ORGANISATIONS representing indigenous peoples in Guyana are preparing for meaningful consultations in communities across the hinterland, anticipating that the budget cuts and their implications will prioritise the discourse. The Amerindian population has already voiced dismay at the opposition political parties’ move in the Parliament, cutting the funds allocated to the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) that would have covered the cost for the land titling process.
The flow of funds that the Guyana Government has been making available on an annual basis to Amerindian communities in the form of village grants to finance community development projects has also been impeded.
“Communities are aware of the budgeting cuts and they are very saddened about it and certainly they would like to know that the opposition parties withdraw the budgetary cuts,” Peter Persaud from The Amerindian Action Movement of Guyana (TAMOG) said in a recent interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA).
Persaud, who also sits on the multi-stakeholder steering committee on climate change, had regarded the cuts as a gross violation of international law, particularly the United Nations’ Declaration of Indigenous Peoples and a discriminatory and prejudicial act.
His remarks came after the committee met in May for the first time under the chairmanship of incumbent President Donald Ramotar.
The National Amerindian Development Foundation, TAMOG and the Indigenous People’s Commission (IPC) are expecting to confront these issues when they embark on the consultation in the coming weeks.
On Thursday, representatives of these groups updated President Ramotar on their scheduled meetings that will address the LCDS, climate change and the role of organisations in  promoting the interest of village economies.
In the midst of the apparent daunting situation, President Ramotar has assured the indigenous organisations that the government will be seeking interventions to safeguard such development initiatives.