“Upcoming NTC expected to address serious issues”-NTC Chairman

DPI, GUYANA, Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Chairman of the National Toshaos Council (NTC), Joel Fredericks believes that the upcoming National Toshaos Conference, scheduled to be held from August 22 to 27, 2017, will be able to address serious issues faced by the indigenous peoples.

Fredericks, during an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), highlighted that the Regional Toshaos Conferences, held countrywide, would have addressed the minor problems.

He pointed out that the reason for the regional conferences, stems from the NTC’s recognition that a lot of time was utilised dealing with matters, that could have been dealt with at the regional level.

Fredericks said that now most of the minor issues would have been addressed at the regional level, “It would give more time at the National Toshaos Conference, in August, for us to deal with bigger issues like the land and the mining, and we can spend more time and give more space for people to address those issues.”

Indigenous leaders from over 200 communities across the country will gather, in Georgetown from August 21 to 26, 2017, to deliberate on issues affecting their livelihoods. The six-day event will also provide ministers with a chance to outline their immediate and long-term plans for indigenous peoples’ development.

The NTC recently received a plot of land in the Sophia Exhibition Centre to construct their Secretariat. This was a request that was made last year at the National Toshaos conference by Indigenous leaders to President David Granger.

The establishment of the NTC Secretariat will facilitate more representation and development of the indigenous people from over 200 communities countrywide. Construction is expected to commence shortly.

 

By: Isaiah Braithwaite