President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Monday announced that 250 firearm licence applications submitted by Indigenous villages have all been processed and will be handed over to their respective leaders by the end of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) 2025 conference.
The five-day conference, which brings together Indigenous village leaders from across the country, is being held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) in Liliendaal, Georgetown.
Delivering his remarks, President Ali disclosed that approximately 250 requests were made by various toshaos and village leaders for firearm or shotgun licences, primarily to protect their villages.
The head-of-state said, “And important to you is security. Security is very important, and we had about 250 requests from Toshaos, leaders and other village elders or persons recommended from the villages for firearm/shotgun license, mostly for the protection of the villages and this is an issue that is raised. I’m pleased to tell you today that every one of those applications was processed, and you will get those license to take back in the villages.”
Moreover, President Ali announced that in an effort to further improve livelihoods through investments in projects funded under the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs’ Presidential Grant initiative, this year’s grant allocation has been increased.
“Your presidential grant last year was about $395 million. This year, your presidential grant altogether would be more than $532 million Guyana dollars. So that tells you already you have an increase,” President Ali said.
The president also disclosed government’s plan to invest in promoting Indigenous cultural expression. He noted that the government does not only aim to financially empower Indigenous people through social transformation but also to support their cultural identity.
He noted, “because the cultural expression of our indigenous peoples are a foundational pillar of our nation, and what our nation is built on.”
Additionally, President Ali announced a new initiative through which government will support religious organizations. Ali said, “Most of you are Christians, and you know that a part of faith, a strong part of faith is giving your tithes to the church, supporting the work of the church. But I believe, and we this government, believe too, that as our country grows in material richness, spiritual richness and human richness, that a country also must support our religious organizations.”
The president underscored that the government believes in supporting churches, temples, and mosques due to the vital role they play in the social, moral, and civil fabric of society. He added, “And one of the things that we will do is that we will work with our religious community in transferring resources directly to them, to help them in their work. This is what love is. This is what building a One Guyana on strong grounds is.”
