The Amerindian Village Elections got underway on Wednesday, May 15, and according to a release from the Department of Public Information (DPI), new toshaos, deputy toshaos, senior councillors, and councils have been elected across the various administrative regions.
The release stated the following results. Raul Hendrick was elected as Toshao for Santa Rosa Village in the Moruca sub-district, Region One.
Derrick John, current Chairman of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) has been reelected as Toshao for Moraikobai Village, the only Amer-indian village in Region Five.
In East Berbice-Coren-tyne, Region Six, Laurence Vandenburg was elected as Toshao of Orealla-Siparuta.
In the Upper Mazaruni District, Region Seven, Member of Parliament and former leader, Lee Williams, was elected as Toshao for Paruima Village.
Murphy Gomez was elected Toshao for Batavia Village in Middle Maza-runi, Region Seven. Mean-while in Region Nine, Guyana’s largest region, Brian Ambrose, Micah Davis, Archer Moses, Randolph Francis, and Clarence Rudolph have been elected as Toshaos for Potarinau, Toka, Katoka, Yurong Paru, and Parabara respectively.
Sebai in Region One, and Wiruni Village in Region Ten, also conducted their elections on May 15, while similar elections were also conducted in Taruka and Micobie in Region Eight.
The DPI informed that elections will continue for approximately one month until every village elects its leaders. It further explained that these elections are very important and in accordance with the Amerindian Act of 2006, are held every two to three years and involve the selection of new council members for over 200 villages and communities nationwide.
The legal corporate bodies are responsible for administering the villages’ affairs, including providing for the planning and development of villages and national representation for their respective communities, among other functions, the release added.
