VILLAGE leaders from across Region Nine convened in Lethem on Wednesday for the opening of the 2026 Regional Toshaos’ Conference, a key preparatory forum ahead of the annual National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference, where Indigenous leaders from across Guyana will deliberate on issues affecting their communities.
Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat and Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Sarah Browne-Shadeek, attended the opening of the two-day conference, which is being held from July 8 to 9.
The regional conference forms part of a nationwide series of consultations conducted in each administrative region before the National Toshaos Council Conference, providing Toshaos with an opportunity to discuss matters affecting their villages and prepare for the national gathering in Georgetown.
According to the organisers, the conference serves as an open platform for village leaders to engage directly with government ministers and other officials on issues relating to community development, governance and public services.
The forum also provides updates on the arrangements for the upcoming National Toshaos Council Conference, ensuring that village leaders are fully briefed ahead of the annual event.
In addition to consultations, participants are receiving training in leadership and management aimed at strengthening their capacity to effectively administer their villages and respond to the needs of their communities.
The training is intended to equip Toshaos with practical skills to enhance local governance, decision-making and community leadership.
The conference also offers village leaders an opportunity to exchange experiences, discuss common challenges and coordinate positions on matters they intend to raise at the national conference.
Senior regional officials and senior councillors from villages across Region Nine are also participating in the meeting.
The National Toshaos Council Conference, held annually in Georgetown, is the principal forum through which Indigenous leaders engage the Government on policies, programmes and development priorities affecting Amerindian communities. The regional conferences are an important part of that process, allowing issues to be identified and discussed at the regional level before being advanced for national consideration.