Timeline
No-Cost-Extension – October 2016
No-Cost-Extension – March 2019
Cost-Extension – July 2022
Project Status & Information
Capacity Development
ALT Results (until December 2023)
Absolute Grants: Absolute Grants refer to the complete and unconditional transfer of land ownership from the government to an individual or community. In the context of the Amerindian Land Titling (ALT) Project, Absolute Grants legally formalize the ownership of land by Amerindian villages, ensuring they have full rights to the land without any conditions or limitations imposed by the state.
Demarcations: Demarcations involve the precise determination and marking of boundaries for a piece of land. This process includes surveying the land, mapping its exact borders, and often physically marking these boundaries on the ground. For the ALT Project, demarcations are essential to define the communal lands claimed by Amerindian villages accurately.
Certificates of Title: Certificates of Title are official legal documents that establish and confirm ownership of a specific piece of land. They serve as proof of ownership and provide legal recognition of the rights of the holder. In the ALT Project, Certificates of Title are issued to Amerindian village councils, legally recognizing their communal land holdings and protecting their land rights.
Background
The Amerindian Land Titling (ALT) Project is designed to support Amerindians in securing legal ownership of their lands and natural resources, contributing to accelerating sustainable social and economic development. Through this project, the Guyana-Norway partnership is channeling technical and financial resources to support Amerindians in strengthening land tenure security and expanding their asset base, which would ultimately enable better long-term planning for sustainable development, including at the community level. This project aims to facilitate and fast-track the Amerindian Land Titling process. Historically, high costs have posed challenges to achieving this policy objective. Main objectives include:
a) Issuance of land titles and the completion of the demarcation process for all Amerindian villages that submit requests, including those that seek extensions,
b) Strengthen existing mechanisms to address unresolved land issues
c) Improve the communication and outreach efforts of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs.
The ALT is a pivotal initiative for accelerating the process of land titling and demarcation for Amerindian villages in Guyana. While facilitating the legal titling of communal lands for Amerindian villages, it is also providing necessary financial resources for surveying, demarcation, and mapping activities.
Grounded in free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) principles, the ALT focuses on maintaining inclusive engagements and consultations with Amerindian villages. The ALT Project is operationalized through the direct involvement of communities based on their requests, maintaining a community-centric approach throughout its implementation.
Since the project started in October 2013, its implementation has faced some setbacks, including political shifts and the global COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, the ALT successfully received a fourth extension in August 2022, extending its completion to December 2024 with additional funding of US$2,470,380. By the end of 2022, the project had recorded significant progress, including the issuance of titles, completion of demarcations, and preparation of key cabinet papers, reflecting the project’s resilience and ongoing commitment to empowering Amerindian communities.
Key Results
Recent key achievements include the issuance of Absolute Grants and addressing land extension requests for ten (10) communities, including Capoey, Mashabo, Hotoquai, Hobedaia, Red Hill, Little Kanaballi, Bethany, Nappi, Moco Moco, and Arrau.
Seven communities were visited, with follow-up meetings and reports submitted to the Minister of Amerindian Affairs. Capoey and Mashabo received their Grants, and draft Cabinet Papers were prepared for Moco Moco, Hotoquai, and Hobedaia. Red Hill’s extension process involved replotting after a village meeting, making it ready for consideration. The project also addressed urgent requests from Kaikan, Kambaru, Chenapau, and Arrau, where villagers were dissatisfied with land descriptions and mining permits. The ALT Project Management Unit (PMU) revisited these villages to clarify the demarcation process and address concerns. These actions led to a corrected and endorsed Grant Plan for Arrau which highlighted the project’s commitment to securing land titles and addressing community concerns.
By June 2025, the ALT, with support of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC), had been able to issue a total of twenty-three (23) Absolute Grants and twenty-six (26) Certificates of Title have been issued to communities.
The project also supported the training of 1255 local residents in mediation (557) and GPS (698).
Area Titled before and Achieved Amerindian Land Titling Project
Area Titled before, achieved by Amerindian Land Titling Project and Planned by Amerindian Land Titling Project
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