GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC—President Irfaan Li said Monday that the government has decided to increase the amount paid to the Amerindian communities due to a decline in revenue from carbon credit sales this year.
“This year, the total revenue received from carbon credit sales is US$87.5 million, less than last year. So the 15 percent to Amerindian communities should be less,’ Ali told the opening of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Center (ACCC).
“Because we are a government that cares for and loves you and believes in giving more, we have decided to allocate 26.5 percent of the earnings this year to Amerindian communities,” Ali said, noting that this would mean an estimated GUY$4.84 billion (One Guyana dollar=US$0.004 cents) directly transferred to Amerindian villages.
Guyana’s low-carbon development strategy (2030) commits 15 percent of all revenues from carbon credit sales to Amerindian villages for investment in village development activities. In 2023, the country received US$150 million, and 15 percent meant that US$22.5 million had been allocated to the 242 Indigenous villages.
In addition, seven indigenous villages received absolute grants and a Certificate of Title, with land titling and demarcation for their villages now complete.
Additionally, the Karasaibai District in Region Nine completed its demarcation survey last month and was promised certificates of title within a short period.
Ali, in delivering the Certificate of Title to the Toshao, said, “I want to acknowledge that these grants and so on come with a lot of work; the surveying is not an easy task. It is a very, very dreadful task in some cases.
Ali said he had also asked Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh to examine ways to conduct small contracts for furniture and infrastructure in Indigenous communities.
“In the new program of works, all of that will come directly to you, and you will maximize the labor from your communities,” he added.
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