Dear Editor,
There is an excitement in Georgetown as the Toshaos from across the country descend on the Nation’s Capital once again.
I have noted the article in the Stabroek News publication on Sunday, 10 July 2022, `Amerindian Affairs Ministry accused of attempting to hijack Toshaos’ Conference.’
I do recall that during the period 2015 to 2018, I was threatened, accused and prosecuted over attempts by the APNU+AFC administration to destroy me and the NTC for taking some strong positions on Indigenous Rights and the role of the NTC. I do recall also that the then APNU+AFC administration destroyed our agendas at every opportunity and actively and openly hijacked our conference to the point where it made it to the news. I also recall the then Minister of Public Security, Minister Ramjattan, opted to go to watch a cricket game instead of engaging with the Indigenous Leaders (Toshaos), no doubt a clear demonstration of where his priorities then lay.
Given the recent global pandemic, it no doubt has been a difficult balancing act as to the conduct of the conference. Many communities have not had mass vaccination for various reasons, while many others have. It would have been very reckless to host a conference in a COVID environment where over 220 Toshaos and Senior Councillors are asked to attend knowing such realities and not being prudent in the planning process. Yes! The rest of the country has been operating in an open state; however, the indigenous communities are not like the coast.
Having read the article in the Sunday Stabroek, I enquired from Minister Sukhai on the article and the Minister was explicit that the NTC Secretariat and the outgoing Chair of the NTC were engaged in the consultative process of planning the conference. And, having had no proposal from the NTC for the Conference, the Ministry developed the agenda and forwarded it on to the NTC to initiate the process and there has been no feedback on it to date. I also enquired as to the status of the Chair and his presence to which I was informed that aside from initiating the process by drafting the agenda, all arrangements for travel and accommodation were made for the Chair, and he never showed up for his flight. That the invitation to the opening ceremony states “In Collaboration with” speaks of the importance of the relationship between the Government through the Ministry and the First Peoples – the Amerindians through NTC.
The fact that many challenges are making their way to the public domain is a demonstration of the APNU+AFC’s failure to address anything under their tenure, and the government of Guyana under the PPP/C Administration has laid out a more progressive agenda for Indigenous Peoples and has recognised more indigenous communities through the Amerindian Land Titling Programme than the net zero under the APNU Administration.
The NTC has always been an organisation that works in concert with the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs as the budget agency. The relationship has helped to alleviate the massive logistical and coordination issues of the NTC and has served as the financial oversight body as the NTC is also a non-budgetary agency. During the period 2015 to 2018, a tremendous amount of work was done under the leadership of Chief Joel Fredericks, to ensure the NTC was a body representative of its mandate in Part 4 of the Amerindian Act. It is important that we now turn our sights to the NTC’s Annual report and see what was accomplished, what the challenges were and how the NTC can charge forward.
Part 4 of the Amerindian Act, Sub 43. States: “The National Toshaos Council shall: (b) allow Amerindians to attend its meetings.” I wonder how many will take advantage of this opportunity to listen to the issues their elected Leaders bring and work with and through “their” leadership to addressing them; or will they be counted in the many who would rather choose to not attend meetings, stay silent at home, be obstructionists and expect the problems to automatically go away or get solved.
I would ask that the incoming Leadership of the NTC develop a strategic path for dialogue with the Government to address concerns in the “communities” holistically – not individually, to de-conflict communities; to strengthen its relationship with the Indigenous Peoples Commission; to meeting its mandate under Part 4 of the Amerindian Act; and, while I have been reassured of its commitment to and have every reason to believe, that the government works with communities to fulfilling their manifesto commitments inclusive of the Amerindian Act.
And let’s face the fact, more Indigenous Peoples voted for the PPP/C to be in government that any other party including the APNU+AFC, LJP, and all the other parties combined which is a clear indication of the strength of their mandate and where the majority is most comfortable.
Most respectfully
Hon. Lenox R. O. Shuman, MP
Deputy Speaker
