Natural Resources Ministry to foster closer relationship with NTC

DPI, GUYANA, Saturday, August 26, 2017

Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman assured that there will be a closer and more formal relationship between his ministry and members of the National Toshaos Council. This was disclosed on Friday, day five of the NTC conference, hosted at the Cyril Potter College of Education, Turkeyen.

Minister Trotman said that a formal relationship with members of the NTC will afford routine meetings to address and iron out critical issues.

“I believe that every ministry but particularly those Ministries that touch and concern hinterland issues, indigenous people issues, of course, the Ministry of Natural Resources being one of them should have a more formal and direct relationship and so I would be inviting them to meet with us on a quarterly basis.”

The issues which affect the lives of thousands of persons living in the hinterland include illegal mining and logging, illegal trafficking of persons among others.  These concerns require urgent attention since they have been put forward at previous NTC meetings.

The consultations would give the indigenous people direct contact with officers from the Guyana Forestry Commission, the Guyana Geology and Mine Commission, the Gold Board, among others, Trotman noted.

The minister explained that “there is a lot of illegal mining taking place in Amerindian titled areas, while we respond to complaints or reports; we find out that they are the ones doing the illegal logging or mining and I believe frequent, formal discussions will be of benefit to all sides, government and the NTC.”

Minister Trotman said that within the next two weeks he will be meeting with the executives of the NTC to begin the process.

 

By: Isaiah Braithwaite