A motion entitled Protection of Guyanese in the Caribbean Community, moved by leader of the opposition party Alliance for Change (AFC) Raphael Trotman, was Thursday adopted by members of the National Assembly. The motion stated that the Government and people of Guyana are disturbed about the situation regarding the fate of Guyanese nationals who reside and work in CARICOM States.

The motion entreated the Government of Guyana to intercede with its sister States through diplomatic and any other means, with regard to representing the rights and protection of Guyanese nationals residing and travelling in Barbados and the wider community.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett said that while the Government of Guyana respects fully the sovereignty of all nations, it condemns the mistreatment of migrants in any State, particularly the mistreatment of Guyanese in sister CARICOM country, Barbados.

Minister Rodrigues-Birkett disclosed that the Barbadian Government has offered amnesty to CARICOM nationals who entered Barbados prior to December 31, 2008. This amnesty ends on December 31, 2009, by which time migrants are expected to sort out their migratory status.

Minister Rodrigues –Birkett noted that while Guyana cannot and will not stand for instances where Guyanese are treated inhumanely, Guyana cannot dictate how other countries, including Barbados, deal with undocumented migrants.

She said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is encouraging deported migrants to come forward with their experiences in Barbados, so that they could inform the Barbadian authorities who promised to investigate.

People’s Progressive Party Member, Gail Teixeira, reiterated President Bharrat Jagdeo’s statement at the opening ceremony of the recently held 30th Heads of Government Meeting, that the treatment of Guyanese in Barbados is repugnant.

She noted that catch phrases such as “people leave because of the lack of opportunities in Guyana” are misleading, and that statistically, in the CARICOM region, Guyana has the second lowest number of deportations per year.

Trotman posited that the motion seeks to address Guyanese who have suffered in other CARICOM states, and he noted that CARICOM was developed to protect the people of the Caribbean; hence CARICOM states are expected to act with a modicum of respect for fellow states.