Four Amerindian communities will shortly receive titles to their lands and a fifth will be granted an extension as soon as the Lands and Surveys Commission has completed mapping the identified areas, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said in a press release.

The communities earmarked for land titles are Rewa, Crash Water, and Apoteri in Region Nine, Karrau in Region Seven and Warapoka in Region One, the release stated. The latter is a titled community which has had its request granted for extension of its land.

According to Minister of Amerindian Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues, this development would give Amerindians full ownership of the lands they occupy. She said that following the implementation of the new Amerindian Act in March 2006, more communities were coming forward with proposals to have their lands titled. According to the minister, “this is sure testimony that the Act is working.”

Minister Rodrigues was recently in Region One where she engaged in discussion with residents of several communities on their requests for titles as well, the release said. And prior to this visit she also handed over a land title to Toshao of Santa Cruz in Region One (Barima/Waini), John Campbell.

President Bharrat Jagdeo in July 2006 handed over two land titles and one extension to Kaburi in Region Seven, Fairview in Region Eight and Annai in Region Nine. Kaburi received a title for 42 square miles of land, Fairview, 82 square miles while Annai received an extension of 62 square miles, the release noted.

Earlier Jagdeo handed over another set of titles to Campbelltown and Micobie in Region Eight (Potaro/Siparuni) and Arukamai and Kamwatta in Region One (Barima/Waini).

On September 22, 2005, Toshaos of five communities received titles for their villages from the Head of State: Wiruni, Muritaro, Malali and Great Falls in Region Ten (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice) and Orealla in Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne). These communities now have legal ownership to their land, GINA added.