THE Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs (MoIPA) will soon embark on the first phase of a series of formal regional consultations leading to the revision of the Amerindian Act 2006.

The first such consultation opened at Santa Rosa, Moruca, Barima/Waini Region on Monday and will last until Wednesday and will involve representatives from eleven indigenous villages in the Moruca sub-region.

According to a release from the ministry, these formal consultations follow on from the countless informal conversations involving the ministry and several villages regarding this matter, during outreach exercises across the country over the years following the General and Regional Elections of May 2015.

During the three days of consultations the participants, including toshaos, village councillors, community leaders and other rights-holders and stakeholders, will have the opportunity to discuss and present their recommendations and proposed amendments to the extant legislation, the release stated.

The Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs said it expected to complete some six regional cluster consultations in the administrative regions and at least one in Georgetown during 2018, at which the National Toshaos Council (NTC), indigenous peoples’ organisations and stakeholders from the natural resource sector, among others, will have the opportunity to participate and make recommendations.

“The ministry encourages full participation of Indigenous Village Councils, the National Toshaos’ Council (NTC) and Indigenous Peoples’ non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community leaders, stakeholders, interest groups and individuals in the consultations and throughout the revision process.”

The release noted that government through MoIPA remains committed to fulfilling its pre-election commitment regarding the revision of the Amerindian Act 2006. The Amerindian Act is the primary legislation that governs the affairs of the indigenous peoples of Guyana.

Government is keen to ensure that this piece of legislation is fully compliant with international law and standards which protect the rights of Indigenous peoples and that it adequately meets the current and future needs of the indigenous peoples of Guyana.