Several Indigenous communities are demanding that unresolved land issues be settled before any demarcation of the territories under the Amerindian Land Titling project.
Leaders of several indigenous villages last week met with officials of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, who told them that their communities have been identified for demarcation under the US$10.7 million Amerindian Land Titling project and they needed to say whether they would accept the exercise. However, during the meeting, the leaders said that they needed to consult with their communities before making a decision, according to accounts related to Stabroek News by two village representatives who were present at the meeting.
Leaders from Baramita in Region 1, Paramakatoi and Chenapau in Region 8, Arau, Kaikan and Chinoweng in Region 7, and Konashen in Region 9 were present at the meeting, Stabroek News was told.
Toshao of Chinoweng Davin John told Stabroek News that he got a message via radio that a meeting was scheduled with Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai on August 7 on village issues. The group of leaders, he said, met instead with Advisor to the Minister Yvonne Pearson and a few other ministry officials. He said that they were told that their
