The Regional Chairman of Region One (Barima-Waini) Brentol Ashley has slammed Government over the non-support of Venezuelan refuges despite a promise to render assistance.
Region One Regional Chairman Brentol Ashley
On Monday, Ashley told this newspaper that while Government had promised to rectify the situation by lending assistance, there has been no feedback or support to demonstrate this commitment.
“Coming from the Government’s end that they’re committed, to date, we haven’t heard anything about on what is the progress of being made or whether if the commitment they would’ve made is still going to be fulfilled,” said Ashley.
The chairman also explained that for the past weeks, supplies for the refugees were donated by independent organisations and other agencies.
“There haven’t been any supplies sent to the region from the Government. Whatever we have would have come through donations which was made by Food for the Poor and other persons.”
Presently, food supplies are necessary to provide for the growing number of migrants, particularly within the Region One borough.
When contacted, Head of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Kester Craig told <<<Guyana Times>>> that they were “working” to have supplies enter the region by this week or next week.
“We’re working on supplies to send up hopefully by the end of this week or earlier next week,” Craig assured.
The number of foreign nationals entering Guyana has been increasing over the past months and less than one week ago, it was reported that some 979 foreigners were given permission to reside in Guyana in the form of extensions and work permits.
These numbers include 225 Cubans, 175 Chinese, 165 Americans, 120 Indians, 70 from the Philippines, 75 Venezuelans, 59 British persons, 45 from the Dominican Republic, 30 from Trinidad and Tobago and 15 Surinamese.
Earlier in 2018, the Government admitted that immigration authorities have a limited capacity in tracking immigrants after they arrive in Guyana, even though data is collected when many of them enter Guyana through the borders.
Expectations were that Government would have strong and comprehensive immigration policies, primarily with the inflow of individuals coming to benefit from the impending oil and gas sector.
In July, Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge told media operatives that a Cabinet-vetted policy guideline was in place to establish how immigrants are to be treated. Immigrants, upon entry, must fill out an arrival card that details their country of origin and proposed place of residence while in Guyana.
Last month, officials from Region One (Barima-Waini) were in the process of conducting a survey to ascertain how many undocumented migrants were residing in the region, since they had taken up the mantle of providing shelter and other accommodations to persons who fled the harsh conditions of Venezuela’s economic crisis.
