Consultation for revision of Amerindian Act 2006 begins

DPI, Guyana, Monday, April 16, 2018

The Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs (MoIPA), today, started the first of a series of formal regional consultations leading to the revision of the Amerindian Act 2006, at Santa Rosa, Moruca, Barima/Waini (Region One).

Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock.

The process, which will run for three days, will involve representatives from eleven Indigenous Villages in the Moruca sub-region.

These formal consultations stem from the numerous informal conversations involving the ministry and several villages, during outreach exercises across the country following the General and Regional Elections of May 2015.

In a release today, the ministry said that during consultations, the participants including Toshaos, village councillors, community leaders and other rights-holders and stakeholders will have the opportunity to discuss and present their recommendations and proposed amendments to the extant legislation.

The ministry expects to complete some six regional cluster consultations in the administrative regions and at least one in Georgetown during 2018 at which the National Toshaos Council (NTC), Indigenous Peoples organisations and stakeholders from the natural resource sector among others will have the opportunity to participate and make recommendations.

The ministry encourages full participation of Indigenous Village Councils, the National Toshaos’ Council (NTC) and Indigenous Peoples Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), community leaders, stakeholders, interest groups and individuals in the consultations and throughout the revision process.

The ministry stated that it remains committed to fulfilling its pre-election commitment regarding the revision of the Amerindian Act 2006.  The Amerindian Act is the primary legislation that governs the affairs of the Indigenous Peoples’ of Guyana and the government is keen to ensure that this piece of legislation is fully compliant with international law and standards which protect the rights of Indigenous peoples and that it adequately meets the current and future needs of the Indigenous Peoples’ of Guyana.

See full release from the ministry on the link below.

https://dpi.gov.gy/ministry-of-indigenous-peoples-affairs-to-begin-consultative-revision-process-of-the-amerindian-act-2006/

 

By: Synieka Thorne

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