Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and leader of the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) Lenox Shuman has written President Irfaan Ali to register his concerns over the non-consultation with Indi-genous Peoples as it relates to Guyana’s participation at the ongoing United Nations Climate Change Conference.
In his letter, dated October 28, Shuman made mention of a June 3, 2021 event under the theme “The Engagement of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Crucial to Tackling Climate Crisis,” where United Nation Climate Change Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa underlined the critical importance of the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIPP) community’s work in the lead up to the summit being held in Glasgow, Scotland.
She had said for it to be declared a success “the momentous progress of the LCIPP and the historic alliance between indigenous peoples, local communities and Parties must be upheld and strengthened.”
Shuman also made reference to a multitude of UN documents that supports the critical link between indigenous peoples and their work in combatting climate change.
“It is against this backdrop that I write to you expressing grave concerns at the process undertaken to draft and finalize Guyana’s contribution to the Conference of Parties (COP26) and its exclusion/non-engagement of Guyana’s most marginalised population in the process – the Indigenous Peoples,” the letter stated.
Pointing out local laws, Shuman referred the President to the preamble of the Constitution, which makes explicit recognises the rights of the Indigenous Peoples as citizens to land and security and to their promulgation of policies for their communities. He also quoted Articles 13 and 149 (G) which speak to participation in the decision making process and protection of indigenous ways of life, respectively.
“Excellency, in light of the above, it is clear that the state has responsibilities under the various Constitutional clauses and others to ensure that all policies, whether domestic, bilateral or multilateral include the input of the first peoples.
“Further, it becomes difficult to understand under what circumstances and conditions we are to work to protect and preserve our cultures and our environment when the first peoples are not even aware of Guyana’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) which will transition to our NDC. Short of such, it can be viewed as a constitutional shortfall of the state in its responsibilities to the indigenous peoples,” he said.
During his address to COP26 yesterday, Ali committed to reducing Guyana’s carbon emissions by 70 per cent by 2030.
Shuman said that he hoped the exclusion of dialogue was a mere administrative oversight and that actions can be taken to be more FPIC [Free, Prior and Informed Consent] compliant.
