Dear Editor,
I have read Dr. Janette Bulkan’s letter in the Stabroek News on 8 October 2022 titled, “NTC must explain legal basis of their endorsement of government’s move to make decisions over Indigenous titled lands.”
I will first state that I have great admiration for Ms. Bulkan and have followed her work in relation to Guyana’s Indigenous Peoples. I am encouraged by her call for the NTC to explain their actions.
As a previous Vice Chairman of the NTC, I can say that Indigenous Leaders are firstly answerable to their communities on every matter discussed at meetings both in and out of their respective communities. This is clearly outlined in the Amerindian Act (AA 2006). There is however no mention that the Toshaos and by extension the NTC are answerable to anyone other than their constituents as stated in Part III of the said act. Keep in mind that the NTC also has a mandate to fulfill under Part IV of the AA 2006.
In the period 2015 -2018, the NTC would have presented several options and opportunities to the then Government of Guyana on a variety of issues and how it could have bridged the funding gap it experiences year over year. There were also exhaustive discussions on alternative livelihoods while minimizing our impact on the forest, improved governance and a raft of other issues including reducing mining in Indigenous communities. All of these fell on deaf ears and the APNU+AFC government never paid an iota of attention.
I need not regurgitate the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), however, as a person who had an opportunity to make an input into the document, I am happy that the Government has finally found a way, in conjunction with the NTC, to monetize those very forests while supporting Villages’ development.
Functions of the NTC are listed Under Part IV of the AA 2006. At 41. d) It..is to prepare strategies for the alleviation of poverty in indigenous communities. By endorsing the LCDS, the NTC effectively fulfilled this obligation as the LCDS provides funding for alternative livelihoods; 41. e)… to prepare strategies for the sustainable management of village lands, etc. In their wisdom the NTC, by the stroke of a pen and the endorsement by the entire NTC at the last conference, has endorsed one of the most progressive frameworks that gives them a meaningful way to monetize the standing forest thus endorsed the sustainable management of their Village lands. Also, 41. g. a) states that part of that function is, “..to provide advise to the Minister on the protection of Amerindian Culture……” to paraphrase. We have always argued and fought for the protection of the forest as our livelihoods are intricately linked to prudent and responsible environmental management (keeping the forest standing and as pristine as possible). One cannot find a more comprehensive piece of advice to the government in the protection of our ways of life than to add their signature to the most comprehensive plan to keep the forest standing.
The endorsement of the LCDS by the NTC has seen the NTC fulfill some of their obligations under Functions of the NTC as contained in the AA 2006 thus the question posed is already answered. As the world moves on, economies crave resources and pressure is exerted on the environment to exploit those resources making it even more critical that in order to protect our way of life, we must protect the forest. For Indigenous peoples, deriving tangible benefits from such facilities in this shape is no doubt a most excellent option and is in line with the NTC’s mandate. Having sat on the NTC previously, it is my understanding that that advice was provided on multiple occasions to the government past and present, and with the adoption of the LCDS, the NTC demonstrated that they are forward looking and committed to keeping the forest standing with minimal impact on traditional activities.
Lastly, from the agreement signed with Hess and the agreements yet to be signed, the LCDS earmarks an initial 15% of the funds derived from the sale of carbon credits for Indigenous Communities. This is but a fraction of the tangible and direct benefit Indigenous peoples will get from the nascent oil and gas sector that is tied to protecting the forests.
I previously called for leaders to develop strategic plans that will see the monies spent in their communities’ interest. I think that the NTC – Village Leaders and Villages, need to explore options to invest the funds derived from these facilities to ensure communities enjoy a sustainable and perpetual stream of income and benefits to their communities.
Respectfully,
Hon. Lenox R. O. Shuman, MP
Deputy Speaker
