Natural Resources Ministry signs pact with Toshaos to establish and maintain communications
[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkwwKpua15U” width=”100%” height=”315″]
─ will assist the agency to fulfil its mandate in Part IV, section 41 of Amerindian Act 2006
─ will assist in promoting programmes offered by the ministry
─ ministry also signed MOU with Department of Energy and World Wildlife Fund
─ evidence of govt’s commitment to providing ‘good life’ to all – Min. Trotman
DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, February 06, 2019
The Ministry of Natural Resources on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Toshaos Council (NTC) establishing communications with Guyana’s Indigenous communities which will aid in promoting programmes offered by the ministry.
The ministry also signed an MOU with the Ministry of the Presidency’s Department of Energy and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
In brief remarks, at the Hermandston Lodge, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman said the event was further evidence of the government’s commitment to providing the ‘good life’ to all.
National Toshaos Council (NTC), Chairman Nicholas Fredericks praised the ministry for this agreement noting that it will assist the Indigenous peoples with the issues they face. “This MOU will not only benefit indigenous peoples but Guyana at large because we will work on addressing the issues regarding mining and extractive sector… to start the discussion of addressing environmental issues but also how we can build our capacity in the communities so we can benefit from national programmes.” Fredericks said
The MOU signed with the National Toshaos Council will assist the agency to fulfil its mandate in Part IV, section 41 of the Amerindian Act 2006.
Minister Trotman told the gathering:
“The motto of the Ministry of Natural Resources is to explore, to develop and to sustain because we are committed to, and care deeply for, the value of which these words embody is… however, we [ministry] have recognised that these values cannot be realised without strong partnerships and so it is upon this recognition with WWF and NTC will rest.”
He acknowledged a shared interest by all the parties in the sustainable management and development of the natural resources sector and stressed that the ministry has been in a fruitful engagement with both agencies and will continue to be so.
WWF representative Laurens Gomes also thanked the ministry for this move. “It had just added value to NTC and renewal to WWF because it speaks about the future and it helps define and sharpen the role of WWF contributing to Guyanese priorities on nature conservation and sustainable development… it also confirms the importance of such from a Guyana and global perspective.”
The Ministry of Natural Resources is also set to sign an agreement with Conservation International before the end of the month.
Neola Damon.
Images: Giovanni Gajie.