Indigenous communities in Guyana protest for land rights and justice

Indigenous communities across Guyana’s Regions One (Barima-Waini) and Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) have launched a coordinated wave of peaceful protests to demand executive action on several critical issues. Organized in coordination with the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA), the demonstrations took place in various settlements, including Waramadong, Phillipai, Kangaruma, Kako, and Kamarang.

Protesters are demanding immediate resolution regarding ancestral land titling and the enforcement of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) regarding resource extraction. Key grievances include environmental degradation caused by gold and diamond mining, as well as opposition to potential uranium mining on traditional lands.

Additionally, the mobilization seeks accountability and transparency concerning recent tragedies, specifically the MV Barima maritime disaster and the Mahdia dormitory fire. Leaders, including Kangaruma Toshao Raphael Joseph, emphasized that the movement is a “cry for justice” aimed at addressing systemic neglect and protecting communal water systems and natural habitats from unapproved industrial projects.