Amerindians get more land titles; promised water subsidy, increased stipends

Last Updated on Monday, 11 July 2022, 23:45 by Denis Chabrol

Several Amerindian villages on Monday received two absolute grants and several certificates of land titles as part of government’s efforts to resolve decades-long land demarcation problems

Toshao Ralph Hendricks received an absolute grant for the extension of Capoey in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), and Toshao Arifa Shabeer received an absolute grant for the extension of Mashabo in Region Two, Receiving certificates of title were Eve Samuels for the extension of St Monica, Region Two; Yvonne Pearson for the extension of Mainstay-Whyaka in Region Two; Toshao Alvin Joseph for the Tassarine village in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); Toshao Alfred Joseph for Kangaruma in Region Seven; Toshao Shamir Khan for Yupukari in Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo).

Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai , noting that land titling was “paramount” on government’s agenda, boasted that after less than eight months, the titles were delivered to village leaders.

“This speaks volume of the effort to address land titling and demarcation of lands to Amerindian across our country. The ministry is pursuing the approval for two years extension for accomplishing once and for all the completion of titling and demarcation of Amerindian lands,” she said.

In his address to the opening of the NTC conference, the President also announced that water is a “social good” and so no one in Amerindian communities would have to pay for it.  He also said the Toshaos stipend would be increased from GY$30,000 to GY$45,000, GY$5,000 short of what had been requested; the stipend for Deputy Toshaos would be upped from GY$20,000 to GY$30,000, senior councillors would receive GY$15,000 to GY$25,000.

Dr Ali said there would also be an increase of the stipend for all regional councillors from GY$10,000 to GY$30,000 in order to improve efficiency and accountability.

Dr Ali said government was keen on investing some of Guyana’s oil revenues in making Amerindian communities “food secure”, improving the healthcare system including the use of Internet hubs to facilitate telemedicine, expanding the hinterland housing programme, increasing access to electricity and developing a tourism master plan for the hinterland. “These are not dreams, these are active programmes,” he said.

The President, meanwhile, called on the relevant authorities to ensure that pensioners are paid in their villages.