APA calls for gov’t to end inactivity on Chinese Landing issues
Expressing its continued solidarity with Chinese Landing, the Amerindian People’s Association (APA) has called on the National Toshaos Council to urge the government to end its “inexcusable” inaction in taking action to halt mining on the community’s titled lands.
The APA renewed its position during its recently concluded Annual General Meeting (AGM), where it adopted several resolutions acknowledging the need for the recognition, protection, and advancement of Indigenous Peoples’ rights in Guyana.
In a statement on the meeting on Saturday the APA noted that the AGM saw members of the Executive Committee, several regional and unit representatives, staff and other invitees gathering in Georgetown between November 17 and 18, 2022. Other Unit Representatives from Regions 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9 participated virtually.
It said among the adopted resolutions was the decision to continue to support Chinese Landing, Isseneru and the Upper Mazaruni communities along with those close to the Marudi Mountain in their respective land issues.
In particular, the APA said it is aware that the “health, safety, freedom, and quality of life” of the community of Chinese Landing continue to deteriorate rapidly, and exhorts the National Toshao’s Council (NTC) to urge the government to end its inexcusable pattern of inaction towards Chinese Landing under its statutory function and prior commitments.
“In the meantime, the Association will support Chinese Landing’s legal claims that its rights under the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana have been violated,” it added.
Between September 25, 1998, and September 26, 2001, four mining permits were issued to Wayne Vieira, a businessman from Houston, East Bank Demerara,
to mine in the Tassawini area in the village. Since the granting of the permits to Vieira, the community has been engaged in battle with him to preserve the rights of its residents, who say they receive no benefits from Vieira’s operations since it does not employ locals and support community businesses. The residents are also threatened and intimidated by the workers there.
Vieira continues to operate without an agreement and the miners working his concessions are continually breaching the requirements of the Amerindian Act. The Amerindian Act expressly states that entry into indigenous communities must be approved by the Village Council, yet the miners operating there refuse to adhere to the law and would intimidate the Council members when they object. Notably, the gold-rich Tassawini area located in the village is currently occupied by about 500 miners.
In the statement, the APA also expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s failure to timely respond to the InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) in the case of Isseneru Village, especially in its discrimination against indigenous peoples by prioritizing mining interests. The APA said will continue to support Isseneru to secure its collective rights over its customary lands.
Similarly, the APA said it supports the communities of the Upper Mazaruni in urging the court to deliver its long-overdue judgement and the Wapichan communities of the South Rupununi in opposing illegal mining in the Marudi Mountain area and their traditional lands broadly. It noted that these lands are the subject of extension of title applications by the Wapichan communities.
Additionally, concerning the Government’s pursuit of development priorities under the Low-Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030, the APA expressed disappointment in the government’s failure to adequately inform indigenous communities of the implications of the LCDS 2030 before its approval in the National Assembly.
Notwithstanding, the APA said it will support more community capacitybuilding
programmes and continue to follow the LCDS implementation process closely.
Lastly, the APA said it will advance the call from Indigenous communities throughout Guyana to ensure the government fulfils its promises to revise the Amerindian Act to ensure effective protection of the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Guyana.
“The organisation will support communities in building their capacity to articulate proposed revisions to the Amerindian Act, including by making lawyers available to answer community questions and to strengthen community understanding of the law and rights of Indigenous Peoples,” it added, while calling on the Government to respect the right of indigenous peoples to free, prior, and informed consent in the revision process.
Meanwhile, the APA noted that another critical aspect of the AGM was the election of office bearers to the Committee of Management and the full Executive Committee of the organization who will serve for the 2022/2023 period.
The members of the Committee of Management are: President – Lemmel Benson Thomas of Kamarang, Region 7; Vice-President - Junisha Johnny of St. Ignatius, Region 9; Secretary David Wilson of Akawini, Region 2; Treasurer - Earl Thomas of Wakapau, Region 2; Assistant Secretary – John Campbell of Little Kanabali/Santa Cruz, Region 1; Assistant Treasurer – Reynold Hutson of Hotoquai, Region 1, and Trustees - Raymond Coxall
and Dmitri Nicholson, both of Georgetown.
Other committee members include: Youth Representative Kemal Robinson of Kato, Region 8; Women’s Representative Alma Marshall of Kamarang, Region 7; Regional representatives – Region 1 Genevieve Vansluytman, (Moruca), Roxanne Skeete (Mabaruma), Shakira Phillips (Matarkai); Region 2 Rick Thomas (Pomeroon), Harold Marslow (Essequibo); Region 7- James Chambers (Upper Mazaruni), Ronald Joseph (Middle Mazaruni), Ramadhin Ruddy (Upper Cuyuni): Region 8 Charles Peters (North Pakaraimas), Edward McGarrell (Potaro); and Region 9 – Eliane Domingo (Central Rupununi), Ronald Ignatius, (South Central Rupununi), James Davis (South Pakaraimas) and Edgar Casimero (Deep South Rupununi.)
The statement said members of the organisation also approved the Annual Report and Financial Statement for 2021, heard of the Association’s activities in 2022, and approved its work plan for 2023.
The AGM was made possible with the support of Nia Tero, Strengthening the Capacity of Indigenous Organizations in the Amazon (SCIOA) and the International Land and Tenure Facility.
It is considered a critical component of the APA’s efforts to promote and maintain organisational transparency and accountability and allows the fulfilment of obligations as a registered organisation under the Friendly Societies Act.