APA seeks three-year extension to land titling programme
The new executive members of the Amerindian People’s Association
The new executive members of the Amerindian People’s Association

THE Amerindian People’s Association (APA) is calling on the Government to extend the land titling programme to another three years, following its review and suspension. The intent is to ensure that an operational protocol is agreed upon that includes a free prior and informed consent (FPIC) procedure being agreed to with communities and representative organisations.The Amerindian land Titling Project, started under the PPP/C administration, comes to an end this year, and Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock, recently told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that two demarcation processes are ongoing and three certificates of titles are being prepared.

Allicock also said that land is life for Amerindians, and in order to ensure land issues are settled within communities, President David Granger had revealed, during his announcement of a ten-point plan for Amerindian development, that there will be established an Indigenous Land Rights Commission.

Minister Allicock said that with the support from the National Toshao Council, the commission was renamed the “Indigenous Land Rights and Life Commission”, because without lands there will not be any life, not only for the Indigenous peoples, but all the other living things that form part of the eco-system.

However, at its recent general assembly, the APA said: “As Indigenous peoples of Guyana, land rights are our number one priority and concern. Most, if not all, communities are unsatisfied with the lands that have been titled or demarcated, and with the extensions granted so far. They do not respond to our longstanding demands for our customary traditional lands, and are not sufficient to guarantee a sustainable future for our peoples. We therefore call on the Government of Guyana, as well as cooperating agencies, to recognise and secure the full extent of our traditional lands, according to our internationally recognised rights.”

Additionally, the APA is demanding the establishment of an Indigenous Lands Commission to address unresolved land issues with the utmost urgency; recognising that land rights must be part of any programmes, policies, or development initiatives that affect Indigenous people’s lands and resources.

The APA also wants waterways to be included in land titles; and further, calls for the removal of clauses within the laws of Guyana that protect the rights of third parties in regard to Indigenous people’s lands, because those clauses allow concessionaires to remain on Indigenous people’s lands, creating ongoing problems and restricting their rights.

The APA is, moreover, recommending that government agencies coordinate among themselves and the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs to ensure that land tenure information is provided to these agencies regularly, so Indigenous people’s lands and rights are respected when concessions are considered or granted.

“Any investigation reports resulting from government titling, demarcation, or extension exercises must be sent back to our communities, and approved by the respective residents.

Communities should be involved in land demarcation exercises, and Indigenous people’s maps should be recognised and utilized; moreover, community members should be allowed to participate actively in boundary marking and demarcation, the APA has said.

At this APA assembly, a new 20-person Executive Committee headed by Mario Hastings from Kako in the Upper Mazaruni, Region 7 (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) was elected for a three-year period. The other members of the executive are: David Wilson, Vice President; Benson Thomas, Secretary; Earl Thomas, Treasurer; Eugenia Rahaman, Assistant Secretary-Treasurer; Sherry Ann Balkaran, Women’s Representative; and Ted Lucas, Youth Representative.

Regional Representatives include: Region 1, Moruca: Jeremy Boyal; Mabaruma: Reynold Hutson; Matarkai: Nicholas Jones. Region 2: Harold Marslow. Region 7: Upper Cuyuni: Claude Anselmo; Middle Mazaruni: Alvin Joseph; Upper Mazaruni: Alma Marshall. Region 8, Potaro: Paul Benjamin; North Pakaraimas: Roger Alfred. Region 9, South Pakaraimas: Matthew Charlie; Central Rupununi: John Alfred; South Central Rupununi: Allan Fredericks; Deep South Rupununi: Ron James.

 

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