–National Toshaos Council says

THE executive body of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) has registered its support for Budget 2023 themed, “Improving lives today, building prosperity for tomorrow,” which was presented to the National Assembly, on Monday.

“The NTC would like to congratulate President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, for his visionary leadership and more specifically, Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh for his detailed and eloquent budget presentation.

“This budget, the largest in Guyana’s history, shows the government’s commitment to the continued upliftment and improvement of the lives of all Guyanese, especially the First Peoples,” the NTC said.

As the legal body representing all Amerindians of Guyana, the council commended the government for this visionary budget.

“The budget is a demonstration of the government’s ability to prudently manage our country’s diverse resources, as well as making conscious investments in sectors that will immediately impact our daily lives.

“As leaders, we are eagerly looking forward to some of the interventions that will have a direct impact on the lives of our people,” the council said.

Among the measures, which the NTC highlighted were the impending increase in the education grant to $40,000; improved land tenure security for Indigenous Peoples with the allocation of $500 million for the continuation of the Land Titling project; completion and furnishing of the NTC Secretariat at a cost of 69.7 million;
improvement of hinterland roads to the tune of $5 billion, which will improve access, and the $500 million allocation to construct and equip ICT hubs in Amerindian villages and communities, bridging the digital divide.

The NTC also referenced the $1.4 billion allocation for improving water access through the continued upgrading and extension of water systems; $4.7 billion that will go towards programmes and initiatives that will improve the livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples, and the $91.8 million allocation for the hosting of annual National Toshaos Conference.

All of those interventions and more show the government’s commitment to fulfilling its manifesto promises, while at the same time, bridging the gap between the coast and hinterland, the NTC related.

The council said it intends to participate fully in the revision of the Amerindian Act 2006, and is grateful for the soon-to-be-completed secretariat building, which will allow the NTC to improve its functions to all Amerindian villages and communities.

“Additionally, the NTC recognises the sterling efforts our First Peoples to preserve and protect our pristine rainforest and, therefore, looks forward to 15 per cent of revenues to be received from the sale of carbon credits that will go towards investments identified in village sustainability plans developed by villages and communities themselves,” the NTC said, noting that it remains committed to offering its continued support to the government in its efforts to improve the lives of Amerindians.