National Toshaos Council refutes claims of Govt’s interference

The National Toshaos Council (NTC) has condemned the act by one of its members, who issued a statement to the press suggesting that Government is interfering with the workings of the council.
According to Secretary of the NTC, Eyon Boyal, the reports that appeared in sections of the media are false, and did not get the blessings of the 20-member executive body.
Boyal noted that every statement by the council has to go through him; however he did not receive any such report.
“It was only the one person who took the responsibility on himself and did the release. Immediately after I saw the article I shared it on my Facebook page, condemning this act and explained that the NTC had no knowledge of such release,” Boyal told the Government Information Agency (GINA).
He pointed out that the NTC is satisfied with the level of support it has been receiving from Government, as the council endeavours to carry out its mandate of supporting the development of the Indigenous peoples.
The report also suggested that an official member of Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs summoned the members of the council to a meeting.
Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock, who is an ex-officio member of the council, was invited to the council’s March meeting, and the minutes will prove that there was no interference, Boyal clarified.
Meanwhile, Advisor to the Minister, Mervyn Williams, explained that the meeting which was requested by the NTC Chairman, Joel Fredericks, dealt with the need for additional information and more clarity on the issue of the Amerindian Land Titling and Demarcation project.
“That information was provided at the meeting so to see a statement that persons were summoned to a meeting is very discouraging, and the Ministry finds it extremely strange that a member of the executive would have made such statement,” Williams added.
He said that the Ministry has seen willingness by the NTC to do its part for the development of the Indigenous peoples, and that it is alarming that one individual is speaking on issues purporting to be a representative of the NTC. He however, noted that the Ministry has no doubt that the Chairman and the members will address the issue.
During the NTC conference in 2015, Minister Allicock had asked the council to consult independently with the villages across the country with a view to obtaining recommendations for strengthening the Amerindian Act of 2006.
“The Ministry in its engagement in villages when going on outreach visits is noting the representation from the villagers all across Guyana, what they perceive to be weaknesses in the Amerindian Act, so there is going to be a broad-based consultation on the agenda shortly which will seek to get the input from a wide cross-section of Indigenous peoples and organisations with a view to strengthening the Amerindian Act,” Williams emphasised.
The Ministry in collaboration with the council is also conducting training in communities on governance, the Amerindian Act, Trafficking in Persons (TIP), labour laws, and environmental protection.
The NTC was established, in accordance with the Amerindian Act of 2006 as an autonomous body comprising Toshaos representing 212 Amerindian villages and communities.  The body’s executive is elected in sub-regional elections every three years.