The
National Toshaos Council (NTC) ought to be the most powerful, democratically organised representation of indigenous peoples in Guyana. Comprised of the elected Toshaos of each Amerindian community and village, it is mandated by the Amerindian Act 6-2006 to oversee and contribute to the strategic development of Amerindian peoples.
An elected Executive body of twenty Toshaos presided by a Chairman, are responsible for the direction of the NTC. Ideally, this Executive body should work harmoniously toward optimal results, reflected in annual reports presented at each NTC annual conference.
Since its re-election in 2015 however, the NTC Executive is reportedly no longer a united body. Dissent and fight for power are distracting the attention of the Executive from its duties.
It appears that the number of NTC Executives who are members or close associates of the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA), has increased after the Council’s last election. As a result, there seems to be a significant lack of consensus among the leadership, cobbled with a certain level of disregard for the authority if the NTC Chair.
A recent letter – controversial in the position it defended – published by Executive member and APA friendly, Toshao Lennox Schuman, purported to represent the views of the NTC on the irregularities surrounding the disbursement of funds by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) under a Forest and Carbon Partnership Facilitation (FCPF) project.
Interestingly, Shuman claimed that the views defended in the letter represented the position of the NTC, despite the troubling number of inconsistencies with which it is riddled. For instance, Shuman’s position on the delays in the disbursement of the funds, was radically different less than two months ago, when he participated at a stakeholder meeting hosted by the Norwegian delegation responsible for the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).
But the questions which have summoned interrogation, is whether Shuman was authorised to defend the position of the IDB on behalf of the NTC in the public sphere. Shouldn’t the letter have been signed by NTC Chair Joel Fredericks or its Secretary Eyon Boyal?
Reports circulating also suggest that Lennox Shuman is the instigator of the idea that a no-confidence motion should be pressed against the NTC Chair. If this is true then support might be gathered from the Toshaos who are close to the APA, however sterile the entire initiative might reveal itself to be. What has eventually become public knowledge is the certitude that Shuman is running a parallel agenda aimed at undermining the NTC and its Chair; an agenda which lobbies on behalf of the APA.
This increasingly dangerous situation is bordering on a crisis, and begs the question as to the possibility of sanctions against Executives who deliberately obstruct the work of the NTC and by extent the development of Amerindians.
It is also to be determined, in light of the nature of Shuman’s letter, whether or not the IDB has a hand in contributing to the destabilisation of the NTC and the manipulation of public opinion, in a desperate attempt to cover up its presumed negligence regarding the FCPF project in question. Interference in matters of strictly national interest is not alien to international organisations present in Guyana.
More importantly however, is to examine the implication of the APA in encouraging the dissent which now reigns among the NTC Executives, and to publicise the extent of the damage and the responsibility that the APA and acolytes have in stymieing Amerindian development. Amerindians must know what transpires within the NTC.
The NTC through the Indigenous Affairs Ministry should also launch an investigation into the conflict of interest, as well as the parties involved in disrupting its work and misrepresenting its position. This includes centring attention on the IDB and the possibility of it scheming against the interest of the NTC and Amerindians.
If the NTC cannot yield the power with which it was bestowed by Law, then it would fail miserably in representing Amerindians both nationally and in the international arena.
The NTC is an excellent means of self-representation for Amerindians, and consequently should not crumble at the hands of selfish elements blinded by self-pursuit, opportunism and bias.
