– equipped with skills in accountability, transparency and leadership
Sixty-nine Indigenous leaders from Regions Three, Four, Five and Six on Thursday received certificates after completing a two-day governance and leadership training programme at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).
The programme was organised by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance.
It targeted toshaos, councillors and Community Development Council (CDC) chairpersons from coastal communities.
Minister of Amerindian Affairs Sarah Browne said the initiative will strengthen governance systems within Indigenous villages. It will also ensure leaders are better equipped to manage community resources.
“This training will be replicated across the other regions, but we are starting with the coastal regions before moving into the hinterland areas to ensure leaders throughout the country benefit from similar exercises,” Minister Browne said.
Over the two days, participants were engaged in sessions on governance, leadership, the Amerindian Act, transparency and accountability.
The minister noted that the training was particularly important as villages now have access to greater levels of funding through government programmes and initiatives.
“Leaders now have access to a lot more funding than they would have in the past through the LCDS, presidential grants, capital projects, sports funding and other sources. We want to ensure those resources are managed responsibly and transparently,” she explained.
The training forms part of the ministry’s ongoing efforts to build the capacity of Indigenous leaders and promote greater accountability within village administrations.
Among the participants was Toshao of Orealla-Siparuta Village, Laurence Vandenburgh, who described the programme as beneficial for both experienced and new leaders.
“I was happy that I could bring two councillors who were not here before, and I am glad that they were able to receive the training. This is my third time attending and I was pleased that they could learn about accountability and transparency alongside the CSO,” Vandenburgh said.
Community Support Officer (CSO) of Laluni Village, Samara Henry, also praised the initiative, noting that it provided practical skills that can be applied in the communities.
“The two-day experience here was remarkable. It was beneficial not only to me but to our entire team from Laluni. We learned important skills, including communication, leadership and how to manage situations within the community,” Henry said.
She added that the knowledge gained will be shared with residents and young people in the village.
The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs intends to roll out similar training programmes in other administrative regions as part of its commitment to strengthening leadership and governance in Indigenous communities nationwide.