– despite attempts to discredit it
PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo has deemed the just-concluded 5th National Toshaos Council (NTC) meeting held under the theme ‘Consolidating and Expanding Frontiers for Amerindian Development’ a huge success, despite attempts by sections of the media to discredit the event saying it was being influenced by the upcoming elections. “The same issues we have discussed prior have been discussed at this one, and we have made significant strides not only in reviewing the agenda since the last National Toshaos Council meeting, but we have also worked on new frontiers and programmes for the up-coming period,” he told media operatives during a press briefing Friday at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC) at Liliendaal. 
He said that while the Amerindian leaders remain adamant that such dialogue should continue, the concerns of 172 leaders were successfully addressed as commitments were made by Cabinet members to speedily expedite their requests.
“They themselves made it clear that they are the elected representatives of their people, and they are the only ones authorized to speak on behalf of their people. So I was very pleased with this,” the President said.
To ensure that Amerindians are not denied their constitutional rights to landownership, the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, the Guyana Forestry Commission and the Lands and Surveys Commission addressed several issues with respect to village boundaries during the course of the five-day meeting.
According to the President, the process at reference, which is also key to the successful operations of the GFC and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, has brought the number of titled communities to 109. However, 33 are still to be demarcated (based on requests) and the government is determined that with the release of the Norway funds, the process will be accelerated.
Said he: “Did you notice in the last years we have been in office, the landmass available to Amerindian people moved from under six (6) percent to over 14 per cent today? And we have not completed the demarcation of extension exercise, this will go on as communities request them.” (GINA)