The Chairman of the National Toshaos Council, Derrick John, has urged his fellow Indigenous leaders to utilize monies given to them by the state in a transparent manner.

There have been concerns in the past about how monies which were given to some village leaders from the sale of Carbon Credits were spent.

Addressing the opening of the National Toshaos Conference Monday, Mr. John said while some of the Toshaos are new, the Executive remains willing to work with them to ensure that they can positively impact their villages.

“These resources they are very critical, they are very important and we need to utilize these resources in a way that will bring benefit and transform the lives of our people. Accountability, transparency is very critical and so, we recognised the fact that some of us are pretty and that is why then the National Toshaos is willing to work with you, we have supported villages in the last two years to develop our strategic plan,” John told the conference.

John said Indigenous villages have seen massive transformation over the last two years, especially with the direct transfer of funds from the sale of Carbon credits. He noted that the resources are now available to bring many of their ideas to life.

“In the past, we had ideas, we had plans but we did not have the resources. Today, we have the resources that can able to support and make us transform those ideas into reality and so, I know there is some challenges that we face so when we sit to form the executive body of the National Toshaos Council, it is very important, that we put the right leaders who can lead us in the next three years,” the NTC Chairman said.

The NTC Chairman noted also that with new legislation to protect the rights of Indigenous people, village leaders must now push to ensure that their people are not left behind.

‘Let us do not fail our people, so use every moment of your time to truly not be selfish. Think about the people that you have left behind and who want hear from you good news when you go back to them. Think about the people who are there and want to see the continuous development of our country,” the NTC Chairman noted.

The conference will continue for the rest of the week.

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