THE Amerindian People’s Association (APA) will hold its Ninth General Assembly from Tuesday May 10, 2016 to Thursday May 12, ,in the indigenous community of St. Cuthbert’s Mission (Pakuri), Mahaica River, Region Four.The General Assembly is the highest decision-making forum of the APA and is usually held every three years when representatives from all parts of Guyana come together to provide an organisational mandate, the APA said in a release. According to the association, 2016 marks 25 years since the APA was formally established as an organisation and as Guyana celebrates 50 years as an independent nation. “This Assembly will provide space for collective reflections on the work of the organisation within the last 25 years of relentless advocacy and representation of the rights of indigenous peoples. In addition, the forum will provide a platform on how we would like to strategically progress, even with increased challenges guiding the ‘development’ plans of the nation. The theme of this Assembly is therefore, “50 Years of Independence, 25 Years of APA Advocacy – how closer are we to fully securing our rights?”
Among issues expected to be discussed are the rights of indigenous peoples to land, resources and territories; the extractive sector and its impacts on social and environmental security; legislative and policy reform with specific reference to the Amerindian Act; indigenous representation and social issues, especially as it relates to access to justice for indigenous peoples.
The Assembly will also elect a new executive committee,which will be the body responsible for the continued overall administration of the organisation for the next three years. It is expected that the Assembly will issue a formal release of its decisions at the end of the three-day gathering.