THE National Toshaos Council (NTC) has strongly condemned the misleading article published by Kaieteur News on February 17, 2023, which inaccurately reported the benefits that Amerindians in Guyana would receive from carbon credit sales.

According to a press statement from the Council, the article in question falsely claims that “Out of US$750 million carbon credit payout, the government gives US$23 million to Amerindians.”

“The NTC would like to categorically state that this information is not only incorrect, but also potentially harmful, as it misleads both the Guyanese public and international stakeholders who have invested in Guyana’s sustainable development.

“As a reminder, under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), Amerindian communities in Guyana are entitled to 15 per cent of all money received from carbon credit sales. This arrangement is an important recognition of the contribution that these communities make to the conservation of Guyana’s forests and the global fight against climate change,” the Council said.

Contrary to what was reported in the Kaieteur News article, the recent US$750 million dollars deal signed by Hess Corporation will result in Amerindian villages and communities receiving a total of US$112.5 million dollars until 2030.

The US$22.5 million that was announced for disbursement represents 15 per cent of the first tranche of US$150 million.

The deal with HESS is for payments for 30 per cent of the total carbon stock. Once sold, the 70 per cent remaining carbon stock will result in increased benefits for Amerindian villages and communities.

“This is a significant amount of money that will help these communities to improve their livelihoods and strengthen their ability to manage their lands sustainably,” the NTC said.

As the elected representative body for Indigenous peoples in Guyana, the Council has been a key partner in the development and implementation of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy, which aims to promote sustainable development while reducing greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

The NTC is committed to transparency and accountability in the management of these benefits, and will continue to work with all stakeholders to ensure that the rights and interests of Indigenous Peoples are protected and respected.

“We call on Kaieteur News to retract their misleading article and to issue a public apology to the Indigenous peoples of Guyana for spreading false information about their rights and benefits.

“The NTC also urges all media outlets to be responsible and accurate in their reporting on issues related to Indigenous peoples and their rights, and to work with us in promoting a more informed and inclusive public dialogue on these important issues,” the Council said.