Georgetown : The Government of Guyana has taken solid steps to ensure that there will be a legislation that underpins Indigenous rights and these rights are also carved in the National Constitution. This is according to Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai, who spoke at the fourteenth session of the United Nations (UN) Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNFPII), held at the UN headquarters in New York.
Minister Sukhai, during her contribution at the forum, highlighted the “Future work of the Permanent Forum-Indigenous Peoples and their participation in democratic societies and electoral processes. She took the opportunity to contribute and present Guyana’s position regarding its Indigenous Peoples and their participation in democratic societies and electoral processes.
Minister Sukhai pointed out that Guyana has in place an Amerindian Act (No. 6 of 2006), that is the legislation that seeks to ensure that every facet of life of the nation’s Indigenous People (political, social and economic), in addition to being fulfilled, will be also practically executed, via the many established structures of governance.
She also noted that Indigenous People comprise 10 percent of the country's population and are actively involved in all levels of political structures and local government systems which include Regional, Neighbourhood and the Amerindian Village Councils. And further, Guyana’s Indigenous People are represented at the parliamentary level, representing both sides of the House.
“I must emphasise that two government Indigenous female ministers serve at the Cabinet level, in the capacities of Foreign Affairs and Amerindian Affairs. This fact demonstrates the commitment of the Government of Guyana to ensure inclusion of Guyana’s Indigenous People at the highest political decision making level of the nation,” the minister said.
She also noted that the National Assembly approved the establishment of the Indigenous Peoples Commission, in September, 2015, and that 10 commissioners were appointed to steer this body towards its constitutional mandate "to establish mechanisms to enhance the status of Guyana’s Indigenous People and to respond to their legitimate demands and needs". Five of the commissioners are indigenous, with the chair being an indigenous woman, she explained.
Another laudable step is that the goals of equity, inclusion and non-discrimination of indigenous peoples are well entrenched in the country's constitution and laws, the minister said. She explained that the Amerindian Act of 2006 underscores the autonomy of the indigenous villages, by setting up a political system that empowers Guyana’s Indigenous People to elect their own leaders.
The participants of the UN forum learned that Guyana has a National Toshaos’ Council, a legislative body comprising all the democratically elected village leaders, with functions, among others, to nominate persons to represent their cause in the Indigenous Peoples Commission and other Human Rights Based Constitutional Commissions and that indigenous village leaders are mandated to create their own village rules in consonance with law, and in consultation with their respective villagers.
Other achievements highlighted by the minister are that Amerindian people are taking center stage in national development as the government has built an engaging partnership with the Amerindian Village Councils, Community Based Organisations, and the inclusion of international agencies to further improve the situation of Amerindians. “These partnerships complement the government’s long- term plans in infrastructure, education, health, and secure livelihoods, etc., geared towards better access to social services, and enhancement of economic independence and national development,” she said.
She also noted that the “Indigenous People of Guyana are free to choose and support the political party of their choice without interference or influence,” and that Indigenous People are integrally involved in all facets of the election machinery and the political parties’ lists of candidates for the upcoming General and Regional Elections on May 11, 2015. This she noted reflects the inclusion and participation of indigenous political candidates.
