APA presents overview of work programme to Amerindian Affairs Minister

Representatives of the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) on Wednesday provided Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai with an overview of priority areas of work for the Association.

Among the priority areas identified are projects with partners such as The Rainforest Foundation US with NORAD funding, the Tenure Facility, the Nia Tero Foundation, Forest Peoples Programme with NICFI funding, IUCN Ecuador with EU funding, all of which began during the past five years.

The APA provided the Minister, who was accompanied by Parliamentary Secretary, Sarah Brown, MP, with a document which contains detailed descriptions of the projects as well as the efforts made by the organisation in supporting Indigenous communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, Minister Sukhai said she been following the APA’s activities and looks forward to future collaborations for the continued development of Indigenous Peoples across Guyana.

In a statement, the APA said that as a rights advocacy group, it will continue to support political administrations in ensuring that the rights of Indigenous Peoples are protected, that the right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent is respected in projects, programmes, legislative and policy reform and development.

“The APA will also continue to advocate for Indigenous Peoples to be given spaces for effective participation and inclusion in decision-making at the national.
We will continue our work on ensuring that projects, legislation and policy are developed make lasting contributions to the furtherance of democracy in Guyana and the sustainable development of the interior will reduce the proliferation of conflicts around land and natural resources and enhance the platform for Guyana’s leadership on global climate action,” the Association said.

The APA was represented by its President Lemmel Benson Thomas; Executive Director, Jean La Rose; Policy Officer, Sharon Atkinson; Governance and Rights Co-Ordinator, Laura George and GIS Specialist and Forest Policy Officer, Michael Mc Garrell.