The Upper Mazaruni District Council (UMDC) has expressed concern that the series of Regional Toshao Meetings that is currently ongoing contravenes the National Toshaos Council (NTC) rules of procedure and has called for the interim executive body to be elected to be made official by the next meeting.
In a statement signed by Toshaos of the Upper Mazaruni in Region Seven, the UMDC noted that Regional Toshao Meetings have no specific legal status. Based on their understanding, they noted, the meetings have been convened for the sole reason that the NTC cannot be held this year due to COVID-19 and that they are being held for the purpose of providing Toshaos with a platform to engage with government ministries and agencies; and also to elect an interim executive body of the NTC.
As such, the UMDC said it expects that the new executive body to be elected would be considered for ratification or that elections for an official executive body at the NTC next year would be held.
The elected executive members usually sit on the council for three years.
The UMDC has also called on the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs to approve their request for the UMDC to be formally gazetted, noting that in keeping with traditions and customs, the UMDC is the representative institution for the eight villages in the Upper Mazaruni.
It was pointed out that the constitution of Guyana mandates the protection, preservation and promulgation of the Indigenous Peoples’ cultural heritage and way of life. They noted that Section 35 of the 2006 Amerindian Act also provides for the establishment of district councils.
Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai recently announced that the NTC Conference will see leaders engaging through regional meetings and Amerindian Heritage Month 2021 celebrations will be limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
There was no National Toshaos’ Council Conference in 2020.
A conference with Region Nine toshaos got underway yesterday.
