Migration policy to be drafted for Venezuelan re-migrants

Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud has said the Government of Guyana, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IMO), would be drafting a migration policy for those Guyanese who have returned to Guyana from Venezuela.
Persaud was at the time speaking to re-migrants who returned from Venezuela during a meeting held on Saturday in the boardroom of the Regional Democratic Council.

Persaud said the Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Ministry is working to develop a holistic plan to deal with those Guyanese returning from Venezuela, and those Venezuelans who have fled their country due to the political and economic crisis.
According to Persaud, that migration policy would provide an environment in which the migrants can be reintegrated into society. He explained to his audience that the main objective of his visit was to get a better understanding of the situation and to interact with re-migrants. He said he would communicate with the relevant Ministries to ensure that there is a collaborative approach.
“Guyanese who would like to return to Guyana from Venezuela will be beneficiaries from incentives where they will be given duty free on vehicles, and also if they want to bring their household items along with them. However, students studying in Venezuela and wish to re-migrate to Guyana will be facilitated in terms of benefiting from an incentive in continuing their learning progress,” the Foreign Secretary said.
Re-migrants were informed of opportunities that would be available for them in the region, wherein the Foreign Affairs Minister and agencies would put together policies and processes to assist them to resettle on the Essequibo Coast in Guyana.
Persaud said the region is central and important in the overall plan for Guyana’s development.
“I have an issue with my birth certificate, where the Government have given me a different name…I got married and I came to Essequibo, (and it has) become a challenge for me, (wherein) my identification card (has) a different name from (that of my) birth certificate,” a Venezuela migrant told Persaud.
Pertaining to the issuance of birth certificates, Minister Persaud said he would arrange an outreach with the Home Affairs Minister to deal with, and rectify, the problem associated with different names on a birth certificate.
Persaud committed to raising the issue with the relevant ministry, and to coordinate the appropriate announcement to persons having the said issue.

Attending the meeting from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) was Programme Coordinator Monserrat Hernandez and Project Assistant Javier Singh, who acted as translator for the event. In attendance also was United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; Alexandre Lopes, protection officer, and Maria Gabriela Delgado, field assistant.
Regional Executive Officer Devanand Ramdatt was also at the meeting.
A health meeting will be held with re-migrants on Monday at the Regional State House.