Indigenous land extension and ancestral lands in coastal communities are not connected issues

Dear Editor,

We, the undersigned organizations write to express our deep concern and opposition to recently disclosed information such as that which is contained in the Guyana Chronicle of March 9 pertaining to a proposed ‘Lands Commission’ or ‘Land and Life Commission’. From various public pronouncements and as some of the stakeholders participating in meetings of the Amerindian Land Titling Project Board, we understand that this proposed commission may focus on indigenous peoples’ land rights and also likely “address issues of land extension in indigenous communities and ancestral lands in coastal communities”. We also learned via the Government Information Agency through a February 20, 2017 news bulletin that the terms of reference of this commission have almost been completed and that a draft was shared with various government ministries and state agencies in November 2016.

To be clear, we strenuously object to the fact that the commission will address both “land extension” for indigenous communities and “ancestral lands in coastal communities.” These issues are not connected, nor should they be, and we will not accept their linkage in any commission or otherwise. We see no basis for any link between these disparate issues and consider that the announced course will only result in further delay on desperately needed action on indigenous land rights. If the government is of the view that the concept of “ancestral lands in coastal communities” warrants attention, this can and must be done separately from the actions it has promised and is obligated to undertake with respect to indigenous lands.

Moreover, we stress that there has been no attempt to secure the participation of indigenous peoples and organizations about this proposed commission or its terms of reference. Indigenous peoples had been calling for an Indigenous Lands Commission for some time now and had said that such a commission must be established with the participation of our peoples from its inception. Any such participation must be done at the earliest stages of the development of any plan or proposal that may affect indigenous peoples’ rights. This has not occurred. The vague public statements made in the recent past about plans to establish a commission do not constitute even basic consultation, as they provided no information on which indigenous peoples could assess the commission’s necessity, utility, or potential effectiveness as a mechanism to fairly resolve outstanding land tenure rights. There also has been no attempt so far to discuss what plans may exist to realize indigenous peoples’ participation moving forward. This substantial deficiency, which violates a basic tenet of our constitutional democracy and human rights, requires immediate correction.

To its credit, the government has previously stated its intention to resolve indigenous land tenure rights finally and fairly, and to do so in accordance with the state’s commitments under international human rights law. From our perspective, this must be the primary and overriding purpose of any lands commission that may be established. We fully endorse and support any efforts that are designed and aim to achieve this end. Conversely, we will oppose any efforts that are not so designed and directed.

Statements made ostensibly on behalf of the Project Management Office within the Ministry of the Presidency in relation to the Amerindian Land Titling Project intensify our concerns. In a communication dated February 15, 2017, a representative made a number of sweeping statements about the “Lands Commission of Guyana,” including designating it as “the national competent authority” on indigenous title extensions and (unspecified) disputes about indigenous lands. Without new legislation or a valid delegation of powers to this (yet to be established) commission there is no basis to claim that it has any competence or authority, even more so given the failure to secure indigenous participation in decisionmaking to date. Moreover, legislation currently exists ‒ the Amerindian Act 2006 ‒ that confers competence and authority in relation to these matters to the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs (MIPA). This representative also contends that, “Land issues, including dispute of all lands, is resident by law with GLSC (Guyana Lands & Surveys Commission)...” Again, indigenous land issues, at least processing and authoritatively deciding on applications for title or extension of title, are resident by law with the MIPA, and it is the agency best equipped in this regard given its superior knowledge of indigenous issues.

Additionally, while there are defects in the Amerindian Act relative to indigenous peoples’ internationally protected rights, defects that the government has committed to correct, it nonetheless contains a procedure for receiving, assessing, and deciding on title or extension applications. The pending adoption and implementation of the Guidelines developed through the Representative Platform under the ALT Project is an important step for-

in this process, and is one which we support. We have no doubt that the MIPA and other state agencies must build capacity to effectively comply with its statutory duties and the state’s obligations pertaining to indigenous peoples’ rights. Likewise, capacity within and coordination among different ministries and agencies need to improve. This especially includes developing collaborative arrangements to enhance effectiveness, to weigh and resolve competing rights or interests in land, and to ensure that the titling of indigenous lands is facilitated, not hindered by contradictory policies or actions (eg, precipitous grants of mining permits or concessions). We strongly urge that this should be the focus of our collective efforts, not misdirected claims about where authority may reside or inappropriate and opaque attempts to join distinct issues (ie, in the proposed commission) that will only cause further delay and confusion. Yours faithfully, Earl Thomas Secretary, Amerindian Peoples Association Mary Valenzuela Chief, Guyanese Organisation of Indigenous Peoples Peter Persaud The Amerindian Action Movement Nicholas Fredericks South Central Peoples Development Association. Ashton Simon National Amerindian Development Foundation