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Georgetown, Guyana (Credible Sources) During the 90th Sitting of the Twelfth Parliament on December 18, 2024, Member of Parliament Vincent Henry voiced staunch opposition to the Acquisition of Lands for Public Purposes (Amendment) Bill 2024, citing significant concerns over its implications for Guyana’s Indigenous communities. Representing the Guyana Action Party (GAP), MP Henry raised issues of equity, ministerial overreach, and Indigenous land rights in his contribution to the debate.
MP Henry opened his remarks by extending condolences to the family and community of Toshao Ridley Joseph of Tassarene Village, Region 7, lamenting the recent murder and urging government support for the necessary funeral arrangements. He criticized remarks made by Minister Kwame McCoy during the incident, describing them as “insultive” to Indigenous people.
Henry contended that the bill, as proposed, consolidates excessive power in the hands of the minister responsible for land acquisitions, enabling unilateral decisions regarding the necessity of land acquisition and the compensation for affected citizens. “This amendment before us will allow the minister, who is a political activist, to become a one-man band,” Henry stated, warning that such authority could lead to unequal and unfair treatment of Guyanese citizens based on political or ethnic considerations.
Referring to the bill’s potential impact on Indigenous communities, MP Henry expressed deep concerns about the erosion of Amerindian land rights. “Land for us Indigenous people is our mother. Without that, we will not remain as Indigenous people,” he emphasized. He argued that the bill allows the government to bypass the Amerindian Act of 2006, opening the door to acquisitions of Indigenous lands without the constitutionally required “free, prior, and informed consent.”
Henry also invoked the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), specifically Articles 8 and 10, which call for mechanisms to prevent dispossession of Indigenous lands and require informed consent before relocation or land acquisition. He noted that the bill does not align with these international standards and risks undermining the Indigenous communities’ cultural, social, and economic stability.
The MP called for the bill to be referred to a special select committee for further scrutiny and broader consultation. He argued that such an approach would allow stakeholders, including Indigenous communities, to ensure the legislation upholds equity and reflects Guyana’s modern needs without marginalizing vulnerable populations.
Henry appealed to parliamentarians to prioritize fairness and inclusivity in national development, urging his colleagues to adopt an approach that protects the rights and welfare of all Guyanese, particularly the first peoples of Guyana.
