Above: Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai (Photo: GINA)

Amerindians will own approximately 20 percent of Guyana’s land mass when the titling and demarcation has been completed, according to Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai.

Sukhai was speaking at the Amerindian Heritage Month celebrations at the Mainstay Resort on Saturday.

Guyana’s model is “unique,” she said, in the way it grants ownership to land rights to its indigenous peoples.

“Here in Guyana, we stand proud and tell our story that previously we spoke about titling and demarcation of lands but today we speak about extensions of lands for Amerindians,” she said. “Our government has committed financial resources to ensure that Amerindians not only occupy the land but that they are provided with a legal document that shows that they own the land.”

Amerindians make up about 9.4 percent of Guyana’s population.

–Guyana Information Agency