NTC conference set for October

The National Toshaos Council (NTC) has informed local stakeholders and community development officials of their annual conference, which will be held over the course of five days next month.
Under the theme “Guyana’s first people united in the promotion of the green economy through preservation of our languages, lands and rights”, the conference is scheduled for October 7 to October 11.
Throughout this engagement, Toshaos and other personnel will be able to share issues that are affecting their people and villages. In recent time, the Indigenous peoples have complained about the issuance of land titles, which was promised by Government.
After heavy criticism, Government approved grants for the establishment of legal boundaries in the communities of Parabaru, Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Essequibo); Rockstone, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), and in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Tasserene and Kangaruma. Meanwhile, existing communities which had their grants approved for extensions are Mainstay/Whyaka, Mashabo and Capoey, on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).
This was announced by Director General at the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, who told reporters that these approvals were granted based on recommendations from the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry, which has responsibility for the ALT Project.
The Amerindian Land Titling process was facilitated by the Amerindian Act of 2006 which catered for land titling and extensions.
This led to the establishment of the Amerindian Land Titling Project, which commenced in 2013 and was scheduled to end in 2016. This was a US$10.7 million project funded by the GRIF programme and according to the Director General, the allotted sum has not been exhausted.
The Amerindian Act of 2006 states that a village may apply in writing to the Minister (of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs) for a grant of State lands as an extension to its village lands.
Furthermore, Indigenous communities can apply in writing to the subject Minister provided that it has been in existence for over 25 years at the time of application and for the immediately preceding five years, it comprises at least 150 persons among others.