The government has pledged to further advance the Amerindian land titling and demarcation programme over the next five years.
Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips made the commitment while speaking at the Amerindian Heritage Cultural Extravaganza hosted at the National Park yesterday, which marked the launch of Amerindian Heritage month 2025.
The Prime Minister also registered the government’s recommitment to ensuring that the indigenous peoples directly receive a significant share of the proceeds generated from the sale of carbon credits under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).
“This is not a handout, but a rightful benefit-sharing mechanism for your vital role in conservation. And to that end, you our indigenous brothers and sisters can be assured that going forward you’ll receive no less than 15 per cent of all carbon credit revenues,” he stated.
Phillips said this is a commitment which ensures that Amerindian communities are directly invested in and rewarded for their unparalleled contributions to protecting the environment.
“A cornerstone of this vision is the right to land. We’ve recognised that the land is not just a resource– it is life, it is history, and it is identity. Therefore, our government pledges to further advance the Amerindian land titling and demarcation programme. We will continue this process over the next five years,” he noted.
The Prime Minister further emphasised that land titling and demarcation is both a legal and moral imperative, noting that the government will accelerate the process to resolve pending claims, ensuring security of tenure, as a means of empowering communities with this fundamental asset.
He noted however that securing the land is just one part of the equation, stressing that it must be protected and governed by purposeful laws.
As such, Phillips said the government will work to undertake a comprehensive revision of the Amerindian Act to ensure that the foundational legislation is modernised– ensuring protection and empowerment of indigenous communities.
