Young Toshao determined to make a difference

AS a native of Kako Village, Upper Mazaruni, Romario Hastings fully understands the needs of the local community and wants to bring about change. Following his election by the people, he became the Toshao of the village, bringing a vision for sustainability.

Hastings is among the 2025 Ignite Caribbean awardees—one of his latest achievements, among others—recognised for his sterling efforts in enhancing the lives of the people in his village.
He is the current and youngest Toshao/Chief of Kako Village, Upper Mazaruni, an Indigenous Akawaio community in western Guyana—a remote village.

With leadership centred on sustainable development and community empowerment, Hastings employs his professional experience to strengthen local institutions, improve territorial governance, build organisational partnerships, and foster youth engagement for an inclusive and participatory development trajectory.

Hastings is also an executive member of the National Toshaos Council, a Cultural Adviser to the Nine Nations Youth Group, and the Programme Coordinator for the Upper Mazaruni District Council.

He is a very capable person who is skilled in multi-tasking, due to his position and the numerous ventures he is involved in.
Hastings is also a digital content creator for social media and his Facebook page is a source of general information about his community.

This village leader is the co-owner and designer of Lethem Exclusive Apparel, a local clothing store and is a very active person in the village, championing community-based development, ways to enhance the lives of locals and providing stable jobs for young people.

The 30-year-old told Pepperpot Magazine that he was elected Toshao last April. So far, it’s a mix of a bit of everything—with both challenges and a learning process for him at the same time.

He reported that there is a lot to do for the community, and during his tenure—which amounts to three years—he hopes some of the projects will be completed. Nevertheless, he will be there to see them through.

Hastings, a very flamboyant individual whose style sets him apart from others, has the ideal qualities that make him a people person and his vested interest lies in community development.

He emphasised that the focus must be on empowering people to enhance eco-empowerment, as the cost of living has increased, making every dollar and earning opportunity crucial. In that part of Guyana, there are few job opportunities to earn a reasonable income, unlike in the city.

The village leader stated that there is small-scale mining and farming in Kako Village, and they have the basic facilities—some of which can be improved.
Hastings disclosed that they have made significant progress and achieved notable strides in local agricultural development in various areas, aiming to enhance livelihoods, but this progress needs to be sustained for long-term benefits.

The Toshao added that they have the Village Hall in central Kako—a space where 10 local vendors can sell their produce, arts and craft, among other things to sustain themselves and their families.

Hastings said that financial support in the form of loans and grants, is being explored to help villagers start small businesses. A drying facility is also in the pipeline, where on-the-ground processing will take place for its locally produced fruits and vegetables, which include an abundance of tangerines.

He noted that being a young Toshao is very time-consuming, but it is the potential of the community that keeps him motivated and driven.
As a native of the remote village located in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), his interest lies in community-based projects and initiatives that benefit and provide opportunities for locals to earn a living.

Hastings said they are in the process of drafting and developing village rules for institutional buildings, which is a priority for the village to improve governance and also for capacity building at the Village Council level. If needed, a request will be made to the current administration and other agencies.

He pointed out that, as a mining village, they will develop a more comprehensive environmental management plan, and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) is assisting in this regard.

As the only son in a family of three siblings, Hastings said he has great support from his home circle, the community and others, and he feels confident that he will bring about change and provide the people with what they need during his tenure as Toshao.

Hastings, better known as Kapohn on social media—which translates to “sky people” as part of their collective Indigenous identity—has adopted this name.
Kapohn also means “native,” essentially, and it gives him a sense of self-awareness. Having both Akawaio and Arecuna ancestry, he identifies himself as primarily Indigenous.