Guyana’s indigenous population can expect a new wave of land titling and demarcation to be done under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). President Donald Ramotar during a interview with Guyana Times, said that his Government is in the process of granting titles to 12 other communities, demarcating over 60 and granting extensions to 33. The Head of State said that Amerindians were promised this in 1969 by the PNC regime; however, much was never done in this regard. After taking Office in 1992, the PPP/C Government moved to pass a comprehensive piece of legislation, the Amerindian Act, to protect indigenous people, particularly as it relates to their right to land. “They are now protected by law, the land that Amerindians got account for about 14 percent of Guyana’s territory at this point in time, and they have those lands by law… many of those who speak of human rights haven’t even given their natives their rights. We have given the Amerindian community the right to agree or disagree if mining is to take place on their territory, and if it does take place, they have to get a royalty from it, so that they can benefit from small and medium scale mining,” President Ramotar said. The President explained that very few countries in the world have moved to give indigenous peoples their due recognition as Guyana has. This he said is one of the most wanton acts committed against this group. Amerindians are catered for in the investments made by the Government of Guyana in the social sector, and much is being done to enhance the economies of indigenous communities so as to improve their living standards. President Ramotar spoke of the setbacks that this grouping has been facing since 2012 as a result of repeated Opposition-imposed cuts to the Amerindian Affairs Ministry’s capital budget “I don’t know why they want to attack Amerindian development in that way. These are vital things to create the infrastructure of Amerindian development…how can they one on hand say that they are interested in the welfare of the Amerindian communities and on the other hand, cut their developmental fund?” the President questioned. In recent weeks, politicians from the Opposition camps have been campaigning in indigenous communities and the President said that his Government will continue to expose the lies, insinuations, half truths, and distortions that are being bandied around. He noted that the people themselves are beginning to see the Opposition’s intentions in these misrepresentations. Speaking on Amerindian heritage and culture, the President said that much effort is being made by the Government to preserve their language. In this regard, a programme has been rolled out by the Amerindian Affairs Ministry to revive these languages which is a major part of their individual identity. “I think that the PPP /Civic Government has created the conditions … the government is trying to empower indigenous people via the social services we are providing in education, in health, in housing, in other areas,” President Ramotar said.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Sep 2014 22:59:12 +0000