MINISTER of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock, on Thursday last met with United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, and outlined the policies of the Government of Guyana on indigenous issues and elaborated on its plan of action. The minister’s meeting with the UN’s Rapporteur succeeded the delivery of Guyana’s third official statement to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) that same day.
According to the ministry, the minister spoke of the strides made by government in hinterland development and pointed to the plans for infrastructural expansion, improvement in the delivery of education, healthcare services and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) connectivity, among other areas.
VISION OF ‘ONE NATION’

Linking these current and future interventions to the eventual decentralisation of government services, Allicock stated that in keeping with President David Granger’s vision, there will no longer be a distinction between rural and coastal Guyana, since the vision of ‘One Nation’ will be attained.
Madam Tauli-Corpuz responded positively to this expressed vision, noting that she was happy to hear of the new approach to indigenous people’s issues in Guyana. She posited that, taken as a whole, these initiatives, including the independence of the National Toshao’s Council (NTC) and the capacity enhancement of indigenous youth and women present exciting possibilities.
She also enquired about the adequacy of the Amerindian Act and whether government was contemplating modification of this piece of legislation. The rapporteur also sought to question the balancing of investments with indigenous people’s rights.
In response, it was highlighted that the government, through the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, has invited the NTC to submit its views on possible strengthening of the Amerindian Act.
BALANCING OF RIGHTS
Assurance was also given of the balancing of rights of investors and indigenous rights by way of the example of the presence of an indigenous person on the government’s negotiating team currently engaged in discussions with Barama Company Limited for renewal of their investment agreement.
Madam Tauli-Corpuz also expressed her interest in visiting Guyana soon and her eagerness to meet with other government officials, indigenous leaders and to visit indigenous villages and communities.
Minister Allicock, who also serves as one of Guyana’s Vice-Presidents, was accompanied by George Talbot, Guyana’s Ambassador to the UN; Shiraz Arif-Mohamed, First Secretary of Guyana’s Permanent Mission to the UN; Mervyn Williams, Ministerial Adviser; Toshao Joel Fredericks, Chairman of the National Toshaos’ Council; and Jude Da Silva, Project Coordinator.