…Shuman hails Govt for laying out progressive agenda for Indigenous peoples
After a two-year hiatus due to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, the National Toshaos Conference (NTC) opens today at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown. The NTC is being held under the theme: “Good Governance and Fast-Tracking Amerindian Development” and will be addressed by President Dr Irfaan Ali.
The National Toshaos Conference will commence today at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre
And, already, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and Leader of the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), Lenox Shuman has hailed the Government for laying out a progressive agenda for the country’s first people.
The NTC brings together Amerindian leaders from over 212 hinterland communities across the country. It is a platform for Amerindian leaders to engage the Government and other stakeholders on issues about the development of their communities. It will also see the election of a new executive to the NTC.
The NTC, which spans five days, will focus on improving access to Government services such as health, education, land titling, demarcation, security, and infrastructure, among others.
In a recent letter to the editor, Shuman said that unlike the APNU/AFC, the PPP/C has laid out a more progressive agenda for Indigenous peoples and has recognised more Indigenous communities through the Amerindian Land Titling Programme than the net-zero.
According to the parliamentarian, the NTC has always been an organisation that works in concert with the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs as the budget agency. This relationship, he noted, has helped to alleviate the massive logistical and coordination issues of the NTC and has served as the financial oversight body as the NTC is also a non-budgetary agency.
From 2015 to 2018, he said that a tremendous amount of work was done under the leadership of Chief Joel Fredericks, to ensure the NTC was a body representative of its mandate in Part 4 of the Amerindian Act. As such, he pointed out that the NTC’s Annual Report needs to be examined to see what was accomplished, what the challenges were, and how it can move forward.
Referencing Part 4 of the Amerindian Act, Sub 43 which states: “The National Toshaos Council shall: (b) allow Amerindians to attend its meetings”, Shuman said he wonders how many will take advantage of this opportunity to listen to the issues their elected leaders bring.
He also wants to know if they will work with and through “their” leadership to address these issues or will they be counted among the many who would rather choose to not attend meetings, stay silent at home, be obstructionists, and expect the problems to automatically go away or get solved.
His desire is for the incoming leadership of the NTC to develop a strategic path for dialogue with the Government to address concerns in the communities “wholistically not individually”, to deconflict communities, and strengthen its relationship with the Indigenous Peoples Commission.
Shuman said, too, that he has been assured of and has every reason to believe that the Government will continue to work with Indigenous communities in fulfilling its manifesto commitments inclusive of the Amerindian Act.
“And let’s face the fact, more Indigenous peoples voted for the PPP/C to be in Government than any other party including the APNU/AFC, LJP, and all the other parties combined which is a clear indication of the strength of their mandate and where the majority is most comfortable,” he said.
The fact that many challenges faced by Amerindian communities are making their way to the public domain is a demonstration of the APNU/AFC’s failure to address anything under its tenure, the Deputy House Speaker lamented.
The PPP/C Government since taking office, has been investing in the development of Amerindian people. The Administration has re-established the Community Service Officers (CSO) programme which has employed 2000 Amerindians.
Recognising the impact of the pandemic on hinterland communities, some $1.73 billion was injected into communities that were neglected under the previous Government. Villages received $3 to $15 million in grants based on the size of their population.
In addition, President Dr Irfaan Ali recently announced a $25,000 cash grant for riverine and hinterland communities to cushion the rise in the cost of living.
In keeping with the “One Guyana” vision, the Government also distributed 112 tractors to hinterland communities to ensure food security by boosting agriculture production.
