By Mark Dacosta- The annual National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference began on May 19 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre under the theme “Robust Governance for Sustainable Village Development.” Though the event was designed to provide Indigenous leaders from more than 200 communities a vital space for charting developmental goals, this year’s meeting opened under the shadow of intensifying scrutiny over state interference — an accusation that has trailed the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) for years.
Billed as a platform for Indigenous voices to engage the highest levels of national leadership, the NTC conference once stood as a proud symbol of Guyanese democracy. Toshaos — village leaders elected by their people — gather from across our country’s ten regions to deliberate on urgent issues such as land rights, climate change, mining threats, education, healthcare, and governance. However, what should be a forum for unity and advocacy is increasingly viewed by critics as a political theatre manipulated to suit the interests of the government rather than Indigenous communities.
Chairman of the NTC, Derrick John, in his address, struck a note of encouragement and solidarity. He underscored the importance of leadership rooted in responsibility and development, urging Toshaos to use community resources wisely and engage fully in the five-day event. He reminded participants that the NTC is a rare forum that allows direct interaction with the President and his Cabinet, calling it an unparalleled opportunity. “Let us make this dialogue a meaningful one,” John said, while also voicing frustration over what he termed disruptive political interference, including protests that have affected Indigenous communities.
Yet behind the formal speeches and hopeful rhetoric lies a growing disquiet. The Amerindian Peoples Association (APA), a longstanding civil society group that advocates for Indigenous rights, issued a blunt warning to participating Toshaos. In its public statement, the APA called on Indigenous leaders to “fight for their rights and needs” and urged the government to honour the NTC’s independence by ensuring “transparency and inclusion in all discussions.” The APA reminded all involved that “Indigenous peoples are not only stakeholders, we are rights-holders with a deep connection to our lands, cultures, and ways of life.”
The association’s concerns stem from longstanding grievances. Allegations of PPP/C interference in the internal affairs of the NTC have surfaced repeatedly in recent years. These include claims of government influence over the election of the Council’s executive committee, coercion of community leaders to toe the party line, and the selective disbursement of state resources as a political tool. According to sources close to the process, government officials have allegedly pushed for preferred candidates to secure control over the Council’s direction. Though these sources requested anonymity, they spoke of systemic efforts to subdue dissent and steer the agenda away from thorny issues like land demarcation and mining regulation.
For many Indigenous leaders, the fear is that the NTC, conceived as a body for collective decision-making and self-determination, is being turned into a rubber stamp for government policies. The very autonomy the APA and others defend is now at risk of being hollowed out. The government’s continued presence at the conference — while essential— must not come at the cost of co-opting Indigenous voices or marginalising critical perspectives.
Back in April, Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai announced that the conference would be held in May and serve as a space to advance community development. Yet the Minister’s statements ring hollow for many activists, who argue that behind the platitudes lies a government more interested in optics than outcomes. The APA rightly reminded the public that this is not a mere ceremonial gathering. “The NTC Conference is not just a ceremonial gathering; it is an opportunity to hold the government and state agencies accountable while demanding policies and actions that truly benefit our communities,” the group insisted.
As the conference proceeds, tensions rremain The central questions persist: Will Indigenous leaders seize the moment to demand accountability and genuine representation? Or will political pressure succeed in further diluting the Council’s voice?
