the communities shortly. The communities are Rewa, Crash Water and Apoteri in Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo). Cabinet has also approved an extension for Warapoka.
GINA said over the years the government’s land titling process for Amerindian communities has been gaining momentum. Jagdeo, on March 10, 2006, handed over titles to Campbelltown and Micobie in Region Eight (Potaro/Siparuni), Arukamai and Kamwatta in Region One and Kabakaburi and Tapacuma in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam). In July, he also handed over two land titles and one extension to three communities: Kaburi, Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) received a title for 42 square miles of land, Fairview, Region Eight (Potaro/Siparuni) received a title for 82 square miles and Annai, Region Nine, received an extension for 62 square miles of land.
