The National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference 2024 opened on Monday at the Arthur Chung Conference Center (ACCC) with Chairman Derrick John delivering a sobering opening address to fellow indigenous chiefs and leaders.
John believes the conference, centered on the theme: ‘Astute Leadership for Amerindian Development,’ is pivotal in highlighting the enhanced leadership and strategically deployed resources that are currently fostering the transformation and development of indigenous communities.
In his remarks, John underscored the significance of these annual conferences, affirming their relevance to the ongoing evolution of Indigenous leadership and community advancement. He highlighted the progress made, noting that among the 300 Toshaos elected recently, there are 24 women, reflecting a positive shift toward greater gender inclusivity in leadership roles.
The Chairman encouraged attendees to leverage the conference as an opportunity to share successful development stories and address ongoing challenges. That includes addressing how transformative Guyana’s carbon credits venture has been for Indigenous communities.
“Use this opportunity to report on how the funds from carbon credit sales have impacted your communities,” John urged those gathered.
He emphasised that unlike in the past when ideas were limited by resources, currently financial support given to all Indigenous villages from the sale of carbon credits enables the transformation of those ideas into tangible realities.
To this end, he encouraged the continued protection of the forest.
John advocated for increased recognition and respect for the NTC, urging Indigenous leaders to acknowledge the body as the legitimate representative it is. He praised President Irfaan Ali and the government for the robust collaboration with Indigenous leaders, describing the partnership as stronger than ever.
This cooperation, John said, is vital for driving forward the agenda of community development.
In acknowledging the existence of some challenges, John stressed the importance of selecting qualified regional representatives to guide the NTC in the next three years. Before the end of the week, a new NTC will be elected and installed.
“We must appoint capable leaders who can steer us effectively over the next three years,” he said, underlining the need for strategic leadership to navigate future development efforts.
The conference marks a significant moment for the NTC and Indigenous communities, setting the stage for a renewed focus on leadership excellence and the strategic use of resources to drive community progress.
