President Irfaan Ali yesterday told Indigenous leaders of Region Nine who participated in the Regional Toshaos Meeting (RTM) that the government has commenced the establishment of a mechanism that will resolve all outstanding land disputes.
The RTM commenced on Friday with at least 50 Indigenous leaders from Region Nine gathering in Lethem for a two-day conference. According to a statement by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, the meeting saw Toshaos Shamir Khan of Yupukari, Michael Thomas of Aishalton, and Lenny Moses of Massara, being elected to serve as the region’s representatives on the National Toshaos Council (NTC).
According to a statement from the Office of the President, Ali said that the government is aware that land is important for indigenous development, and as a result, provisions were made in the budget to make land titling a priority. He subsequently said that a project to restore and establish a mechanism to resolve all outstanding land disputes and expedite the land titling process is in the works.
“We will foster Amerindian economic empowerment across all ten of the country’s administrative regions. We will continue to support your rights, including your just entitlement to Amerindian lands,” he was quoted as saying, adding that he will ensure that the Indigenous Peoples are integrally involved in the national decision-making process.
“I assure you that you will not be sidelined from the process of national development but rather, be integral to that process. One of the purposes of the National Toshaos Conference is to allow you to have an insight into national development plans and to contribute to the fashioning of these plans, particularly as they relate to the well-being of Amerindians. My Government is committed to strengthening your inclusion in national decision-making. We will engage with you continuously and do so in a genuine spirit of inclusion,” he said.
In addition, the President said that the government is devoted to the principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) as it relates to policies that affect the well-being and rights of Indigenous Guyanese.
Further, he noted that Government officials will continue to engage toshaos about enhancing their development, and that there will be improvements to social services, health facilities and ICT services to ensure that Amerindian communities can experience the same way of life as those living on the coast.
“We are responding to your appeals for the establishment of a permanent well-staffed, well-equipped and fully-supported Secretariat building,” the President said, while adding that the Government is also examining the prospect of having farmers licensed to own firearms.
Ali also said that the government is working on launching the Hinterland Housing Project, noting that part of the condition in the contracts will ensure that materials and labour are sourced locally.
However, Ali noted, all development needs to be planned in the context of climate change adaptation and mitigation.
“We have seen the floods – bigger and more forceful than ever… therefore, our infrastructure and our approach to development has to take climate change and the spinoff of climate change into consideration.”
Meanwhile, the President expressed the hope that the meeting addresses in a substantive way, the economic, social and environmental concerns of the people of the region and should focus on food security, economic diversification, empowerment and social transformation as it relates to health, housing, education and social welfare.
Several government ministers were also present at the meeting and following the remarks by the president, toshaos were given the opportunity to interact with the officials regarding village development and priorities and proposals for budget 2022.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Toshaos Conference was postponed for the second consecutive year. Instead, this year, a series of meetings will be held in the various regions across Guyana.
