Prime Minister affirms land rights, carbon credit benefits and development for Indigenous peoples

Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips has reaffirmed the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government’s commitment to making Guyana’s Indigenous peoples a central part of the national development agenda, pledging land security, equitable carbon credit benefits and strengthened self-governance.

Speaking at the Amerindian Heritage Month Cultural Extravaganza on Monday night, Phillips said the administration was executing a “comprehensive and actionable plan” with Indigenous leaders to ensure no community is left behind.

“Your stewardship of our environment must remain a continuing reality, making you the primary guardians of the very ecosystems that are now crucial in the global fight against climate change. It is therefore not only equitable but just that you, our Indigenous brothers and sisters, directly receive a significant share of the proceeds generated from the sale of carbon credits under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS),” Phillips said.

He assured that communities would continue to benefit from no less than 15 percent of all carbon credit revenues, stressing the arrangement was not a “handout” but a rightful sharing mechanism.

A cornerstone of this vision, he said, was Indigenous land rights. “We recognise that the land is not just a resource, it is life, it is history and it is identity,” Phillips added.

He pledged to accelerate the Amerindian Land Titling and Demarcation Programme and announced plans to collaborate with Indigenous stakeholders on a revision of the Amerindian Act to modernise legislation, strengthen self-governance and balance land rights with development.

“Securing the land is only one part of the equation; it must be protected and governed by laws,” he said.

Pauline Sukhai, who served as Minister of Amerinidian Affairs, also emphasised the importance of celebrating Amerindian heritage as part of Guyana’s national identity, citing investment in infrastructure, healthcare and education in hinterland communities.

Amerindian Heritage Month is observed each September. This year’s celebrations carry the theme Igniting Unity, Celebrating Progress, Advancing our Culture.