National Toshaos Council (NTC) Chairman Derrick John has rejected suggestions that efforts to craft a document on Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) were being spearheaded by the government in the background, amid repeated concerns by the other Amerindian community stakeholders about the less-than-satisfactory process to get the greenlight from villages for major initiatives.
John said that while many might think that the idea was initiated by the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) that was not the case.
“The article [Toshaos council seeking consultant on Free, Prior and Informed Consent talks, SN, May 28, 2024] said ‘government friendly NTC’. This whole idea was not initiated by the government, it was by NTC. We see the idea for getting this so it is a tool to be used. And this will be able to enhance the villages’ capacity, as it relates to dealing with outsiders,” he said.
