Region 2 Toshao elected to chair Amerindian council

Aug 18, 2015 News

The Executive Committee of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) was yesterday elected at the official opening of the body’s annual meeting held at the Arthur Chung International Conference Centre, Liliendaal.
The meeting, facilitated by the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, opened under the theme, ‘Steadfast Indigenous Leadership towards Territorial Integrity and Sustainable Livelihoods’.
It will conclude on August 22.
The elections were conducted by the Guyana Elections Commissions (GECOM) for transparency.
Region One will be represented by Cleveland DeSouza, Vincent Emmanuel and Michael Williams; Region 2 – Joel Fredricks and David Wilson; Region 3 – Aubrey Samuels; Region 4-Lennox Shuman; Region 5 – Colin Adrian; Region 6 – David Henry; Region 7 – Norma Thomas, Darnis Larson and Eyon Boyer; Region 8 – Ian Pio, Gideon John and Edward McGarrel; Region 9 – Lenny Moses, Nicholas Fredricks and James George; and Region 10-Wilbert Hall and Telford King.
The elected Chairman is Joel Fredricks, with Eyon Boyer chosen as Secretary and Nicholas Fredricks the Treasurer.
The Toshaos (Indigenous Chiefs) were addressed by Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Dawn Hastings. In her charge to the officials, the Minister highlighted the essential points from the Amerindian Act, as these specifically identify the functions of the National Toshaos Council.
“My charge to you today, is to ensure that good governance will prevail in each of our Indigenous villages and, that you as the new elected National Toshaos Council, must be able to prepare strategic plans, so that Guyanese in our hinterland villages must have access to appropriate health and education facilities,” Minister Hastings said.
The Minister explained that council must be able to fulfill its mandate as an independent body, which would provide advice to the Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs.
She advised the NTC to have a listening ear to the various Village Councils and to assist in resolving any issues they might have in a bid to working and creating developed and sustainable communities.
Meanwhile, in his presentation, Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman, on behalf of President David Granger, congratulated the Toshaos, who were elected to the new Executive Committee. The Minister encouraged the Toshaos to work together for the greater good of the people they represent.
He took the opportunity to dispel political rumours which stated that the new APNU+AFC Coalition Government will disband agriculture and get rid of the Amerindian culture.
”I wish to assure you and reassure you that we have no such intentions, all I would ask is for you to give us an opportunity to get to know each other better and to win your trust. We don’t stand here demanding of you, allegiance. We don’t stand here demanding that you support the Government. We ask, however, that you pay allegiance to your people, that you pay allegiance to the Constitution of Guyana and pay allegiance to the Amerindian Act,” Minister Trotman advised.
”You are citizens of Guyana and citizens of the world. You are entitled to self-respect, to dignity and the right to choose for yourself.”

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Region 2 Toshao elected to chair Amerindian council

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