The annual National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference will be held from May 19-23, bringing together leaders from more than 200 Amerindian communities.
They will participate in critical discussions on their development and well-being.
Amerindian Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai, made the announcement during a community meeting in Akawini Village, Region Two, on Monday.
She was accompanied by the Minister within the Ministry of Local Government, Anand Persaud; Regional Chairperson, Vilma Da Silva; Regional Executive Officer, Susanah Saywack; and Vice-Chairperson of the National Toshaos Council (NTC), Sonia Latchman.
With this important meeting fast approaching, Minister Sukhai urged Village Councils to actively engage with their people. This, she stressed, would ensure they effectively voice their priority projects, concerns, and requests.
“Your Village Council has to hold a meeting with you [to] give them the level of mandate to go there to deliberate,” she told Akawini residents.
The conference date was also confirmed by Vice-Chairperson Latchman, who highlighted Guyana’s unique commitment to extensive consultations with the Amerindians.
She noted that this level of engagement is unrivalled in many major countries, including the United States.
The NTC comprises all leaders (toshaos) elected to serve by their people. It is the only legitimate body that represents, advocates for, and advances the rights of the first people.
The government, in its national fiscal plan, has allocated substantial funding—totalling $150 million—to support the hosting of the conference.
This signifies the government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that the first peoples’ voices are heard and included in national discussions. (DPI)
