Guyana to allot approximately $23 million to Indigenous communities

Guyana’s President Mohamed Irfaan Ali on Monday said the government will increase the amount of money paid to Guyana’s Indigenous community from the sale of carbon credits despite the decline in revenue.

“This year, the total revenue received from carbon credit sale is US$87.5 million, which is less than last year. So the 15 percent to Amerindian communities should be less,’ Ali said while speaking at the opening of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).

“Because we are a government that cares for and loves you and believes in giving more, we have taken a decision to allocate 26.5 percent of the earnings this year to Amerindian communities,” Ali said, noting that this would mean an estimated GUY$4.84 billion ($23 Million USD) directly transferred to Amerindian villages.

Guyana’s low carbon development strategy commits 15 percent of all revenues from carbon credit sales to Amerindian villages for investment in village development activities. In 2023, the country received US$150 million and 15 percent meant that US$22.5 million had been allocated to the 242 Indigenous villages.