FOLLOWING a meeting with Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix and a delegation from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Ministry of the Presidency has informed that UNHCR is willing to offer “prefabricated accommodation” for the Venezuelan migrants here.

On Monday, the delegation comprising of UNHCR’s Deputy Regional Representative, Chiara Cardoletti-Carroll; Chief of Mission for UN House, Trinidad and Tobago, Ms. Leila Jane Nassif; Senior Regional Protection Officer, Washington DC Office; Rana G. Ksaifi and Senior Liaison Officer for Guyana, Cecilie Guerrero, visited the office of the Minister, who was accompanied by his Technical Officer, Jermaine Grant to discuss issues affecting Venezuela migrants.

Minister Felix informed Cardoletti-Carroll that the availability of adequate shelter for Venezuelan migrants was one of his main concerns. He also noted that access to employment and appropriate educational opportunities for migrant children are also challenges that the authorities here are facing.

Cardoletti-Carroll, who is based in Washington DC, expressed willingness to work along with the Minister and his Department to see how best the issues raised can be resolved.
With regards to shelter, she informed that prefabricated accommodation can be offered but the UNCHR would need reassurance that the structures would be erected on land that is not under dispute. Although the figures may have since risen, as of February this year, Guyana hosted approximately 36,400 Venezuelan migrants.

In relation to educational opportunities that minister noted still pose a challenge, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) had reported that a survey of 1100 Venezuelan migrants in Guyana indicates that 17 per cent of that population, which is school-aged, is attending school here.

USAID said that its partners are working with the Government of Guyana to address educational needs among Venezuelans, including launching a safe-school initiative to increase service delivery in host communities.

It was reported in the Guyana Chronicle last month that 800 children have been enrolled in the school system here and the Ministry of Education will soon train 19 North West District teachers to be equipped with skills to teach English as a second language to migrant students.

According to a release from the Ministry of the Presidency, the Government, through the Ministry of Education, has been working with UNHCR to develop educational interventions, which will improve the learning and communication skills of these children.
There are many other issues surrounding migrants but all efforts are being made to integrate them into society.

In fact, in an interview with this publication earlier this year, International Organisation of Migration (IOM)’s Regional Coordination Officer for the Caribbean, Robert Natiello, said “… migrants are productive members of society, generally. Albert Einstein was a refugee and there are a lot of migrant success stories. Migrants contribute to society. So we will try to strengthen the capacity of host communities and integrate migrants and support the government.”

UN Resident Coordinator, Mikiko Tanaka, had also pointed out that with the number of migrants recorded compared to the overall population in Guyana; it is still a relatively manageable scope.

Tanaka said persons ought to look at the issue from a larger picture and see how it can strengthen the country. “Amidst our efforts, we want to seize opportunities to improve the government’s own services. And if they are stronger, the capacity for them to deal with migrants will strengthen. Today might be Venezuela, tomorrow might be something else, because you know if Guyana is going to have all these oil revenues, I’m sure it is going to attract many more people coming from outside. So the more robust Guyana becomes the capacity to do that will increase. And that’s the larger picture,” Tanaka said.

She noted that the efforts being made by the UN are not parallel but are in support of the national efforts.