The need for urgent solutions to longstanding indigenous land issues, a revision of the Amerindian Act and increased stipends for Toshaos were the focus of the opening ceremony of the 10th annual National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference, which began yesterday at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre.
Held under the theme “Guyana’s First Peoples, Preserving our Culture and Land for Life,’ the five-day conference sees 212 leaders from various Indigenous villages across Guyana assembling to discuss issues that affecting the local indigenous population and recommend solutions.
In his address at yesterday’s opening ceremony, Chairman of the NTC Toshao Joel Fredericks wasted no time in highlighting land titling and the need for a support framework for the Amerindian Act of 2006 as two longstanding issues affecting the indigenous peoples.