The Fact
A GINA Release, December 18, 2004
Rodrigues clears air on Village Councils power, Amerindian Act
Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues has expressed concern over complaints by two Amerindians appearing in reports in the media that they are being denied the right to acquire land in certain villages by the respective Village Councils.
One article questioned whether hinterland village councils have too much power and related the plight of two Amerindians, one who had relocated to Region Nine after giving up land in Region One and another resident of Aishalton who claimed her application for a plot of land in the village was denied by the council.
Part of the report quoted the Aishalton Village Captain as saying that “Mrs Michael’s application was processed …..and was one of the few that did not meet the criteria at the time of application”.
The report further said “conditions for approval stipulated that the applicant must have a sound character and his/ her activities should not bring the community into disrepute”.
Minister Rodrigues strongly expressed her disapproval over the type of rule based on “character”.
“If any Council is going to be using morals and sound character as a basis for people to get land, a lot of people are not going to get land. How do you determine that?” she asked.
The Amerindian Affairs Minister pointed out that though her Ministry encourages communities to make rules so they can be gazetted, such a rule will not be encouraged or approved by herself or her Ministry.
However, in light of the two issues, the Minister noted with concern that the cases were only brought to the fore through letters to the newspapers and that none of the individuals involved had written to the Ministry for assistance.
Village Councils are the bodies with responsibility for land for the benefit of communities. Titled Amerindian lands are owned by the Village and the Village Councils are expected to manage the lands on behalf of the communities.
Rodrigues says enough time to study Draft Amerindian Act
Following reports in the media that some persons were not given enough time to scrutinize the draft Amerindian Act, Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues said that communities have been given adequate time to study the Draft Amerindian Act. She emphasized that circulation of the document began since November last. Communities will have about six to seven weeks to study the draft.
Programme Manager of the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA), Jean La Rose, said because of the festive season, ‘most communities would be involved in hunting and other activities,” and they will not have enough time to review the draft Act.
Minister Rodrigues’ position is that “communities need to have their priorities right on what is important to them. “The community leaders I have interacted with feel that the time is adequate for them to look at the Act,” she said.
According to the Minister, though the Act is already in circulation, consultations will begin on January 4, 2005 and conclude on January 23, especially in the larger Amerindian communities such as Regions 1,7, 8,9 and 10.
She reiterated that since Revision of the Act began in 2002, it has been an in-depth process.
The Revision of the Amerindian Act consists of recommendations which followed consultations involving all Amerindian communities in the country. Consultations were conducted by a technical team, including non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s), Government, private legal practitioners and the indigenous communities, as well as the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs.
Minister Baksh clears responds to water woes on East Coast
Minister of Housing and Water Shaik Baksh has responded to complaints about water issues on the East Coast of Demerara.
During a recent News Today newscast, it was reported that residents of Better Hope on East Coast of Demerara were experiencing a severe water shortage. Residents complained that they had not received water for five days.
According to Minister Baksh, technical problems developed and the pump and motor had to be extracted from the well. These are undergoing repairs which will take some time, the Minister said.
He added, “in the meantime GWI has installed a smaller pump which had we had in hand to help the situation.”
Minister Baksh noted that these problems occur from time to time but that efforts are made to address them.
Also, the well at Vryheid’s Lust which was closed has been reactivated and the operation hours of pump stations at Industry and Sparendaam were extended.
Minister Baksh said he has been informed that the situation has stabilized and residents are receiving improved water supply.
Those are the Facts!
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