In order to make sure that indigenous leaders in Guyana’s communities have everything they need to live comfortably, President Dr. Mohammed Irfaan Ali has vowed to keep working with them.
Speaking at the start of the 2023 National Toshaos Council Conference (NTC), Ali said that during the previous three years, his administration had invested more than GYD$50 billion in capital projects to develop Amerindian villages.
According to Ali, this is one of the investments made worldwide in indigenous communities. “Our philosophy is an unchanging philosophy when it comes to our Amerindian brothers and sisters…It was one of respect, one of honour, one in which we have never faltered from our responsibility investing in you and your communities, and you must not take that for granted,” Ali stated.
“Every single thing we have done with our Amerindian brothers and sisters was done in consultation with you, was done with your voice, taking into consideration your ideas [and] your thoughts. And I must say that the representation and the participation from our Amerindian brothers and sisters in the villages and communities have been enormous, and we welcome this…because we believe with greater participation, there will be greater understanding”.
Ali reminded Toshaos that their communities are set to receive further investments as part of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030. Fifteen per cent of LCDS funds from the sale of carbon credits are earmarked for Guyana’s indigenous community. The NTC Conference runs from August 28 to September 1, under the theme: ‘Advancing sustainable village development in a low carbon economy.’