A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed to facilitate the submission of a project proposal by the Amerindian People’s Association (APA) to the Swedish-based International Land and Forest Tenure Facility for assistance in land tenure security, among other things, in indigenous communities.
Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock and APA President Mario Hastings signed the agreement at the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs in the presence of Minister in the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Valerie Garrido-Lowe and APA Project Coordinator Graham Atkinson and other ministry and APA officials.
In brief remarks, Hastings said that government’s support for the project proposal was essential for the approval of the project, which will benefit indigenous peoples under three main components. The three components are: land titling for ten communities; the revision of the Amerindian Act; and support for the South Rupununi District Council (SRDC) land talks and the government and SRDC community-based conservation.
Noting the importance of government and civil society collaborating, Hastings said, “We are facing global climate change and we need to work together to look for new ways and means to resolve issues that affect our indigenous peoples.”
As the project proponent, he said, the APA will respect the commitments as agreed under the MoU and to resolve the outstanding issues affecting the indigenous communities mentioned in the project proposal if it is favourably considered.
In brief remarks, Allicock said the signing of the MOU marked a new chapter in the beginning of relations between the administration and indigenous peoples.
After looking at the benefits of collaboration and working in partnership to tackle the challenging issues in the areas of land, economic development, capacity building and output, he said, “We all agreed this project proposal is one that would allow us to move in the direction of a good life through a Green State.”
Noting that the APA had been building capacity in communities over the years with knowledge of “every crack, creek, valley, river and hill into his country,” he said, the ministry recognises the value of the experience of such an organisation.
The MoU will also give people the confidence that is needed, he said, for the development of village improvement plans for economic growth and to give support to national development. “Time like this in the development of our country, we need the hinterland to be fully included in whatever is done in discussion, planning and execution of these plans. Here is a good opportunity for us to build that relationship that would give us the goods for moving forward,” he said.
Noting that Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo has said that a new government under the People’s Progressive Party will not recognise agreements under the current administration given the passage of the December 21st no-confidence motion against it in the National Assembly, Allicock said, “We are the government and we have work to do. We have our people who have to live. Not because the opposition say that they would not recognise any agreements means that our work will stop. We have the right to be able to have work continued.
Noting that the project has been some time in the making before December 21st, he said, “If we do not do this work, the opposition will not help us. His [Jagdeo’s] bread is well buttered.”
Noting that Jagdeo has been recognised as a “Champion of the Earth,” Allicock said the MoU was providing for indigenous people, who have been there to protect the natural environment.
“He (Jagdeo) was recognised as a ‘Champion of the Earth’ based on the indigenous people’s strength, our
protection of the environment and the indigenous way of life out there. We are supposed to be the ‘champions of the earth.’”
Guyana natural environment is special, Allicock said “because we indigenous peoples made it special. We recognise the value of the natural environment. We respect the other managers of a healthy eco-system. We understand the work of the earthworm, the monkey, the birds, the fishes and the value of standing trees. We understand real life. We understand the languages and the laws of nature – not man-made laws. Politicians come, politicians go. Indigenous peoples will always be here.”
