-Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock says at NTC engagement

THE National Toshaos Council (NTC) and the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs will be building on their relationship, even as the former boasts of its accomplishments including its ability to function independently.

This was brought to the fore on Wednesday evening during a joint press conference hosted by both parties at the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) multiplex at Water Street in Kingston. The forum was held at the completion of a three-day exercise undertaken by the NTC executive body as it prepares for the upcoming National Toshaos Conference slated for July 16-20 this year.

Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock told the media at the press conference that while the ministry and the NTC may have their differences, both parties are working for a common cause. “Teeth and tongue must bite, they can’t do without each other,” he said.

He said that while the two parties “might have had a little bit of serious discussions and in some cases , challenges in these discussions “, they have been able to accomplish a number of feats which may not have been fully utilised in the promotion of their respective mandates. Allicock said that for the indigenous peoples of Guyana, there is a plan forward.”Old pathways with new directions,” he said of the approach, as he noted that the achievements of the two bodies did not happen overnight.

NTC Vice-Chairman Lenox Shuman, told the media that the relationship which the ministry and the indigenous body built over the past three years is strong. He said that it would take much to destroy the relations, noting that “some pope may have wanted to see this relation [ship] broken completely.”

The vocal Shuman said that the NTC has always been committed to working with Allicock and the ministry, noting that the two parties have been engaged in positive dialogue. Chair of the NTC , Joel Fredericks, noted that he knows that the minister has good intentions for the cause of the nation’s first peoples .He said that the two parties have “grown” over the years in their relations , adding that there has been mature leadership expressed by both the NTC and the ministry.

Allicock urged the NTC not to view the ministry or the government “as isolated from the fight for the cause of indigenous people.” He said that to strive for the indigenous peoples to be truly represented and for such representation to come to the fore is long overdue; and according to him, they possess the requisite skills to build the nation. He said that the government is embarking upon a Green State development agenda and he noted that the indigenous peoples “are best suited “in that cause since according to him, they are knowledgeable about the environment and relevant issues such as climate change.

As he lauded the work of the NTC over the past three years, the subject minister urged the

incoming executive body to continue undertaking the work of the body. Executive member of the NTC, Nicholas Fredericks, said that the body has travelled a long road in undertaking its mandate. He said that the executive has worked to tackle its challenges head-on, as he noted too that it is difficult to address the issues facing individual communities. ”We have a ministry, we have a relation [ship] which is very open , that is why you see we as the NTC take a strong stand, because we believe in what we stand for,” he said. He noted that the body now has the ability to air its views with freedom and to raise concerns on behalf of the indigenous peoples. Meanwhile, the NTC executive noted that it is making preparations for the upcoming conference at which a new executive body will be elected. The current leadership of the council said that it will continue to promote its mandate, adding that its leadership will carry its work in tandem with the rules set out in its rulebook. Political neutrality, the executive noted, is key to the body’s progression.