A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament Sherrod Duncan has expressed support for residents of Chinese Landing who are maintaining a round-the-clock blockade at Tassawini, where they are seeking to prevent heavy machinery from entering their titled lands without the consent of the Village Council.
Duncan said he travelled to the Region One community, witnessed the situation and spoke directly with Toshao Nikita Miller and residents.
“I stand in full solidarity with Toshao Nikita Miller and the residents of Chinese Landing, who are defending their rights, titled lands, and community at Tassawini.”
The Chinese Landing-Tassawini Village Council has said heavy equipment associated with miner Wayne Vieira was brought into t
he community without notice or permission from the council. Residents have blocked additional machinery from proceeding into the Tassawini area.
According to local reports, residents have maintained the standoff for several days, insisting that mining activity should not proceed without the community’s consent. The dispute has renewed a longstanding conflict over mining within Chinese Landing’s titled lands.
Duncan criticises ministers
Duncan said residents should not have to physically defend their territory to secure rights already recognised under Guyanese law.
“Their concerns are serious and urgent: heavy machinery has reportedly entered Village Council territory without consent, while residents have maintained a peaceful, round-the-clock stand to protect their land. They should not have to place themselves on the front line simply to secure rights already guaranteed under Guyanese law.”
He criticised Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat and Amerindian Affairs Minister Sarah Browne-Shadeek for what he described as inadequate intervention.
“The continued inaction of Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat and Minister of Amerindian Affairs Sarah Browne-Shadeek is untenable.”
Duncan said Bharrat appeared to be relying on meetings and discussions with stakeholders without producing a resolution that could be enforced on the ground.
“Minister Bharrat appears content to hold meetings and refer to discussions with stakeholders, yet the community remains without a clear, enforceable resolution.”
He also criticised the response from the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, saying:
“Equally troubling are reports that Minister Browne-Shadeek has not responded meaningfully to Toshao Miller’s concerns.”
Duncan said the lack of decisive intervention amounted to an abandonment of the community.
“At a time of such tension, silence, inconclusive engagement, and the absence of responsible state agencies amount to an abandonment of the people whom these ministers are duty-bound to serve.”
Dispute has a long history
The current confrontation is rooted in a dispute dating back decades.
Chinese Landing secured title to its lands in 1976, while mining interests subsequently obtained rights covering areas within the community’s titled territory. The dispute has included court proceedings involving Vieira and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). In 2017, the Caribbean Court of Justice ruled in Vieira’s favour in litigation concerning a GGMC cease-work order, after which his mining permits were renewed.
The dispute later reached the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR).
In July 2023, the IACHR issued precautionary measures for members of the Indigenous Carib Community of Chinese Landing, finding them to be at serious and urgent risk of irreparable harm to their human rights amid allegations of threats, harassment, violence and environmental impacts associated with mining activities.
The Guyana Government subsequently announced a temporary halt to mining in Chinese Landing and said it would take steps to implement the IACHR measures.
The renewed standoff has now brought those commitments back into focus.
Call for immediate intervention
Duncan called on the government, the Natural Resources and Amerindian Affairs ministries and the GGMC to intervene immediately.
“I call on the government, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission to intervene immediately, prevent any escalation, respect the authority of the Toshao and Village Council, and ensure that no activity proceeds without the community’s lawful consent.”
He also urged the government to comply with the IACHR’s precautionary measures.
“The government must also fulfill Guyana’s obligations under the precautionary measures issued by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.”
Duncan said the government’s response should address both the immediate security concerns and the broader environmental and land-rights issues facing the community.
“The people of Chinese Landing deserve safety, clean water, respect for their land rights, and decisive action, not more meetings without conclusions, unanswered appeals, or broken promises.”
Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat has said the government plans to meet with Chinese Landing residents and miners over the disputed operations, but no date for the proposed meeting or specific interim measures had been announced as of Wednesday.
