Over 16,000 Amerindians legally obtain land titles from 2020 to date – Minister

More than 16,000 Amerindians have legally obtained land titles since 2020 as the Government continues to advance its Amerindian Land Titling (ALT) Programme, according to Amerindian Affairs Minister Sarah Browne-Shadeek.
Speaking during a live broadcast on Tuesday, the Minister said the Administration recognises land tenure as fundamental to the dignity, security, and development of Indigenous peoples. She noted that Guyana has emerged as a regional and international leader in addressing long-standing land claims through a transparent and consultative process involving village councils.
Minister Browne-Shadeek explained that from August 2020 to date, 15 additional villages have been demarcated, with 10 of those receiving certificates of title.
“This flagship project has made significant achievements. August 2020 to date, another 15 villages have been demarcated, and of these, 10 have been given their certificates of title. This amongst an additional 16,174 Amerindians having legal title to their land during the period 2020-2024. The Amerindian Land Titling project, from inception to date, has benefited a total of 33,204 Amerindians with over 33,363 square miles of title land,” the Minister revealed.
These milestones have enabled indigenous communities to safeguard their lands and natural resources, fostering sustainable social and economic development.
Minister Browne-Shadeek emphasised 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.
“Moving forward, we will continue to work with leaders to ensure they have the capacity to lead and help residents ensure that they receive transparency and accountability from their leaders. As we move forward as a nation, let’s remember this. Guyana’s prosperity is meaningless if it does not uplift all its people. When Amerindian villages thrive, Guyana thrives. When indigenous youth succeed, the nation succeeds. When development respects culture and land, the future is secure,” she lamented.
Earlier this year, the Government of Guyana had reported a significant investment of US$900,000 in the 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.
The ALT project activities were complemented by extensive consultations with Amerindian communities to ensure their needs and perspectives were incorporated into the process.
The Amerindian land titling process, which 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 landmass based on the current census data. But the process of new land titling has been a slow one.