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Photo: Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo/Facebook

A total of 242 of Guyana’s Indigenous communities will this week begin receiving payments, amounting to billions of dollars, from Guyana’s sale of carbon credits, a scheme through which the country’s rainforest is valued for the harmful greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, it sucks in and stores.

A tonne of carbon is equal to one carbon credit, and the American company Hess has bought 30% of Guyana’s total credits for US$750 million in a 10-year agreement ending in 2032. The payment from Hess is being made in tranches, and last year, 15% of all funds received, totalling close to G$5 billion, went to indigenous communities.

The Toshaos have a legal body called the National Toshaos Council (NTC); it has a very broad mandate which includes planning and developing policies, programmes and projects aimed at sustainable development, general welfare improvement and the promotion of the rights of Indigenous peoples.

But the individual Toshaos and village councils need money to do all of that, especially to drive social and economic projects that would uplift their communities and people.

The Toshaos therefore agreed to opt in to the carbon credits scheme.

Following consultations between the government and Toshaos, an agreement was reached that 15% of all payments received by Guyana from the sale of carbon credits would go to indigenous communities.

Last year the communities received payments for the first time and they are due to receive a similar amount – close to $5 billion – this year.

An additional $100 million was set aside this year for new entrants, such as Community Development Councils which manage small communities with minority Amerindian populations.

On Tuesday, Vice President Jagdeo held an interactive session with Toshaos and throughout the week, they will meet with several government ministers to discuss a range of issues.

He reminded them that it is their villages which decide on how the funds are spent and they also have the right to decide if they want the money or not.

And he was passionate in his defence of the way the ruling PPP/C government has dealt with Toshaos, denouncing attempts by the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) to discredit the consultation programme and the acceptance of the agreement payment terms by the NTC. The APA, Dr Jagdeo pointed out, even sought to stop the carbon credits scheme.

But he said the PPP/C government have always practised a consultative process and has upheld the principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent.

He pointed out that President Irfaan Ali attended Day One of the NTC conference and was there again on Tuesday. And throughout the week, almost all the government ministers will hold interactive sessions with the Toshaos. This he said has been a practice since the NTC Conference started under the PPP/C.

“This is a unique thing; you find out from the APA if this happens in any country in the world – any country where Indigenous people live – any country in the world, you ask them,” Dr Jagdeo declared.

He said this broad-based interaction with Indigenous leaders and the government happens “because of the respect for these villages and our job bringing people together not dividing them.”

The post No pressure: Jagdeo tells Indigenous villagers they are free to accept or reject carbon funds appeared first on News Room Guyana.

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Guyanese pair Jason-Ray Khalil and Samuel Ince-Carvahal have stormed into the semi-finals of the Men’s Doubles of the ENet Senior Caribbean Squash Championship with a clinical win over Seth Thong and Leonel Sorrillo of Trinidad and Tobago.

Playing at the doubles court at the National Racquet Centre on Woolford Avenue on Tuesday morning, Khalil and Ince-Carvahal made light work of their opponents, despite coming into the tournament with limited preparation on the doubles court.

After 24 minutes of play, Khalil and Ince-Carvahal emerged with a solid 11-6, 11-7 success over Thong and Sorrillo.

The victory secured the Guyanese a spot in the semi-final against Bajan pair Darien Benn and Shawn Simpson on Wednesday morning.

From left: Samuel Ince-Carvahal, Jason-Ray Khalil, Leonel Sorrillo and Seth Thong (Photo: News Room/Kirth Cadogan/August 20, 2024)

For Khalil and Ince-Carvahal, having limited prep time on the doubles court meant having to craft a deliberate strategy, one that they were able to execute to perfection on Tuesday morning.

Ince-Carvahal said: “Obviously going in we’ve not really had a lot of practice on the doubles court, so our aim was just to expose the weaker player. We found the weaker player and we tried to play the ball to the front of the court for most of the shots and win the rallies, and it worked out for us.”

Khalil added: “We had a plan going in whereas we knew our strengths- our speed and shot-making ability and we just played upon that. Like he (Ince-Carvahal) said, we found the weaker player and we just attacked him relentlessly.”

For Thong and Sorrillo, it was about enjoying the experience playing doubles, a format of squash that is relatively new to them.

Sorrillo said: “It was real fun. It is something new for both of us. It was a good experience; we tried we best, but they took plenty points in the front court.”

Thong remarked: “I basically think the same thing. It was kind of hard adjusting because we don’t really play doubles too much- we don’t have doubles courts back home. It’s just a few mistakes we fell short on, and hopefully next time we do better.”

The ENet Senior Caribbean Squash Championship is set to continue all week, with the final day of action being Saturday.

Matches are being held at the National Racquet Centre on Woolford Avenue and the Georgetown Club Courts on Camp Street.

The post ENet Senior CASA: Khalil, Ince-Carvahal into Men’s Doubles semi-final appeared first on News Room Guyana.

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33-year-old Alex Dane Fraser

It takes collaboration with both government and the private sector to get things done and Victoria, bordered by the Cove and John and Nooten Zuil villages, has seen remarkable changes in infrastructure and agriculture, among key other needs of the village.

“For a very long time there were no street signs, so if anyone was coming, we would have to give some very weird directions. With collaboration with Demerara Mutual Life, we were able to have the street signs on every street,” Fraser shared.

A farmers’ group has also been formed, and there has been clearing of lands and canals, and the distribution of fertilisers, seeds, and plants.

“Farmers are better off now than they were before because the Ministry of Agriculture comes in every month to just check on the farmers and help them resolve their issues.”

‘Victorians’ are cognisant of their village’s rich cultural heritage and try to preserve it. In November 1839, 83 ex-slaves from five villages – Douchfour, Ann’s Grove, Hope, Paradise and Enmore – pooled money to buy Plantation Northbrook (now Victoria) for 30,000 guilders.

The first church, built in 1845 by William Wilberforce, was called the Wilberforce Congregational Church. The village also has a community centre, nursery, and primary schools, which have all seen improvement along the way.

The post Victoria resident forms Council to advance community development appeared first on News Room Guyana.

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