Several civic and faith-based organizations have partnered to launch the Venezuela Support Group (VSG) , a body which will  provide advice and assistance to Venezuelans seeking refuge here from the deprivations and insecurity currently gripping their homeland.

According to a release, the initial focus of the VSG will be on ensure that persons arriving here receive information and assistance to secure valid visas to remain in Guyana and are not exploited financially or abused in other ways.

The eight civic and faith-based organizations which are the founding members of the group are the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA), the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), the Guyana Institute for Transparency Inc (GITI), Moray House Trust, Policy Forum Guyana ,Red Thread ,Roman Catholic Diocese of Guyana and the Ursuline Sisters in Guyana.

The VSG is currently in the process of establishing offices made available by the Catholic Church in the compound opposite the Catholic Cathedral on Brickdam in Georgetown. The work of the VSG is being supported in the initial phase by the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) which is in the process of establishing a permanent presence in Guyana.

The VSG group said that in pursuit of its aim, it has requested meetings with the Minister of Citizenship in order to brief the Ministry of the VSG aims and to establish liaison arrangements with the Ministry.

The group noted that unofficial information suggests that some consideration has been given to permit Venezuelans in Guyana to regularize their situation on the basis of possession of an Identification Card rather than a passport.

“Although, to date, there has been no formal announcement by the Government of Guyana on the matter, we welcome this development in general as protecting Venezuelans against exposure to detention, fines and deportation,” the group noted. It added that this move would also align Guyana with the recent appeal made by the UNHCR for neighbouring countries to adopt flexible arrangements of this nature.

The body said that previously , member organizations of the VSG have publicly expressed their concerns about the humanitarian aspect of the on-going crisis in Venezuela in press releases, panel discussions and in communications with various Ministries.

Concerns of the grouping have been shaped by  several  considerations including distinguishing humanitarian obligations to the Venezuelan people from political factors that currently influence both the internal crisis in that country  and what it deems  Caricom Secretariat’s reluctance to date to formulate specific advice to member States on how to respond to that crisis.

It addition it suggested devising a flexible, evidence-based rather than speculative response appropriate to the relatively small numbers of Venezuelans currently in Guyana.

The VSG also pointed to moves to respect the fact that Venezuelans in Guyana have documented their wish not to seek formal refugee status but to seek temporary renewable visas that allow them to earn money while in Guyana.

The VSG said that it will support the smooth implementation of any new regulations and related policy guidelines through several activities including the provision of advice and where necessary accompaniment in the process of regularizing the Venezuelan nationals in Guyana.

It addition it stated that it would support Venezuelans in need of assistance to contact family or other persons and well as making known social and welfare services which may be accessible to Venezuelans with special needs.