– on status of Guyanese returning from Venezuela

THE bi-partisan Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs on Wednesday called on Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Citizenship, Carl Greenidge and Winston Felix to state among other things the number of Guyanese returning from Venezuela, and what programmes have been put in place to help them reintegrate.

People’s Progressive Party (PPP) member on the committee, Zulfikar Mustapha, said as a committee with responsibility for foreign affairs and related matters, it is important that it is briefed thoroughly about the said situation.

It is estimated that approximately 300 Guyanese and Venezuelans with Guyanese parentage have returned to Guyana as a result of that country’s economic turmoil.

While it unsure if those persons returned through legal ports, statistics provided by the Ministry of Citizenship show that between 2013 and 2018, approximately 15, 500 Venezuelans entered Guyana with 15, 062 departing.

“How many Guyanese have remigrated to Guyana? How many Guyanese parents have brought their children to Guyana and the number of Guyanese coming back?” asked Mustapha, who also questioned whether the Language Institute of Guyana charges those remigrants to have their documents translated.

In a correspondence received sometime in April, Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix had informed the committee that the Language Institute is assisting with the translation of documents for those who have returned.

“Does the Language Institute charge these people to translate their documents when they come back to Guyana?” Mustapha asked, noting that he was told that persons seeking such services at the Institute are required to pay $3500 to translate one document.
“We have to find how many are coming and how many need help,” the PPP parliamentarian stated, while noting that Guyanese who resided in Venezuela have been spotted in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). “We have to be able to track the number of Guyanese coming,” he declared.

Prior to Wednesday’s meeting, both ministers had communicated to the committee what course of action they plan taking. Greenidge had told the committee that the relevant agencies, among them the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Public Security and Citizenship, are looking into the matter.

He also said a document is being prepared to effectively address the issue of Guyanese-Venezuelans returning to Guyana and their reintegration, as well as Venezuelans seeking refuge here.

Felix in his missive told the committee that those Guyanese who have returned have reunited with their families, and there has been no indication thus far that they need assistance with reintegration.

COMPREHENSIVE REPORT
Felix noted, too, that children born to Guyanese parents in Venezuela can be registered here, based on their parents’ citizenship.

But despite correspondence issued by the two ministers, Mustapha said there is a need for them to “make a comprehensive report to capture all questions asked.”

He argued that the missive from Felix contradicts Greenidge’s, a point which Minister of Education Nicolette Henry objected to.

“My view is the response by Ministers Greenidge and Felix is not contradictory; Minister Greenidge’s response is a broader response and not specific to Guyanese, while Minister Felix’s letter is specific to Guyanese returning to Guyana from Venezuela,” said Henry, who noted that the committee could request additional information from the ministers.

However, chairman of the committee and Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira said there are different aspects to the issue which is a sensitive one.
“These are sensitive issues which must be dealt with. It is also humanitarian… Is the government or any agency providing any sort of social support?” asked Teixeira, who pointed to a Guyana Chronicle article published on Tuesday headlined, “IOM to do head-count”.

In that article, the IOM indicated that it will soon begin conducting a three-round Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM).

She questioned whether the government had made a request to the IOM to do the head count. Her question, which was posed to Minister Henry, remained unanswered.
The committee’s chair stressed the need to help those Venezuelans who are here on humanitarian grounds, noting that they need food, water and clothing, along with other basic items.

As the opposition members of the committee emphasised the need for the ministers to appear before the committee, Minister Henry reminded them that the Foreign Affairs Minister is committed to sharing a comprehensive document on the government’s response.

“I don’t mind waiting, but these people need help,” said Teixeira in response, noting that a request for information was made since February, while approximately 300 persons have entered the country due to the trying situation in Venezuela.
The chairman said, too, that her reference is not to those Venezuelans who are entering Guyana legally, but those who come through the country’s porous borders and are undocumented.

NO ALARMING INCREASE
Meanwhile, when asked whether there has been evidence of the foreign nationals attempting to register their children for school here, Henry said, “From time to time remigrants come, but…we have not seen an undue increase to alarm us. But even so, the system is robust enough to cater to an increase”.

Opposition Member Nigel Dharamlall questioned the mechanism government has in place to ensure returning Guyanese are registered.

“Those who are now applying for citizenship, what mechanisms are in place for them to get onto the national database — those 14 years and over?” he asked. He like the opposition members pointed to reports of Venezuelans with Guyanese heritage occupying land in the Ekereku area, Region Seven.

“The whole handling of this situation is very confusing. For us to wait on a policy document for two months now… it is not prudent for this government to continue pussyfooting on this matter. These people need legitimate help,” said Dharamlall, who accepted that Guyana has porous borders.

“The Venezuelan crisis didn’t happen last week. I call on the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Citizenship to have these issues resolved as soon as possible,” he said, to which Hemraj Rajkumar, who represents the coalition government on the committee, warned that there is need for stakeholders “to recognise the challenges faced by the porous borders”.
“We can’t say the government is not making an effort,” said Rajkumar. But Teixeira chimed in and reminded that there are destitute groups who are in dire need of help. “The government doesn’t need a policy to say people need food, shelter etcetera before they go down there,” the chairman stated.

In response, Minister Henry made it clear that it is not as easy as the opposition members may claim. “It is a process which requires a lot of work,” while adding that there is some level of response being given by the government.

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Citizenship will be called before the committee soon.
The next meeting of the bi-partisan committee on foreign affairs is slated for July 4, 2018.