Guyana is now an established oil and gas producing country but there remains no system in place that will manage the influx of people, with different cultures and backgrounds from all over the world, and to develop infrastructure and other supporting services to cater for the demands of the rising numbers. In 2019, before first oil, I shared my concerns. Five years later I am forced to return to this issue because the situation is more dire, and nothing has been done to make it significantly better.
What Linden is experiencing now with unchecked immigrants from our western border and the stress on the town’s social systems may be widespread. Selective efforts by the government to rush to the side of the Venezuelans in Linden, providing a level of comfort and accommodation for those fleeing their country, ignore the needs that exist in the local community and of the local people.
Persons are coming in this country daily by plane and boat loads, and the gates have been left wide open without safeguards, conditionalities or policies and systems in place to help with the assimilation process for those permitted to remain legally. This also poses a threat to natural born Guyanese, our infrastructures and culture.
Unplanned immigration brings with it negative consequences. There is stress on the health and education systems, housing overrun, the creation of slums, and our resources exploited by others willing to undersell their labour. There are already squatting areas on the East Bank of Demerara occupied primarily by Venezuelans.
In the hinterland areas our Indigenous people and other Guyanese are living in fear from the influx and unmanaged migrant population, many of whom are illegal, not monitored and refuse to subject themselves to the laws of the land, resulting in increased violence and crime. Many Guyanese are being forced to leave their properties for their safety and that of their children and to escape the gangs.
We are facing a crisis of submerging our culture further, only this time not by imperial powers. This threat comes from others who do not speak our language and share a common culture. Recognition of this does not make one xenophobic or racist but seeks to highlight the socio-economic and political consequences of a nation unprepared and leaders, on all sides, who do nothing of significance to address the current plight of the Guyanese public.
We are ill-equipped to cater for the situation. If non-English persons are going to be accommodated in this English-speaking country of ours the issue of the language differential must be addressed. This should be compulsory, given that we have an official language, and the services to learn the language must be fixed by the government, aided by non-governmental support, for both adults and children.
The growing numbers of immigrants pose a threat to our way of life and will have a major impact on the Guyanese culture and Guyanese security. These persons do not have a commonwealth background as ours. What is happening here is different from the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), which has a structured programme for the free movement of skills throughout the region, including qualifying conditions.
As a nation faced with this influx and the fact that we will have to cater for some given the circumstances under which many came, Guyanese will have to open their hearts, even as we demand a sustainable strategy to manage the issue. Some are fleeing to Guyana out of human rights concerns and some may have ties to Guyana which Guyanese will have to understand. The Government must develop a bipartisan approach to manage this issue consistent with our laws, human rights and safeguard the interest of Guyanese.
The unchecked situation is also likely to exacerbate ethnic tension and division. Where one group is being forced out of his/her traditional economic means, and opportunities are limited in the areas traditionally occupied by another group, competition will intensify, then resentment and charges of being discriminated against will follow. There is a need for urgent bipartisan intervention.
