Constitutional reform consultations to be taken to Indigenous villages
Legal Adviser to the Office of the Prime Minister, Tamara Khan, presenting on Constitutional Reform at the NTC Conference on Wednesday (Adrian Narine photo)
Legal Adviser to the Office of the Prime Minister, Tamara Khan, presenting on Constitutional Reform at the NTC Conference on Wednesday (Adrian Narine photo)

THE Indigenous community will not be left out the consultations and education campaigns on Constitutional Reform, and on Wednesday, village Toshaos were charged with getting the awareness and conversation going in their respective communities on the matter.
Toshaos eagerly listened, asked questions and made suggestions at the National Toshao Council (NTC) Conference, during a presentation on Constitutional Reform by Legal Adviser to the Office of the Prime Minister, Tamara Khan.

Khan reminded that it was President David Granger himself, who said that Constitutional Reform should involve the citizens of Guyana, with consultations being held at the very grassroots level. The Indigenous peoples, she said, are a vital group of the population.
“The President said the constitutional reform should be led by the citizens. Because it is the citizens that have to live with the decisions. For the process to be effective, we have to start the process of public education. We intend to come to you. Invite us to your community, allow us to come to you and allow the process to become fashionable for all Guyanese to be involved in the process,” Khan told the gathering.

Khan is the co-chair of a committee for public education on the constitutional reform that, in the next few months, will be rolling out a number of projects and initiatives geared at stimulating awareness and understanding about the Constitution.

“We are trying to create the opportunity and the interest,” Khan said.

Following the end of the conference, Khan already began discussions with varying Toshaos about visiting their communities.

During her presentation, Khan gave brief, simplified explanations on “What is the Constitution”, “Why Do We Need the Constitution”, and highlighted a few key articles of the Constitution, including those that spoke directly to the Indigenous people.

At the end of Wednesday’s NTC presentation, which marked the close of the day’s activities at the conference, the Toshaos were each presented with a copy of the Constitution.
During questions and discussions following her presentation, Khan was questioned on the need for constitutional reform. In explaining this, Khan pointed to the Oil and Gas industry and the lack of provisions in the constitution guaranteeing that resources from the industry are channeled to specific areas.

“Sometimes we move away and changes occur in our life and community and we need that reflected and protected, for example, the oil industry. There is nothing in our Constitution that addresses how we protect those resources. This is an example of how society changes, and if they are enshrined in the constitution they are not subject to arbitrary change. It should function in a way that is best for all of us,” Khan said.

Adding his voice to the issue, NTC Chair, Nicholas Fredericks, noted that while the Constitution does speak to some provisions for the Indigenous people such as the formation of the Indigenous Peoples’ Commission, and Article 149G (Indigenous Peoples’ Rights), there is not enough to protect the Indigenous people.

He pointed to the case of Indigenous pensioner Lucille Williams, a pensioner of Karisparu Village in Region Eight, who was driven out of her home earlier this year by miners.
“Although we have protection in the constitution, we have not seen it in action. A message to everybody here use [Constitutional reform] to our advantage,” Fredericks urged his fellow Toshaos.
One Toshao pointed out that the Constitution can be an intimidating document and at times difficult to understand, given how complexly is worded it is in some sections.
Khan, however, noted that lack of understanding should not deter persons from feeling the need to get involved in constitutional reform, and to begin a move towards trying to understand what is in the constitution.
She said that perhaps the reform of the Constitution needs to start with how provisions are worded.

“You said the language in the constitution is not for everybody but that is exactly where the reform needs to start. We need to go inside. Everything isn’t high, some things are simple, but you can’t not start. We are going to live with this problem forever if we don’t start. We need to go inside and make a start. Let us have a discussion on the first section in creolese. But we can’t not start,” Khan said.

Khan reminded that if the ordinary citizens do not participate, then they leave the provisions of the constitution to be decided upon by a few.

“The process to change it could be politicians and experts sitting in a room and making adjustments but that isn’t the best route. If it affects you, you y need to have a seat at the table to say how my rights are affected. The people should have an opportunity to say I want “x, y, and z”. The Constitution it’s just a fancy word for rules. What are the rules you want to see in place,” Khan said.

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