THE job of the newly-formed Lands Commission of Inquiry (CoI) is to establish clearly defined boundaries between land owned by Indigenous Peoples and those set aside for the development of the mining and forestry industries.

That’s according to Minister of Natural Resources, Mr Raphael Trotman, who also told the Guyana Chronicle on Friday, when the issue of its specific role was raised with him, that his expectation is that the Commission will “mark out specific areas” and confirm specific boundaries, thereby bringing to an end disputes in the hinterland districts in which there are Amerindian reserves where mining and forestry are prevalent.

“That way, we will know where communities shall be found, and where they will not be disturbed; where mining will take place; where forestry concessions will be given out; where new settlements will come up; where roads, perhaps, will be laid down,” Minister Trotman said.

“So yes, it does touch mining, which is, of course, the main disrupter of land in the interior, and we are very happy to be a part of this process,” he told the Guyana Chronicle following a ceremony at State House to formally establish the Commission.

He made the point that once the thorny land issues are ironed out, then the Indigenous Peoples can go on with their business, while mining and forestry and infrastructural development can take place unhindered.

And while he acknowledged that the CoI’s focus will not particularly be on mining and forestry lands, Minister Trotman said the demarcation of Indigenous Peoples’ lands will involve investigating natural resources lands.
“The whole issue of ancestral land and Indigenous Peoples’ lands cannot be ignored; and given the fact that mining takes place in the hinterland, where Indigenous communities reside, and have been doing so for hundreds and perhaps thousands of years, we can’t, in our mining and forestry activities, be unmindful of that fact,” he said.

DECADES-OLD DISPUTE
For decades, there has been controversy in determining lands belonging to Indigenous Peoples and those set aside for purposes of mining and forestry.

With several court battles and violent conflicts, and large, medium and small-scale miners being prevented from operating on some claims and blocks, the CoI is determined to resolve such matters, even as its Chairman, Reverend George Osborne, Peter Chuck-A-Sang and Commissioners David James, Carol Khan-James, Professor Rudolph James, Lennox Caleb and Berlinda Persaud swore before President David Granger that they will execute their duties in all fairness, and without favour in keeping with the laws of the Republic of Guyana.

President Granger said his government is working on preventing a land controversy, since Guyana has enough land to go around and provide for the needs of current and future generations.

“Today, we recognise as a government that the issue of land is far from settled, and we’ve decided to take a decision to ensure that our people can live in this land, Guyana, without worrying about the future,” the President said.

“Land is needed to satisfy human needs for food, shelter, recreation and sports… Regrettably, land is a source for pain and controversy.
“The establishment of this Lands Commission is meant to settle these controversies. We need not fight each other for lands; we will investigate their claims and we will respond,” he added.