– Toshaos Council Chair Pearson
CHAIR of the National Toshaos Council (NTIC), Ms. Yvonne Pearson said, on the eve of Amerindian Heritage Month, that a key issue to be addressed, in line with the vision of transformation, is land demarcation. The celebratory observances begin today under the theme ‘Promoting sustainable livelihoods and cultural heritage and the transformation of village economies’.
But Pearson told the Guyana Chronicle Monday: “Once lands are demarcated, Amerindian communities would be in a better position to manage their resources.”
In an interview, she said a number of villages have already been demarcated and several others are listed for demarcation, which would, hopefully, be in 2010.
“We are not sure how many more will be demarcated in 2010 because of the high cost involved with the process…there are others targeted for next year,” Pearson stated.
She added that there are also a few villages which have not accepted demarcation, a voluntary process.
Pearson maintained that, despite the challenge of finance, there are many benefits from demarcation.
According to her, planning for use of the land and resources is the primary positive in the procedure.
“Farming, sustainable logging and even tourism can be some of the planned uses,” she offered.
Pearson said she, in her capacity as NTC Chair, is supportive of demarcation and there is strong policy support for the Amerindian people.
She remarked that the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and the Amerindian Act are not perfect but they give Amerindians a chance to determine their future.
Pearson posited that, with the requisite policy support in place, the role of the NTC now is to listen to the concerns of the “grassroots people” and represent their interests, with a vision for development.
Additionally, she said the Multi-Stakeholder Steering Committee on LCDS is another platform from where the interests of Guyana’s Amerindians are advanced.
“Those on the committee, the NTC included, are the link between our people and the LCDS, which also addresses land issues,” Pearson said.
She said, on several platforms, the issue of Amerindian lands is receiving attention and groups like the NTC and the Multi-Stakeholder Steering Committee are ensuring that the real issues affecting the beneficiary people are the ones addressed.
Pearson attested that the land demarcation process has seen progress and can play a significant part in the development of Amerindian communities.
STEPS
The steps towards demarcation stipulate that:
* the community writes the Minister of Amerindian Affairs requesting that the titled lands be demarcated;
* the Ministry indicates the community’s agreement to the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission and asks that the process for surveying commence;
* the Commission advertises for surveyors or utilise in-house personnel;
* a contractor is selected and the Commission and the Minister are advised of the contractor’s readiness to commence surveying;
* the Ministry informs the community of the contractor to conduct the survey and introduces the individual, with three persons from the Village Council on the survey team;
* the Minister is advised that the survey is completed and the plan prepared;
* the Minster submits the plan to the Lands Registry and requests that titles be prepared;
* titles are prepared and delivered to the Ministry and they are issued to the community.