Amerindian Heritage Month 2025: Govt to accelerate land titling, community empowerment, revamp Amerindian Act – PM Phillips

Prime Minister (PM) (Ret’d) Brigadier Mark Phillips has pledged to accelerate Amerindian land titling and demarcation, while also promising a comprehensive revision of the Amerindian Act to strengthen legal protections and empower communities. This year, the observance carries renewed resonance under the theme: “Igniting Unity, Celebrating Progress, Advancing Our Culture.”
Against this backdrop, PM Phillips reaffirmed his Government’s plans to strengthen and accelerate Amerindian land titling and demarcation while pledging a comprehensive revision of the Amerindian Act to bolster legal protections and empower communities. He made this reaffirmation during the Amerindian Heritage Cultural Extravaganza at the National Park on Monday evening.
“Therefore, our Government pledges to further advance the Amerindian land titling and demarcation programme. We have done more than any other Government before us in this regard and we will continue this process over the next five years. Land titling and demarcation is both a legal and moral imperative. We will accelerate the process to resolve pending claims, ensuring security of tenure and empowering communities with this fundamental asset upon which to build their economic and cultural futures.”

Retrained, upskilled
The PM also announced that the Government will be expanding and empowering Community Support Officers (CSOs) as part of efforts to translate Indigenous rights into practical benefits on the ground. He noted that CSOs will be retrained, upskilled, and given greater opportunities, along with increased stipends.
“To translate these strengthened rights from principle into practice on the ground, we will continue to empower and expand the Community Support Officers. We will also retrain and upskill our CSOs, empower them for greater opportunities and increase their stipends. This investment in our Community Support Officers is not a welfare plan, it is not an unemployment initiative, but it is aimed at the cultivation of a new generation of skilled Indigenous leaders.” Meanwhile, the PM reaffirmed that the Government is committed to working alongside Indigenous communities to both preserve and promote their heritage, while ensuring national development remains inclusive and respectful of all peoples. “Your Government is committed to working with you to preserve and promote your heritage and to ensuring that the development of our nation is inclusive and respectful of its peoples. Therefore, as we celebrate this rich heritage and its legacy, we must also look forward with a collective commitment to building a future of unprecedented opportunity, prosperity and self-determination for our Indigenous people and their communities across our 10 administrative regions. To this end, our Government is not just making promises. We are executing a comprehensive and actionable plan.”
He also underscored the importance of heritage in Guyana’s development.
“Heritage is a living, breathing force that continues to shape our present and, most importantly, our shared future. It is a heritage of stewardship, teaching us to live in harmony with our environment. It is a heritage of community, reminding us that our greatest strength lies in unity and mutual respect.”

PM Phillips described the nation’s Indigenous peoples as custodians of Guyana’s forests and key partners in climate action. He announced that under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), Indigenous communities will receive no less than 15 per cent of all carbon credit revenues — a direct investment in their stewardship and contribution to global environmental protection.
Healthcare delivery was also addressed. Phillips spoke of the continued rollout of telemedicine centres and the equipping of health posts with essential tools and transport — measures designed to close the gap between coastal and interior communities. Turning to economic development, the PM outlined support for community-led initiatives in agriculture, agro-processing and sustainable tourism. Training, market access and enterprise support will help villages transition from subsistence to surplus. “We will ensure communities have the tools and opportunities to process their own crops, add value, and create products that can be sold both locally and internationally.” He also highlighted tourism as a driver of employment and economic resilience. Communities will be supported in developing products that reflect their natural and cultural heritage, from traditional crafts and cuisine to wildlife tours and immersive cultural experiences.
“We will assist in the design and marketing of multi-village tourism circuits, creating opportunities for communities to benefit directly from Guyana’s growing tourism sector.”, PM Phillips emphasised that the Government’s development strategy is being shaped through direct engagement with village councils and Indigenous leaders. He stressed that it is a collaborative process, built from the ground up.
He also reflected on the significance of Amerindian Heritage Month — not only as a celebration of culture, but as a moment to strengthen national partnership.
“Preserving your cultural heritage remains integral to your development and it is the foundation upon which your communities are built. Our Government is committed to working with you to preserve and promote your heritage while ensuring that no community is left behind in Guyana’s progress.”