Four Miles granted reservation status

Dec 13, 2015 News

…in breach of Amerindian Act
A sordid affair has reared its head once more at Four Miles community, Port Kaituma, North West District, Region One, as the revelation that the community has been designated an Amerindian reservation has not gone down well with residents. Residents are also contending that it is a breach of the Amerindian Act of 2006.

The head table, from left; Sarah Brown, Regional Vice Chairman; Ministerial Advisor, Mervyn Williams and Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock

On Thursday, Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock and the Minister’s Advisor, Mervyn Williams, led a team to the community. During the visit they met with residents.
It was announced that on the basis of the Hinterland and Indigenous People Lands Commission, one of Granger’s ten point plans, the Amerindian Land Title Project, had ruled that the community was a reservation.
“An investigation (by the Commission) concluded that it was the will of the people that Four Miles have communal land titles as the basis for the formation of the village.” Williams said. “There is no way that this government would come into office and undo something that clashes with the people.”
He added that an Amerindian could be defined as the member of a tribe or a descendant of one. Williams made it clear that the people of Four Miles could have recourse to the High Court if they felt the agreement was not lawful. That is precisely what the villagers are contending. According to Robert Ignatius, a villager, the agreement breached the Amerindian Act of 2006.
A perusal of the Act, Section VI, 60 (1) does show that an Amerindian community may apply for a grant of state lands provided “It has been in existence for at least twenty-five years.”
“When did this community apply for a reservation?” Ignatius asked, noting that Four Miles only came about officially in 1992. “I was told that (the village) had applied in 2009. The Act states 25 years and 150 persons in community before you can apply.
“So, from 1992 to 2009 that was 17 years. The Amerindian act is specific on 25 years. So how can this place be given an Amerindian title? You are breaching the Amerindian Act.”
Over the years, residents from the community have been opposing the proposed change in status. It is understood that once the land is designated communal land, residents will be unable to gain individual land leases or dispose of their property.
Residents are also protesting that the designation tears at the very social fabric of the community. Residents are contending that the community is a mixed community, composed of different ethnicities.

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