INDIGENOUS leaders have called upon the Ministry of Natural Resources to make provisions to include the indigenous people in consultations and talks for the developing oil and gas industry.

The issue of indigenous people not being able to participate in consultations or benefitting from the various information sessions was raised after Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman, made a presentation on oil and gas on the final day of the National Toshaos Conference (NTC).

Highlighting this was Toshao of Campbell Town in Region Eight, Marbell Thomas who said, “We need more consultations, because [indigenous people] have to come to Georgetown to know about this oil exploration [but] I think that we need it in our communities.”
The toshao posited that this would help to promote accountability and would allow the people to rightfully participate in matters that concern all Guyanese.

Being involved in the oil and gas talks is especially important, because according to Thomas, “We as indigenous peoples will not say that the government is making [its] own decisions, but we can say that we are involved in making the decisions.”

Her sentiments garnered rousing support from the toshaos and senior councillors at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, at Liliendaal.

She also noted that she has many reservations about oil exploration and production, particularly about letting foreign investors enter the country to work.
Marbell told the minister and her colleagues, “We have to use our wisdom, we cannot allow the foreign countries to take our resources or sell these resources [cheaply].”

Though he acknowledged that the indigenous people have always been custodians of the environment and have a rightful place in these consultations and talks, Minister Trotman contended, “It is not physically possible for me to touch every community.”
He added: “It is unfair to you to come to Georgetown to get information, so it is our responsibility as a government to get that information to you.” Trotman assured that his ministry will seek to spread information through social media and the improved internet access being developed by the Public Telecommunications ministry.

Trotman sought to edify the leaders through his presentation, so that they may in turn disseminate information in their communities. He also shared information on the general relations between the ministry and the indigenous people.

The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the ministry and the NTC is in the works, and will seek to enhance the relations between the Natural Resources ministry and hinterland communities to facilitate the exchange of information, and to fund ways to boost participation in the sector. He also highlighted other areas where the bodies can collaborate.