GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC- President Irfaan li Monday said that due to a decline in revenue from carbon credit sales this year, the government has decided to increase the amount paid to the Amerindian communities.
“This year, the total revenue received from carbon credit sales is US$87.5 million, which is less than last year. So the 15 per cent 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 taken a decision to allocate 26.5 per cent 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, a total of seven indigenous villages received absolute grants and Certificate of Title, with land titling and demarcation for their villages now complete.
Additionally, the Karasaibai District in Region Nine had its demarcation survey completed last month and was promised certificates of title within a short period of time.
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 the Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh to examine ways that small contracts for furniture and infrastructure can be done in the indigenous communities.
“In the new programme of works, all of that will come directly to you and you will maximise on the labour from your communities,” he added.
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