Constitution Reform is taking place in Guyana and for the first time ever, the Amerindian Community is participating in this historic event.

Amerindians’ representative on the CRC

Ms. Jean La Rose being congratulated by President Janet Jagan at the Swearing in ceremony of the Commissioners

Ms. Jean La Rose, Programme Administrator of the APA, was elected to sit on the Constitution Reform Commission (CRC) as the representative for Amerindians in January 1999. She was elected by Toushaos representing nine of the ten regions in Guyana and representatives from the three Indigenous Peoples organisations in Guyana, the Amerindian Peoples Association ( APA), the Guyanese Organisation of Indigenous Peoples (GOIP), and The Amerindian Action Movement Of Guyana (TAAMOG).

Commissioners of the CRC

Ms. La Rose was subsequently elected as Vice-Chairman of the Commission and is one of two women on that body. The CRC comprises twenty persons, 10 from the political parties in parliament and 10 from civil society.

Toushaos/Organisations Statement to the CRC

The Amerindian community in Guyana was one of the first group of people to submit written recommendations to the CRC in a document that is now popularly called the Toushaos and Organisations Statement to the CRC, signed on January 20, 1999.

Some of the recommendations contained in this statement are:

- there must be a special chapter on Amerindian rights in the constitution - there must be a transitional article on the establishment of a land claims settlement procedure to address all Amerindian land claims - Amerindian rights of ownership and control of lands and resources must be based upon immemorial occupation and use - Amerindians must have the right to autonomy and self-government within the framework of the Guyanese State - there must be measures to ensure that the views of minorities in the decision making process and in the conduct of government are given due consideration, especially in respect to Amerindian participation - the right to cultural integrity - the right to education - there must be special guarantees against discrimination - the right to development - the protection of indigenous intellectual property rights - revision of the local government system -right to private ownership of the media - ratification of international human rights treaties.

This statement received widespread support during the CRC hearings in the interior.

CRC Public hearing, Phillipai

CRC Public hearings

The CRC engaged in country wide public hearings during March and April in order to receive oral recommendations from the Guyanese people for the reform of the constitution. All of the hearings in the interior locations were well attended and persons made clear and well researched presentations. People travelled for miles to make their presentations and at one location, Chi Chi, the hearings was conducted on the airstrip with the people coming from Chinoweing, a village approximately ten miles away.

Public Hearing at Chi Chi Airstrip Upper Mazaruni

Phillipai welcome

In Phillipai, the CRC team was given a traditional Alleluia welcome and Commissioners were invited to participated in the dance which formed part of the welcome. They were also greeted by placards saying "Land Rights Is Ours", among others.

Phillipai welcomes CRC team