Several days after the Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry launched a scathing attack on the executive of the National Toshoa Council (NTC), particularly pointing out the Chairman of Vice Chairman, the two parties have decided to put their differences aside and plan to work on a better relationship.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Minister Sydney Allicock addressed this issue describing it as a “teeth and tongue” which has been addressed. The Minister said his Ministry is committed to working with the NTC to ensure that the rights of Guyana’s first people are protected and they receive the best possible help to continue to improve their lives and bring development to their villages.
NTC Vice Chairman Lenox Shuman (left) and NTC Chairman Joel Fredericks
“While we have had some serious discussions and challenges, we have been able to accomplish a number of successes we are yet to utilise…we are at the point where old pathways will now lead us in a new direction. Working in partnership is the way to go,” he explained.
Vice Chairman of the NTC Lenox Shuman confirmed the Minister’s comments and explained that while the issues may have been taken to the public, both the Ministry and the NTC have managed to iron out the issues that they had with each other. He said while there were external forces that may have wanted to see the matter being further exacerbated to a point of hostility, he said that will never happen.
Last week, Government accused the NTC of disrespecting President David Granger, and launched a scathing attack on several vocal Indigenous representatives who were not toeing the line, but exposing serious malpractices of the current A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change Administration.
The Ministry accused the NTC and Shuman, of being confrontational, demanding, and disrespectful in their writings to President Granger. The Ministry said it has also observed a trend of public posturing by NTC executives, and has stated that the NTC has so far not distanced itself from what the Ministry described as rather divisive, disingenuous, and sometimes incoherent statements made by these officials.
In the strongly worded statement, it also pointed to Shuman and said it has taken note of his issuing calls for mass public protest against the Government by the Indigenous citizenry. The Ministry said it would allow the Guyanese public to judge his intentions. Further to that, the Ministry said it is aware of countless complaints of alleged disrespectful treatment of residents of St Cuthbert’s Mission by Shuman.
Former Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai had described the statement issued by the Ministry as a vicious and blatant attack on the Council and Toshoas across the country. Sukhai said she is under the impression there seemingly is disconnect between the Ministry and the NTC. The former Minister said she finds it to be strange, especially since the Minister sits on the NTC as an ex-officio member.
