Govt. approves 250 gun licenses for Amerindians

May 20, 2025 News

Kaieteur News- Indigenous village leaders will be returning to their respective communities with gun licenses they had requested from the government, President Mohamed Irfaan Ali announced on Monday during the opening ceremony of the annual National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference.

The NTC conference is being held at the Arthur Chung Conference Center (ACCC). Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown and over 200 village leaders are attending. According to Ali some 250-gun licenses were processed. “…Security is very important and we had about 250 requests from Toshaos, leaders and other village elders or persons recommended by the villagers for firearm, shotgun licenses mostly for the protection of the villages,” Ali told the conference. He added: “I am pleased to tell you today that everyone of those applications was processed and you will get those licenses to take back in the villages.”

Govt. approves 250 gun licenses for Amerindians

President Mohamed Irfaan Ali during his address to the NTC conference on Monday

The rest of the President’s opening address was primarily focused on campaign promises if his government is given another five-year term at the upcoming 2025 Regional and General Elections. He promised the indigenous people jobs. “We in this government are committed not only to the expansion of our community but importantly we are committed to the expansion of opportunities,” the President said. “We want to assure that this government…will continue to advance Amerindian land titling,” he continued while promising “we will continue to maintain the value the nominal value of the LCDS (Low Carbon Development Strategy) resources that will be transferred to your communities under your own management.”

The President then spoke of creating job opportunities for indigenous people before spending lengthy period comparing the investments his government has made in the last five-years in indigenous communities with those of the previous coalition administration. Most of his government’s investments he said were made in health and education. He also used the platform to take a jab at possible political opponents in a bid to convince village leaders attending conference that the indigenous people might be better off keeping his government in power. Ali told the Toshaos, “you can trust us.”

Meanwhile, in her address, Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai noted that Guyana remains a regional leader in inclusivity and sustained engagement with Indigenous peoples. This approach continues to yield tangible results in advancing sustainable development across villages. She said the conference serves as a platform for village leaders to raise issues, propose solutions, and outline their development agendas and priorities. “I urge you to ensure that the sessions are interactive and consultative. This is your space. This is your time to voice your progress and even your setbacks. So, together with the government, we can learn and grow and build,” Minister Sukhai said.

She reminded attendees that the NTC is the only legally recognised body representing all Indigenous communities, as established under the Amerindian Act 2006. Minister Sukhai reaffirmed the government’s commitment to an open-door policy and ongoing dialogue with Indigenous leaders. “In our ‘One Guyana,’ Amerindian peoples occupy a special place as our first people. The People’s Progressive Party Civic administration always has our Amerindian people at heart. This conference is being held in the fifth year of the People’s Progressive Party Civic government in office,” she noted. The minister stressed that the government remains focused on supporting sustainable development while enabling Indigenous communities to shape their path forward. Held under the theme ‘Robust Governance for Sustainable Village Development’, the conference provides a forum for direct consultation between Amerindian leaders and the government on matters affecting their communities and strategies to drive development.

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Amerindians, Arthur Chung Conference Center, Conference, gun licenses, National Toshaos Council, President Mohamed Irfaan Ali

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