Citizens Security Programme…

Consultative workshop underway to review immigration policies
THE Ministry of Home Affairs yesterday started a two-day stakeholder workshop and consultation, at Duke Lodge, in Duke Street, Kingston, Georgetown, geared towards reviewing an interim report on administrative realities and possibilities in updating immigration policy and legislation.
Project Director, Mr. Trevor Hamilton, was contracted by the Government of Guyana (GOG),
through the Citizens Security Programme (CSP) to undertake the consultancy, with a view to enhancing this country’s immigration policies to the level of the evolving demands of globalisation.
The undertaking includes reviewing the immigration policies in the Caribbean and further afield, for the purpose of comparison and consulting with the relevant national stakeholders to arrive at recommendations that would result in new guidelines reflective of a rapidly changing environment.
Earlier this year, Home Affairs Minister, Mr. Clement Rohee, disclosed that a main focus in 2010 will be completion of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) funded US$22M CSP, to engage Police and local residents in the fight against crime and violence locally.
CSP Coordinator, Mr. Khemraj Rai, in his remarks yesterday, said the forum is part of the modernisation of the Home Affairs Ministry, a component of the CSP.
Rohee said: “The review and update of our immigration policies is necessary to keep us apace with the advancing global changes and the commitment, by Government, to modernise the country.”
He explained that, while the existing immigration laws and procedures have served the country well, the demands of globalisation and its many implications, such as increased movement of people across national borders, new initiatives, like the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and emerging social issues, like trafficking in persons (TIP), drugs, fugitives from other countries and terrorists.
Rohee said those factors have amplified the need for more systemic changes in policy and legislative framework.
“The ongoing need to strengthen and modernise institutions and practices, so as to enhance our country’s standing as a magnet for investment and a place where hardworking and talented people feel free to come and support our culture of ingenuity and entrepreneurship, is also equally important,” he noted.
Critical objectives
Two critical objectives of immigration policy reform as outlined by the Minister are:

*firstly, to develop lucid national immigration policies that will facilitate migration and are
supportive of the country’s economic and social needs, while, at the same time, preserving
national safety and the interest of Guyanese and

* secondly, to modernise and re-align the immigration policies to respond to new and
emerging developments, including responses to globalisation and the many conventions,
treaties and agreements to which Guyana is a signatory.

Rohee said Government, in its visioning process, felt that the new policy should address five major issues, inclusive of support for the country’s economic and social development, providing for balanced economic and social development and prosperity among the 10 Administrative Regions, enhancing border control national security and public safety and facilitating the management of labour migration and embracing and fulfilling the international, hemispheric and regional commitments.
“The Government of Guyana is well aware of the critical role immigration plays in furthering our national development. As such, there is need for us to ensure proper management of this sector,” he said.
The expected outcome of this process is to arrive at a policy that is founded on the principles of equity, transparency and increased accountability, so as to strike an appropriate balance between protecting the legitimate rights and expectations of migrants with the need to preserve the interest of Guyanese citizens.

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