The APA persists with distortion of facts to...

The PPP/C government has also led the way in creating constitutional provisions for the establishment of the Indigenous Peoples Commission (IPC), a landmark move that underscores the importance our government places on Indigenous Peoples’ development, ensuring that it is at the highest level of the Constitution. It must be noted that it was under the former government, to which the APA is aligned, that there was a move to reduce the representation of elected Amerindian leaders on the IPC. According to a Committee of Appointment report brought to the National Assembly in March 2018 by the former administration, moves were afoot to reduce Amerindian representation on the 15-member commission to 30 per cent – meaning that of the 15 members, three representatives are from the National Toshaos Council. It was the PPP/C that resisted this effort and withheld support, where a two-thirds majority vote was needed in Parliament, to stave off this move. Again, here, the APA was silent.

FACT 3: EMPOWERING INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP THROUGH THE NTC

The Amerindian Act outlines the role of the NTC to represent the Indigenous peoples of Guyana. The NTC is the national body that represents all Indigenous villages in Guyana, as set out in the legislation that governs Indigenous Peoples matters in Guyana: The Amerindian Act 2006. Part IV, Sections 38-43 of the Act outlines the role and functions of the National Toshaos’ Council.

Toshaos and Village Councils (the wider body elected to manage the affairs of the village which is headed by the village Toshao) are elected at the village level in keeping with Part III of the Amerindian Act. Toshaos then represent their villages at meetings of the NTC.

Among the functions of the NTC as detailed in Part IV of the Amerindian Act, is to: “coordinate and integrate the activities of the villages on a national basis” as stated in Section 41 (h), and “to prepare strategies and plans for the protection, conservation and sustainable management of village lands and natural resources” as stated in Section 41 (e). By virtue of the provisions of Part IV of the Act, including Section 41 (h), collectively these legislatively enshrine the powers of the NTC, to lead on, guide and endorse the LCDS and approach to carbon financing in Guyana.

At the annual NTC Conference in July 2022, all elected Toshaos present (over 170 leaders in attendance) engaged with the LCDS team who joined discussions on the strategy and plans for the next phase. These discussions included reviewing the output of the consultations and the process for, and progress on, issuing and marketing carbon credits.

A resolution was passed by the full NTC, with no objection, endorsing the LCDS 2030 inclusive of all its elements. The government and the NTC Chairman emphasized the need for toshaos to stay involved as implementation of the LCDS 2030 moves ahead, village plans are prepared or updated, and new opportunities arise.

In addition to frequent engagements with the NTC and other leaders, the Government of Guyana consulted with the NTC and all leaders of Indigenous villages across the country in February 2023 to update them on the process of marketing and sale of Guyana’s carbon credits under the ART TREES programme. The mechanism for disbursement of forestcarbon funds to communities was discussed, inclusive of the amounts to be received by each community and the systems they would put in place to manage and account for the funds.

As of March 2023, villages across the country have chosen to ensure their village plans are ready for the investment of 15% of the money earned from the sale of Guyana’s ART-TREES credits. The remainder of the revenue is being invested in multi-community and national programmes and projects and this is an uncapped sum. All of this has been discussed in detail with all of the indigenous leaders who fully agreed to this process.

The APA appears to feel threatened by the NTC, which is why they have pursued an attack on the council and the chairman. Whilst they are quiet on the fact that they have a support base of a scattering of villages across two regions of Guyana, they often attempt to usurp the role of the NTC – the legitimate representative of Guyana’s Indigenous Peoples.

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A strong NTC, which the PPP/C government has always supported, threatens the APA’s machinations. As evidenced by their press release of April 18, 2023, they are unrelenting in their unjustified attacks on this representative non-governmental organisation for the sake of defending their financial survival and their affiliation to the PNCR-led APNU+AFC Coalition.

FACT 4: SUSTAINED BUDGETARY SUPPORT FOR SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT AT INDIGENOUS VILLAGE LEVEL

At no time in Guyana’s history have Amerindians had more support than when successive PPP/C administrations have been in office.

The PPP/C government has a strong track record of investments in Indigenous villages in areas of health, education, infrastructure, ICT access, hinterland electricity, and water supply.

Every village is engaged in the process of identifying