North Rupununi throws full support behind COI on Indigenous Land

May 25, 2017 News

– sends strong message to NTC

Vice President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, Sydney Allicock, recently cast away

Sydney Allicock

all doubts from the minds of Indigenous leaders from the North Rupununi after the National Toshao’s Council (NTC) continued on a mischievous path to cause disharmony among the indigenous peoples.
The NTC attended the opening of the statutory board meeting of the North Rupununi District Development Board NRDDB last week Wednesday at Bina Hill Institute where members and partners of the Board were misled about the Presidential Commission of Inquiry established to address Lands inherited by the indigenous peoples.
Board members and other partners were told by three members of the NTC that Government has plans to utilise funding allocated for the Amerindian land Titling (ALT) Project which is being executed by the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and the UNDP, to fund the COI.
Addressing leaders a day later, Minister Allicock said he felt disrespected by at least five members of the NTC who are acting in isolation and have been misleading residents of indigenous villages and communities before fully comprehending the TOR’s set out in the COI.
Minister Allicock stated that funds allocated for the ALT Project will be expended on that project thus dispelling claims by the NTC few who continue to mislead their own people.
The Vice President reminded of the PPP’s campaign promise of discrediting the Government on all fronts, a position, he said, will be detrimental to this nation. He said that despite the negative forces the David Granger-led coalition Government will continue to promote Unity amongst Guyanese. There was disunity during the 2015 campaign.
Minister Allicock said instead of coming on board and helping the Commission to formulate a plan of action the body has chosen to venture into murky waters.
Toshaos attending the statutory meeting say they are baffled by actions taken by the NTC which is all based on “alternative facts”.
Chair of the North Rupununi Board, Anthony Andries, said he is convinced that the NTC Executive is blatantly refusing to deal with the facts or they are using this as a political strategy.
“For me it is either of the two because if they didn’t tell us well this is their stand and this is the other part of the story. But they didn’t do that. I also think that they have withheld key information from us. They didn’t share the ALT part”, Andries said.
Aranaputa is a CDC. In welcoming the establishment of the COI the chairperson said this is long overdue. He spoke passionately about the situation. “We as Toshaos and we as the NRDDB; it is time that we all stand firm in our support of whoever is in government.
“I’m calling on the NRDDB to prepare a letter and send it to the Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and to the President letting them know that we as Toshaos in the North Rupununi are pleased with the setting up of the COI and that we are ready to work”.
A young Indigenous leader, Jessica George, encouraged colleagues to “let us make wise decisions so that we as leaders in our communities can make a difference”.
Russian Doric, who is the youth representative in the NTC and the Toshao of Yupukari and its three satellites, lamented the fact that the NTC should be the body to change the trajectory of the lives of the indigenous peoples, providing unequivocal guidance and ensuring that an ambience of unity and togetherness prevail.’
He said that he is however bowled over by the relentless efforts to disparage the intended results of the COI. “It really hurts me when I saw that they are trying to cause a problem because this looks to me like a one-man show.
“It’s really confusing. You know the indigenous peoples if you throw negative thoughts they will be confused. I am not sure why they are distributing negative thoughts about it”.
Toka Village Leader, Delano Davis, said he believes the NTC has transcended to a place of no return as it continues to push its political agenda. “We in Toka do not support or will not be swayed by any political agenda; we stand behind the COI.
“We have read it we have studied it, it was mentioned at the last NTC and I think the members of the NTC should have investigated that and should have think about that since then but now the COI is in place I want the Minister to be assured that we stand behind that and we fully support you”.
Annai Village Council, Toshao Mark George, who also has responsibility for four other villages—-Wowetta, Rupertee, Kwatamang and Suruma—said, “We are in agreement because we need to have our land protected. We don’t want anybody coming in and interfering. Thus we are in full support and we would also like the Ministry to share more information with us as it happens.”
Only recently a statement published in the media from the NTC threatened political ramifications come 2020 where the 70.000 indigenous peoples will speak the loudest should Government fail to withdraw the COI.