Indigenous land ownership expanded by 16.4 per cent

…US$900,000 expended on ALT project in 2024

The Government of Guyana has reported a significant investment of US$900,000 in the Amerindian Land Titling (ALT) project in 2024, underscoring its commitment to addressing historical land tenure issues and promoting indigenous rights.
The expenditure formed part of the Amerindian Affairs Ministry’s $800 million budgetary allocation for the year.
This announcement was made by Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai during the ministry’s year-end press conference on Wednesday.
Highlighting the achievements of the ALT initiative, which was launched in 2013, Minister Sukhai detailed the substantial progress made, particularly in recent years.
Since the project’s inception, the ALT initiative has made critical advances in securing land titles for Amerindian communities.
Between 2020 and 2024 alone, more than 21 land titles were issued. In 2024, the government issued two certificates of title, granted six absolute land grants, and successfully conducted seven demarcation exercises.
These milestones have enabled indigenous communities to safeguard their lands and natural resources, fostering sustainable social and economic development.
Minister Sukhai emphasized that the project is not merely about land ownership but also about empowering indigenous populations to exercise their rights, pursue economic opportunities, and preserve their cultural heritage.
“Over the years, we have noticed that we have expanded the landmass owned by Amerindians from 6 per cent to 16.4 per cent. And that alone tells the story. And so, last year, we were allocated 800 million to continue the land titling program. Our success and achievement can be compared very easily to the government that were in office between 2015 to 2020, a little more than five years, almost six years.”
The minister noted that it “…speaks volumes for the amount of investment, the amount of effort and responsible approach to the work as it relates to land tenure, and so, we are very pleased at the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs that our ministry is able to continue down a road of progressive and incrementally titling lands for Amerindians. So, the story may not be told in a very exciting way, but for indigenous people, it is very important. And our government is pleased that we have been able to leap forward on this program.”
The Amerindian Land Titling (ALT) project activities were complemented by extensive consultations with Amerindian communities to ensure their needs and perspectives were incorporated into the process.
Sukhai explained that the funds expended during 2024 were utilized for activities such as surveying, legal documentation, and logistical support for consultations and community engagements.
She emphasized that due to this, government has achieved all promises listed under the PPP/C manifesto under the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs within the last five years.
“You are aware that the Ministry of American Affairs is a very unique ministry, a ministry with cross-cutting, supportive representation, facilitation, and responsibility that hinges on government’s commitment to support and to provide development, or making the development environment for indigenous people much more aggressive. And so, each year, since 2020, we have seen quite a few, if not a lot, of changes at the village level. These changes were as a result of our commitment, our manifesto commitment, that made some very serious issues very prominent, bringing it to the fore. Our commitment to continue land titling, our commitment to ensure that the services, education, health, water, infrastructure, investments, are looked at,” she added.
The Amerindian Land Titling process is being facilitated by the Amerindian Act of 2006 was scheduled to commence in 2013 and end in 2016 under the auspices of the Government of Guyana and the United Nations Development Fund, with funding of $2.2 billion (US$10.7 million) provided from the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF). However, the project was extended from 2016 to 2018 and subsequently from 2019 to 2021 and again from 2022 to 2024.
The continuous execution of works aims to help the ministry clear its substantial backlog in the approval and distribution of Amerindian land titles.
This is significant because Guyana has a 10 per cent indigenous makeup with 16.4 per cent of the land mass based on the current census data. But the process of new land titling has been a slow one.
In 2023, some six villages, including Four Miles, Region One (Barima-Waini); Paramakatoi, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); Copoey Extension, Mashabo Extension, Akawini and Wakapao in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) received titles.