Latest update January 23rd, 2025 6:24 AM
Amerindian communities continue to enjoy good governance
“The Government of Guyana believes in equality, non-discrimination and good governance and assures 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.”
Pauline Sukhai, Minister of Amerindian Affairs
This was expressed by Amerindian Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai, during the Thirteenth Session United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on Tuesday, May 13, 2014. Sukhai was at the time presenting on Guyana’s experience as it relates to “Principles of good governance consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.”
According to the Minister, Government is committed to the promotion of good governance that would further enhance the rights and development of Amerindian peoples in Guyana. 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.
Addressing each article, Sukhai said that with respect to Article 3, “Government places emphasis on pursuing the principles and practices of good governance, and places priority on Indigenous People’s rights and development were pursued prior to the implementation of the UNDRIP in 2007.”
Pointing to the evidence, Sukhai said the Amerindian Act No. 6 of 2006, was enacted. The Act clearly states “An Act to provide for the recognition, and protection of the collective rights of Amerindian, the granting of land to Amerindian, and the promotion of good governance within Amerindian Villages and Communities.”
She referred to Part 111 of the Amerindian Act which outlines the principles of good governance and self-determination at the local village level. For example, in Section 10 (1), “A village Council is established to administer a village; Secondly Section 10 (2) A village Council is a body corporate; and Section 10 (3) in discharging its functions the Village Council shall act collectively, these sections embody the right to self-determination of Guyana’s Amerindian Peoples.”
The Minister further emphasized that Section13 of the Act outlines the functions of the Village Councils, which have the right to freely determine the direction of their villages 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 national political parties without interference, she said.
According to Sukhai, Article 6 of the UNDRIP states, “Every indigenous individual has a right to a nationality.”
“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 centers and 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,” she stressed.
Referencing Article 46 of the UN Declaration, the Minister said that Guyana has put in place special measures to address the issues affecting Amerindian peoples. One of them has been the establishment of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs.
This Ministry is mandated to support the enhancement of the quality of life of Amerindians in Guyana through the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes consistent with Free Prior and Informed Consent.
As such, there is full inclusion and participation of the indigenous people, respect for their traditional cultural, and social and economic development practices. Sukhai said that constitutional, sectoral, and legal measures are in place to promote equity for advancing the rights of Amerindian peoples.
According to Sukhai, “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 faces in this current period.”
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