Guyana Human Rights Association seeks UN intervention for Indigenous rights

The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) has called for urgent international intervention to protect Indigenous Amerindian communities at Chinese Landing from expanding gold mining operations. The GHRA is urging the United Nations and the Inter-American system to engage the Guyanese government to ensure the immediate implementation of precautionary measures previously ordered by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

The association expressed concern that private individuals are acting in disregard of international recommendations and requested that the international community establish a monitoring arrangement to oversee the implementation of indigenous rights norms in Guyana. The GHRA noted that while a Commission on Indigenous Rights exists on paper, it has failed to act in a protective capacity.

Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat stated that the government is facilitating talks between the involved parties.