A NEW plot of land will be allocated to the National Toshaos Council (NTC) for the construction of its Secretariat as President David Granger believes the initial plot of land in Sophia, Greater Georgetown was too small.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon told reporters on Friday during his post-cabinet press briefing, that “the President in reviewing this felt that the land was a small area.” As a result, the head-of-state communicated same to Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock, who in turn was in communication with the executive of the NTC. The indigenous leaders during the 2016 NTC conference had requested a plot of land from the government to construct its long-awaited secretariat.

In August 2017, President David Granger had turned the sod for the construction of the NTC Secretariat at Sophia, which fulfilled a promise and demonstrated the administration’s commitment to ensuring good governance of the indigenous peoples’ affairs. However, on Wednesday the Guyana Lands and Surveys (GL&SC) announced that the plot of land identified for the NTC Secretariat, and which can be occupied by the said council as a 50-year lease, has been approved.

“They are looking at allocating a larger track of land so that the headquarters of the NTC can be well set up and well organised,” said Harmon who noted that the President is currently looking at possibly allocating some unused Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) lands.

“His Excellency is looking at that because he would like to see a NTC headquarters that is representative of a stature and quality which we in Guyana have, and so he wants to give them a nice spread of land so that the headquarters and subsequent development of that entity takes place,” said Harmon. When contacted on Friday, an official of the NTC executive told the Guyana Chronicle that the body is familiar with the issue, and that the body would meet and deliberate on the matter in the coming week. Meanwhile, the Minister of State congratulated the new executive of the NTC on behalf of his administration.
Toshao of Shulinab Village, Region 9 Nicholas Fredericks was elected Chairman of the NTC on Wednesday while the Vice-Chair position was won by Paul Pierre, former Regional Chairman, Region One.

Other members of the body are Russian Dorrick (Secretary), Marbel Thomas (Treasurer) and Loretta Feidtkou (Assistant Treasurer /Secretary). Toshaos Sharmain Rambajue of Baramita; Colin Adrian of Moraikobai; Beverly Clenkian of St Cuthbert’s Mission; Carl Peneux of Orealla; Mario Hastings of Kako; Rickey Boyle of Kimbia; Elizabeth Romascindo of Bumbury Hill and Toshao Edward McGarrel of Chenpau, are among the other members of the council.

“The whole process of democratisation of all the indigenous peoples’ communities is a clear sign things are going very well, and that the government has committed to working with these bodies and to ensure their independence and to ensure they are provided with resources necessary for them to provide the leadership to our indigenous communities,” Harmon concluded.