Toshaos Council tells AFC to stop undermining leaders’ conference

The National Toshaos Council (NTC) has refuted assertions made by the Alliance For Change (AFC) in a Stabroek News article titled, “Gov’t officials get more speaking time at NTC over Toshaos – AFC.”

In a statement, the NTC described the AFC’s claims as a deliberate attempt to undermine the credibility of the Toshaos Conference, the most respected and comprehensive forum for Indigenous leadership in Guyana.

“The claims made by the AFC are baseless and reek of hypocrisy and political desperation. We wish to clarify that the structure of the NTC Conference 2025 is carefully designed to ensure that every ministry is allotted 15 minutes to present, followed by an open and interactive Q&A segment, where Toshaos are free to raise concerns, seek clarifications, and advocate for their communities,” the statement said.

This model has been successfully used under successive governments, as it facilitates productive engagement, direct dialogue, and meaningful accountability.

According to the NTC, it has worked effectively for years, including during the period when the AFC was part of the governing coalition.

The Council noted that the AFC’s sudden attempt to discredit this model—after having benefited from it while in office—is insulting to the intelligence of Indigenous leaders and their communities. It accused the party of attempting to sow division and politicise a platform that is fundamentally about unity, development, and Indigenous empowerment

The NTC affirmed that it will not be used as a pawn in anyone’s political theatre, emphasising that the conference belongs to the Indigenous people of Guyana.

“We remain resolute in our mission to advocate for the interests of all Amerindian communities, and we will not be distracted by those who wish to inject division where there is dialogue, or chaos where there is collaboration,” the statement concluded.