Settlement plan for Venezuelan refugees still under consideration – Citizenship Department
The Citizenship Department within the Ministry of the Presidency is still considering a proposal that was made regarding the settlement of Venezuelan migrants in the township of Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini).
CDC acting Director General, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, distributing supplies to Venezuelan refugees in Region One last week
There has thus far been no decision taken at the level of the Cabinet.
Speaking to the Ministry of the Presidency’s Public Information and Press Services Unit, Citizenship Minister Winston Felix on Monday explained that, in July, during an engagement with the officials from the regional office and the municipality of Region One, this recommendation was proffered and the Council indicated that it was willing to make representation to a private land owner for permission to use his land.
“The Department of Citizenship was looking at the recommendation in terms of its feasibility to implement, but the Government has not made a decision on that issue; it is being dealt with at the level of the Department,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Multi-Sectoral Coordinating Committee established to deal with the influx of Venezuelan migrants continues to meet regularly to discuss strategies to better serve the immediate and long-term needs of displaced persons. The most recent meeting is being held today at the Department’s office on Shiv Chanderpaul Drive.
Some of the Venezuelan refugees in Region One
The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) is the agency that is spearheading relief efforts so far.The CDC Last week conducted an outreach in Khan’s Hill, in the Mabaruma sub-region district, where food hampers were distributed to 24 migrant families. While at White Water Village, another 46 families received hammocks and hygiene supplies.
The Committee is also working to establish a database of all Venezuelan migrants, and to ensure that migrants are screened and vaccinated upon arrival at the various ports of entry.
Venezuela has, over the past two years, been experiencing worsening economic turmoil following the decline of oil prices on the world market, and is in its fourth consecutive year of recession.
Scores of Guyanese living in the neighbouring country have been returning home, and there has also been a high influx of Venezuelans seeking refuge in Guyana to escape the hardships.
Region One Chairman Brentnol Ashley has since disclosed that some 600 Venezuelan refugees are in his region alone, staying in churches and makeshift tents with little to no belongings.
In response to the influx of returning migrants, Government has established a Multi-Sectoral Committee to coordinate the national response and provide assistance to these refugees. Last week, local public officers underwent a one-day training on the international best practice in assisting migrants and protecting them from abuse and exploitation of any kind.
The workshop was aimed at capacity building, to better equip representatives and agencies to respond effectively to this and other such occurrences in the future. It focused on issues such as human trafficking and migrant smuggling, migrants’ vulnerabilities, and direct assistance and referral systems for migrants.
