MINISTER of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, recently told the 13th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at UN Headquarters, New York, that the Guyana Government places emphasis on pursuing the principles and practices of good governance, and places priority on the rights and development of indigenous people.

Minister Sukhai was making a presentation on Guyana’s experience as it relates to “Principles of good governance consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”.
She noted that Guyana continues to effect and uphold compliance with Articles 3, 6 and 46 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
The enactment of the Amerindian Act of 2006 clearly states: “An Act to provide for the recognition, and protection of the collective rights of Amerindians, the granting of land to Amerindians, and the promotion of good governance within Amerindian Villages and Communities”.
The Act also outlines the functions of the Village Councils – the Village Council has the right to freely determine the direction of their village with regards to social, economic and cultural development, and their rights, and responsibilities for overall development. In Guyana, Amerindian peoples are free to pursue their political status with any of the national political parties and they so exercise this right, without interference, Minister Sukhai declared.
And article No. 6 of the UNDRIP states that “every indigenous individual has a right to a nationality” and the Government has established an effective system that ensures that every single birth is registered. Amerindian peoples, in the most remote villages and communities, have opportunities to register birth at health centres and in instances where failure to register a birth occurs, a programme of late registration funded by the Government is available in each indigenous village and facilitated by the village leaders, the Amerindian Affairs Minister told the UN forum.
Sukhai said further that “Referencing Article 46 of the UN Declaration, the Government of Guyana has put in place special measures to address the issues affecting Amerindian peoples – for example the establishment of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs. Our mandate is to support the enhancement of the quality of life of Amerindian people in Guyana through the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes consistent with FPIC (free, prior and informed consent), thus enabling the full inclusion and participation of the indigenous people, respectful of their traditional cultural, social and economic development practices. Constitutional, sectorial, legal measures are in place to promote equity for advancing the rights of Amerindian peoples”.
“The bold commitment by the Government of Guyana to address the legitimate needs, challenges and rights of Amerindians, fully conscious that Guyana is a land of six peoples, and mindful that the human rights and fundamental freedom of all Guyanese should be uphold and respected. Notwithstanding, special measures to enforce and safeguard the rights of the Amerindian peoples are in place to address the remaining gaps and challenges which faces Amerindians in this current period” Minister Sukhai said.
In concluding, Sukhai reiterated that the Government of Guyana believes in equality, non-discrimination and good governance and assured that under the new political dispensation as a minority government in Parliament, “we continue to be responsive to the 10 percent of indigenous population which forms part of our ethnically diverse nation and the promotion of good governance which we believe will further enhance the rights and development of our Amerindian peoples in Guyana.”

(By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally)