More refugees pour into Region 1

…Chairman to address capping migration with Govt

Government has announced plans to construct humanitarian centres to house Venezuelan refugees fleeing here from political and economic turmoil in their homeland, but the influx is seeing greater numbers, and Chairman of Region One (Barima-Waini), Brentnol Ashley, is slated to discuss a possible cap on immigration with Government.
He disclosed these details in an interview with <<Guyana Times>> on Wednesday, ahead of a planned visit by Citizenship Minister Winston Felix to the region on Friday. Region One constitutes part of the Essequibo county that borders the Spanish-speaking country.
Ashley said these intended discussions are premised on on-the-ground information he is receiving from some villagers, who through their representatives have expressed concern over the strain the influx of refugees is placing on resources of the small village economies.
“There are concerns because of the congestion that is taking place. A lot of these village economies have been stagnated over the last number of years,” Ashley stressed.
From estimated figures last week, this newspaper reported that there were about 500 persons from Venezuela who had taken up residence in Barima-Waini, but Ashley on Wednesday said these numbers are steadily increasing, with new arrivals being as recent as Sunday. Guyana Times, however, understands that these additional persons cannot immediately be registered because of the limitation the immigration officers in the region are facing. It is understood that there is limited access to vehicles in the region.
“The numbers have increased in some of the communities. More than 100 persons are at Kahn’s Hill, and at Kamwatta we have 62, which moved from 46. At Whitewater, we have 257, and the last time it was 203. The estimated numbers have gone past 600,” he pointed out.
Guyana Times understands further that the main objective of Minister Felix’s visit is to assess the site for construction of the centres that would provide roofs over the heads of the refugees. Previously, they were discovered camping along the Guyana side of the border in insanitary conditions.
Stating the Regional Democratic Council’s (RDC’s) concern over the influx, Ashley explained that when he meets with the Citizenship Minister, he would discuss the possibility of limiting the numbers should the numbers increase further.
“They will have, at some point in time, maybe temporarily we’ll have to come to a cut point of persons being here,” Ashley commented.
He related that the supplies of food, potable water and clothing are finished, and he says he has continued to call on donor agencies to provide assistance to those in need.
Earlier this week, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, noted that the centres to house the immigrants would be constructed in Region One. Guyana Times reported that a multi-agency committee comprising the Guyana Police Force and the Citizenship and Public Health Ministries will oversee the establishment of the Government- controlled centres. The Venezuelan refugees in the area are mainly from the Warrau tribe.
Many of the Venezuelan nationals have been crossing into Guyana in search of medical treatment for malaria. Ashley had previously noted that the Region’s 2018 Budget currently did not have funds to provide for those refugees. (Shemuel Fanfair)