The 17th Annual Conference of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) is scheduled to take place between 19 – 23 May, 2025 at the Arthur Chung Conference Center, Georgetown under the theme ‘Robust Governance for Sustainable Village Development.
The Alliance For Change (AFC) fully supports the hosting of a conference of the Toshaos and respects that this annual conference of all elected leaders is the forum where collective discussions and decisions are made on issues, challenges and recommendations that can be presented to the government.
The AFC is aware that every single year the approach of the conference has been a programme designed that creates limited time for the Toshaos to be heard but more time allocation to government officials.
In addition, media coverage and engagement with leaders have demonstrated that the issues brought in previous years such as issues from mining and forestry, land rights issues, access to clean water, health and education issues remain very largely unaddressed.
The AFC therefore make the following observations and recommendations so more issues can be addressed effectively –
– The Toshaos must be given at least two to three days to caucus independently on collective matters of priority, recurring challenges and therefore be able to present collective recommendations on the way forward. This is in line with respecting the right of Indigenous Peoples to self-determination.
– This is the year of General and Regional election. We strongly urge that Indigenous leaders are so respected during this time and the NTC conference is not used as a maligning point of political leaders nor use the conference as a forum to launch a political campaign of the PPP. Indigenous Peoples deserve respect.
– In light of the looming elections for Governor of Essequibo by Venezuela, Indigenous Peoples need to have clear guidance and guarantees on their protections. Article 36 (1,2) of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) states that Indigenous peoples, in particular those divided by international borders have the right to maintain and develop contacts, relations and cooperation including activities for spiritual, cultural, political, economic land social purposes, with their own members as well as other peoples across borders.
– 2. States, in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous Peoples shall take effective measures to facilitate this exercise and ensure the implementation of this right.’ It must be noted that prior to the formal boundary lines of Guyana being created, Indigenous Peoples lived beyond boundaries and have maintained those relations to this day. To this effect, the government of Guyana must present clear plans, information and guarantees to respect and protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples who largely occupy the Essequibo region.
– The NTC conference is being held during the week of the time of the tragic Mahdia dormitory fire where we lost 20 of our children. It is important for the government to fully disclose what practical response has been made to ensure our children are protected as it relates to the situation of hinterland school dormitories.
