SRDC two-day meeting ‘fruitful’- Chairman

DPI, GUYANA, Monday, August 07, 2017

Complaints in relation to land issues were top on the agenda when Toshaos from Southern Rupununi met for their quarterly South Rupununi District Council (SRDC) meeting.

Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock.

The meeting was held in Sand Creek, Region Nine over the weekend. Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and Fourth Vice President Sydney Allicock was part of the presentation panel on day two of the meeting.

Some of the land issues were raised with the Minister who assured the Toshaos that they are being addressed. He encouraged them to “put things in place to help your people and help you too,” even as he explained that his Ministry’s Amerindian Land Titling Project Management Unit is working to bring resolution to land issues.

Chairman of the SRDC Paulinus Albert said that representatives and Toshaos were updated on these efforts. “Now that the SRDC is engaged with the government…this is information that we pass on to the various communities”.

Meanwhile, some residents and Toshaos implored Minister Allicock for assistance in their recovery efforts after the recent floods which affected their livelihoods and communities back in May-June.

Many of the Toshaos told the Minister they are working to ensure their cassava cultivation is converted into farine, before they begin to rot from being water logged. “I want to recommend that each sub district be given a farine factory because we don’t like to eat rice we eat farine,” Faye Fredericks from Shulinab urged, amidst resounding support from the meeting.

While Minister Allicock assured that he would provide assistance, he encouraged the Toshaos and village leaders to be more proactive in their work to put forward sustainable projects to support the development of their communities in times of crisis and in general.  “We will focus on your needs and help you to get there but it cannot be done alone,” Minister Allicock said.

Chairman of the SRDC, Albert summed up the two-day meeting as “fruitful”. The SRDC meets quarterly to inform and update the communities on the work of the SRDC.

 

By: Tiffny Rhodius

Toshaos and representatives from South Rupununi villages at the SRDC meeting.

Faye Fredericks from Shulinab.

 

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