The representative of eight Indigenous villages in Region Seven wants their concerns addressed by the government without delay and not be subjected to empty promises.
In a release yesterday, the Upper Mazaruni District Council (UMDC) stated that it is “eager” to hear what the government’s proposals were for Indigenous development at the upcoming Conference of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) and would like its concerns addressed in an “urgent manner.”
The release explained that the UMDC represents the eight villages and their satellite communities within the Upper Mazaruni District in Region Seven and exercises its functions as outlined in Section 36 of the Amerindian Act of 2006. The eight villages are Paruima, Kako, Philipai, Chinoweing, Jawalla, Waramadong, Kamarang, and Omanaik/ Kambaru.
It disclosed that between August 24 to 25, the Council held an extraordinary meeting where representatives of the villages gathered in Kamarang to prepare for their participation at the NTC. Key concerns raised during the meeting were illegal mining on Indigenous lands, inadequate health and educational facilities and services, the government’s persistence in ignoring Indigenous peoples’ right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent, and amendments to policies and legislation that impact Indigenous peoples.
Reference was made to a commitment made by President Irfaan Ali during his address at the opening ceremony of the NTC Conference 2022 where he promised to protect and advance the rights of Indigenous peoples. He was quoted as saying, “Let me be very clear, your rights must and will always be respected by this government. Your rights will always be protected by this government, and your rights will always advance under this government, this I assure you of…”
As such the UMDC is of the belief that a critical step in ensuring that the rights of Indigenous Peoples are respected and protected is the revision of the Amerindian Act and hopes that sufficient time will be allotted to discuss the process of the revision of the Act, especially since there are concerns in relation to the revision process.
The Council also took the opportunity to endorse the Chinese Landing Village Council’s appeal for a slot on the NTC’s agenda to bring attention to their ongoing land dispute during the NTC’s commencement, while bearing in mind that the government is required to submit a report to the IACHR (Inter-American Commission on Human Rights) by August 30.
The UMDC also touched on the matter of promises being made but not fulfilled. “…we recognize the pattern where many promises are made at every NTC Conference, and not all these promises are honoured. We hope that this meeting sees action being taken to adequately address the issues presented.”
The NTC is to begin tomorrow.
Amid a standoff between Chinese Landing and the government over the encroachment of miners on its lands, the head of the indigenous village is seeking an opening on the agenda of tomorrow’s NTC to air the matter.
In correspondence dated August 24 and seen by Stabroek News, Chinese Landing Toshao, Orin Fernandes has written to all members of the council making the request.
“I write in my capacity as Leader of the community of Chinese Landing and with a mandate from my Village Council to request a space on the agenda of the upcoming National Toshaos Council Conference to speak to the threats to our rights we are tackling as a result of unwanted mining. We believe that the NTC Conference which is scheduled for August 28 – September 1, 2023 presents the ripe opportunity to inform all indigenous leaders of the situation faced by our community as a result of the invasion of and intimidation by miners working for Mr. Wayne Vieira on his concessions.
“Therefore, we are requesting that Chinese Landing be allocated a slot during the opening of the NTC Conference on Monday, August 28, 2023, to speak to our issues as well as present written information documenting these issues to the Executive of the National Toshaos Council”, Fernandes stated.
