Guyana is “way ahead” in supporting Indigenous people, respecting rights – Min Sukhai

Guyana is ahead of many countries in finding solutions to bettering the lives of Indigenous people while ensuring that their rights are respected and upheld.
This was highlighted at a press conference organised by the Amerindian Affairs Ministry and the National Toshaos Council on Thursday to provide an update on the outcome of the representation by Guyana’s delegates at the 22nd United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at the United Nations Headquarters, New York.
Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai took the opportunity to explain that they were able to maximise their participation at the event in addressing issues relating to Indigenous peoples.
It was after this forum that she shared the realisation, “Guyana is way ahead of most of what is being discussed in terms of finding solutions, engaging with the Indigenous people, and actually having in place programmes that have allowed the protection of the rights, had a legislation, and also addressed the development of grouping of Indigenous economies.”
The Minister made reference to interventions that have been instituted to better the lives of Indigenous people. These include the budgetary allocation of $1.8 billion towards the expansion of the telemedicine programme to 19 more villages this year. This initiative was officially launched in December 2022. Among other things, the initiative aims to provide equitable healthcare to Guyanese in remote communities.
Another major factor is a multi-year agreement for the sale of high-quality carbon credits to United States energy major Hess Corporation, to the tune of a whopping US$750 million – a significant portion of which will be injected into the development of Indigenous communities across the country.
Legal Officer Miriam Andrew-Ming focused her address on Indigenous people’s rights and the constitutional policies and mechanisms in place.
“I was able to highlight our Constitution, our constitutional commission as well as our local Indigenous law, which is the Amerindian Act, the policies that the Government has undertaken in advocating for Indigenous people’s rights in Guyana,” the legal officer underlined.
National Toshaos Commission (NTC) Executive Member Melena Pollard zeroed in on discrimination against Indigenous women and girls – a focal point of her presentation at the Forum. She highlighted that women and girls were better in a better position in Guyana to participate in the decision-making processes than in many parts of the world as she lauded Government’s support in achieving this feat.
Meanwhile, Member of Parliament, Alister Charlie was tasked with speaking on Indigenous languages, as he noted the importance of their preservation. According to him, Guyana is on the right path in safeguarding languages through Government interventions as many tribes still speak their native tongue as their first language.
“I’ve listened to indigenous countries be represented and learned that Indigenous languages are facing extinction, but in Guyana, we are promoting our indigenous people’s languages… I was so proud to tell the United Nations that Guyana is on the right path in preserving and promoting its country’s Indigenous languages,” Charlie expressed.