KINDLY permit me to state the following about the recently concluded 5th National Toshaos Council (NTC) meeting held at the International Conference Centre, Lilendaal: 1. Congratulations and thanks to the Government of Guyana for significantly assisting the convening of the 5th NTC conference which is a continuous demonstration of government’s commitment to the Amerindian communities of Guyana never seen prior to 1992.
2. Congratulations to the leadership of the NTC for partnering with the Government of Guyana to push the development process of the Amerindian communities of Guyana, thereby ensuring that the 5th NTC conference came to a successful conclusion; long live the NTC under the dynamic and visionary leadership of Ms Yvonne Pearson.
3. Congratulations to the more than 100 Toshaos who supported the NTC’s conference resolution calling on both the Government of Norway and Guyana to hasten the release of the Norwegian funds for the implementation of key projects in Amerindian communities. These Toshaos must be commended for demonstrating excellent leadership at the 5th NTC’s conference on behalf of their communities.
4. Very disappointed with the Toshaos of the upper Mazaruni and a few others who, instead of representing genuinely the development interests of their communities, chose to represent opposition political interests when they participated in an AFC press conference (Sunday Stabroek July 31, 2011). These Toshaos do not support Guyana’s LCDS and their refusal to endorse the NTC conference resolution is solid proof of this. Their political agenda against the Government of Guyana is now clear and their close association with the APA gives one the impression that this Amerindian organisation has become a political front for the AFC political party.
This is what the Government of Norway, the World Bank, the IDB and the UNDP need to know and understand when they are dealing with the APA’s views on  Guyana’s LCDS which serve opposition political interests and not the interests of Guyana’s indigenous peoples.
5. I am therefore in absolute agreement with His Excellency the President of Guyana Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo, that a team will soon visit the communities whose Toshoas have refused to support the NTC conference resolution to find out from residents themselves if they need the Norwegian funds to push the development of their communities. This is a wonderful approach.