A THREE-day seminar, aimed at reviewing the Amerindian Act (2006), opened on Thursday at Moray House in the presence of the Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs,Sydney Allicock.
The seminar is being coordinated by the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) in collaboration with the National Toshaos Council (NTC), with funding from the Norwegian Agency for Development Corporation (NORAD).
In addressing a wide cross-section of Indigenous leaders including the NTC Chairman,Joel Fredericks, APA Executive Director Jean La Rose explained that during the first two days of the seminar, the leaders with the help of Attorney-at-Law,Nigel Hughes,will examine the strengths and weaknesses of the Amerindian Act.
La Rose said prior to the revision of the Act in 2006, indigenous leaders had long called for it to be amended due to its many inadequacies. It was explained that although the Amerindian Act was revised in 1976, Indigenous communities were experiencing encroachment on their lands as a result of mining and logging activities.
“In the early 90s we started opening up and that’s when the Baramas and everybody started coming in, and the Golden Star… that’s where we had the realisation that we have issues concerning the security of our lands,” the APA Executive Director explained. It was clear that the Act had several deficiencies, and even though it was revised in 2006, some deficiencies remain.
As such, during this seminar, the leaders will carefully examine the key components of the act: land rights, mining, logging, protected areas, and decision-making and governance.
Additionally, they are expected to compare the Amerindian Act with the Constitution and International Law, again with the assistance of Hughes.
These discussions, La Rose said will help both the APA and NTC to chart a way forward at the conclusion of the seminar. Minister Allicock and the Chairman of the NTC underscored the importance of understanding the legislation.
In applauding the efforts of the APA and NTC, the Indigenous Affairs Minister said that he is pleased that the groups not only identified the weaknesses, but are taking the necessary steps to have the loopholes within the legislation corrected.
He noted that the ministry in its 2017 budget has set aside $10M to aid in consultations such as the one currently unfolding. Minister Allicock posited that consultation is critical for people to have a clear understanding of the legislation and their roles in effectively managing the natural resources.
Fredericks who echoed similar sentiments said he is pleased with the steps taken so far, noting that long before he had taken office in 2015, the issue of revision had been raised.