At the opening of the National Toshaos Conference (NTC) yesterday, President Irfaan Ali announced that a toshao’s stipend, which was $30,000 per month, will now be increased to $45,000 while Deputy Toshaos will now receive $30,000. Senior councilors’ stipends were also increased from $15,000 to $25,000, and regional councilors from $10,000 to $30,000. For years Indigenous leaders have advocated for an increase to the “meagre” stipend of Toshaos, saying that the service rendered by Indigenous leaders to their communities and to the government far outweigh the remuneration handed out by the government.
In addition to the increases, seven Indigenous communities received Absolute Grants and Certificates of Title for their lands. Capoey and Mashabo in Region Two received Grants for extension of 13 square miles and 14.5 square miles of land, respectively. The Toshaos of St. Monica and Mainstay/Whyaka in Region Two along with Yupukari in Region Nine were given Certificates of Title for land extension. Tassarene and Kangaruma in Region Seven also received their Certificates of Title. In her address at the National Toshaos Conference (NTC), Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai said that land titling remains paramount on the government’s agenda. She disclosed that the Ministry is seeking approval for a two-year extension to complete the titling and demarcation of Indigenous lands.
On the issue of the revising of the Amerindian Act, the minister stated that consultations will have to be done in every Indigenous community across Guyana and other stakeholders. She promised that the new revised act will ensure that existing rights are not diluted.
According to Sukhai, $10 million is in the Ministry’s budget this year for the commencement of the Amerindian Act consultation process which will see the setting up of a committee, and the training of facilitators. The NTC executive body and Toshaos will be included in this process. She also asked leaders to fully participate in the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) consultation process.
