Rockstone to soon have land title – DPI
The Rockstone community in Region Ten will soon acquire its land tenure rights, the Department of Public Information (DPI) reported today.
On Wednesday, Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, and Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, met with Rockstone community members.
Rockstone’s Toshao, Deino Williams, said the visit signals that the process will soon be completed. The land titling process began in 1994, DPI said.
“It’s a joyous moment currently to see that it is coming to a close. And with the visit of the three ministers, I can say that we are seeing a light at the end of the tunnel,” Williams said during an interview with DPI.
He expressed his satisfaction with the extensive consultations that allowed community members to contribute meaningfully. Williams also acknowledged the role of President Irfaan Ali in accelerating the land titling process.
According to the toshao, approximately 300 residents will benefit from secured land within the proposed area when the titling process is completed.
The village leader also gave his reassurance that all residents would benefit equally, DPI said.
Meanwhile, Sukhai noted that the process faced numerous delays, but promised that it is now closer to completion. She informed the residents that based on a technical evaluation, Rockstone is now eligible for a land title in keeping with the Amerindian Act of 2006.
Sukhai added that all issues must be addressed at the technical level before a report is submitted to cabinet.
Bharrat and Walrond committed their ministries’ support to developing the forestry and tourism sectors.
This process forms part of the comprehensive Amerindian Land Titling (ALT) project, which seeks to accelerate the legal demarcation and titling of lands owned by the first people, DPI said.
Multiple agencies were required to collaborate such as the Ministry of Natural Resources, Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the Guyana Forestry Commission.
