MINISTER of Citizenship, Winston Felix, says that the David Granger’s Administration intends to accommodate foreign investment but not at the expense of Guyanese. Making his presentation in support of the 2015 budget yesterday, the Minister of Citizenship told the National Assembly that the previous Administration created a lopsided situation where, “our own people did not have access to our land.”
He told the House that the previous administration had no regard for Guyanese labour and instead cultivated foreign labourers, even in instances where Guyanese labour was available. “They built a Marriot with labour from abroad,” he recalled.
Demonstrating how much attention was placed on foreign labour under the previous Administration, the minister shared with the House statistics regarding work permits that were handed out during the period 2012-2015.
The statistics show that a significant number of permits were given to Brazilians and Chinese, the latter to work in mining areas. According to the information provided by Minister Felix for 2012, work permits totalling 1,050 were granted, but of this amount, 991 were for Brazilians and 24 for Chinese. A similar situation obtained in 2013 whereby, work permits were granted to 462 Brazilians. In 2014, of the 744 given out, Brazilians received 694, while for 2015, of the 304 work permits issued, 236 went to Brazilians.
“We want the inflow of foreign money but we also want our people to benefit from the inflows that come in. They should not be left to look on at others who come in to perform jobs they can perform,” Minister Felix told the National Assembly.
He pledged that the new Ministry of Citizenship will ensure the interest of Guyanese are preserved and that Guyanese have an equal playing field in terms of access to works and lands and more importantly, that they enjoy the “good life” that is spelt out in the 2015 Budget.
“Budget 2015 has given us a good life. Through this green economy, I’m sure that this Administration will stand strong and firmly to its mandate to ensure a good life for all Guyanese,” Felix declared.