Symbol of authority must be returned to village leaders – Minister Allicock

Government will be working with indigenous community leaders across the country to restore the office of the toshao as the symbol of authority in indigenous communities.
Addressing residents of Bethany during a recent ministerial outreach in Region Two, Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock, made the foregoing revelation and declared: “Years ago, when you go into a community, when a toshao speak, it is because he would have already consulted with his/her people and they have given him the authority to say what has to be done… And anytime anyone goes to that community, they go to the Toshao first, because in those days they had the symbol of authority, and that we want to bring back,” Minister Allicock explained.
He said this is provided for in the rubric of the Amerindian Act under Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), hence the ministry is sharing the idea with indigenous communities.
Using the National Assembly as an example, where the members of Parliament have to bow to Speaker of the National Assembly if leaving the chamber while a session is ongoing, Minister Allicock said: “Law and order and respect must be restored (in indigenous communities). It is time the young people especially respect their elders.”
Over the past years, indigenous communities have been complaining about persons entering therein without seeking permission of the village council or consulting with the toshao of the village. There are also instances when contractors and engineers enter a particular community and started doing works without informing the village council.
According to the Amerindian Act of 2006, an individual entering a particular Amerindian community must be given the permission of the Village Council to do so. The Village Council, then, has the right to offer or refuse that person entry into the village.
However, the Act further states that if a person is on official business of the Government, that person does not need permission from the toshao or village council to enter a village, but must, notwithstanding, inform the village council of the nature of his/her visit. (GINA)