CHAIRMAN of the newly elected National Toshaos Council (NTC), Toshao Derrick John, flanked by the recently-elected executives of the NTC, updated the media on the just-concluded Sixth National Toshaos Conference, held last week at the Guyana Convention Centre at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara. At a press conference held in the Boardroom of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, at Quamina and Thomas Streets in South Cummingsburg, Georgetown,
John and his newly elected executives described the conference as successful.
He said a number of questions and concerns which plagued the indigenous peoples in their respective villages, communities and regions were resolved; and he declared himself very optimistic with commitments from the various ministers and ministries to assist the indigenous peoples with their situations.
The executive of the NTC and other toshaos, he explained, were pleased with the response from the subject ministers, and would like to express gratitude to His Excellency, President Donald Ramotar, for expediting the process whereby toshaos were able to receive titles, as promised, for lands in their respective communities.
The NTC executives shared their personal views on the petitions presented to the President, the first giving the Government the green light to continue along the path defined by the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).
The second petition called for a swift end to the irresponsible action of the residents of the town of Linden.
It was indicated that the indigenous people faced a plight in regard to transportation, fuel, food and other necessities because of what was transpiring at Linden; and the Chairman noted that a number of both young and elderly folks have reported being in dire straits in terms of availability of food.
Prices for commodities have presently been hiked in face of their scarcity, and alternative measures for reaching the coast have a major cost factor attached.
Some communities in the Deep South Rupununi were forced to source food and other commodities from neighbouring Brazil, hiking the cost for the items and their transportation costs.
The Chairman noted that his executive will meet at the end of the month to prioritise execution of a number of new proposals.
The indigenous people received US$6M from the LCDS through the Amerindian Development Fund (ADF), and this will see over 166 projects coming on stream in communities. This will be another significant achievement for the NTC since the agreement was signed on a very important and significant day for the people — World Indigenous Day.
The toshaos committed themselves to discharge projects undertaken by the outgoing NTC, and to listen to and report on the voices of their people in their respective villages and communities.