Region Two Toshao Joel Fredericks of Mainstay/Whyaka is the new Chairman of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) following elections yesterday which saw major changes in the composition of the body.
Only five of the 20 toshaos on the 2014 council have returned to the 2015 body. The previous chairman, Derrick John, Toshao of Moraikobai in Region Five is no longer on the council.
According to GINA, Region One will be represented by Cleveland DeSouza, Vincent Emanuel and Michael Williams; Region 2-Joel Fredericks and David Wilson; Region 3-Aubrey Samuels; Region 4-Lennox Shuman; Region 5-Colin Adrian; Region 6-David Henry; Region 7-Norma Thomas, Darnis Larson and Eyon Boyal; Region 8-Ian Pio, Gideon John and Edward McGarrel; Region 9-Lenny Moses, Nicholas Fredricks and James George; and Region 10-Wilbert Hall and Telford King. Boyal was elected Secretary and Nicholas Fredricks was elected Treasurer.
Only Emanuel, Joel Fredericks, Aubrey Samuels, Boyal and Moses served on the 2014 council.
In the past, the now opposition PPP/C had been accused of stacking the NTC with its supporters.
The elections were held yesterday at the Arthur Chung International Conference Centre, Liliendaal. GINA said that the annual meeting of the NTC opened under the theme, ‘Steadfast Indigenous Leadership towards Territorial Integrity and Sustainable Livelihoods’. It concludes on August 22, 2015.
GINA said that the Toshaos were addressed by Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Dawn Hastings.
“My charge to you today, is to ensure that good governance will prevail in each of our Indigenous villages and, that you as the new elected National Toshaos Council, must be able to prepare strategic plans, so that Guyanese in our Hinterland villages must have access to appropriate health and education facilities,” Hastings said, according to GINA.
The Minister said that the Council must be able to fulfill its mandate as an independent body, which would provide advice to the Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs. She urged the NTC to have a listening ear to the various Village Councils and to assist in resolving any issues that might arise.
Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman, on behalf of President David Granger, congratulated the Toshaos, who were elected to the new Executive Committee. He said ”We don’t stand here demanding of you, allegiance. We don’t stand here demanding that your support the Government. We ask however, that you pay allegiance to your people, that you pay allegiance to the Constitution of Guyana and pay allegiance to the Amerindian Act”.
GINA said that the elections were conducted by the Guyana Elections Commissions for transparency.
