Venezuelan nationals and Venezuelan-Guyanese and their descendants are the largest number of immigrants at this trying time of Venezuelan diplomatic and military confrontation. Given that about 40,000 Venezuelans have already entered the country, however, several organisations have warned about the risk of ‘migrant overflow’. The International Monetary Fund warned that ‘migrant overflow’ can lead to an economic and social crisis. The International Office for Migration warned that ‘migrant overflow’ has put pressure on the country’s limited resources. The International Labour Organisation warned that countries experiencing ‘migrant overflow’ would face challenges of access to basic and protection services, inclusion in labour markets and social cohesion.
Former President David Granger expressed concern on his weekly programme − The Public Interest – that the risk of ‘migrant overflow’ was real but was being underrated by the PPPC administration. Venezuelan migrants already outnumber the 26, 000 Guyana-born residents of the Barima-Waini Region (No. 1). Over half of the migrants are indigenous Warrau whose ethnic cousins live in Region No. 1. He pointed out that Venezuelan Warrau differ from local, coastal, rural and hinterland Amerindians. Most do not have employment skills or formal education; do not have access to drinking water; do not have enough to eat more than once a day; do not have Venezuelan identity documents; do not speak English and do not live in healthful housing. Migrants have been recorded foraging for food in garbage dumps or squatting in places where they pose demographic, economic and strategic risks.
Mr. Granger pointed out, further, that crime is increasing among Venezuelan migrants. A man has been arrested with ammunition, drugs and weapons; another was accused of rape; another robbed and wounded a Guyanese citizen and a woman was charged with trafficking Venezuelan women and operating a brothel.
The former president reminded that the A Partnership of National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) administration had adopted a pro-active, executive and administrative stance by establishing the Department of Citizenship under a Minister to manage Venezuelan migration among other things. The Department launched a National Multi-Sectoral Coordination Committee to collaborate with international agencies − including IOM, PAHO, UNHCR and UNICEF − since March 2018. The PPPC administration, however, recklessly dissolved the Department but, as the situation deteriorated, was obliged to hurriedly reconvene the Committee this year. The APNU+AFC administration also launched ‘Operation Armadillo’ to fortify the frontier and maintain security and stability in villages where residents had been rattled by criminal gangs and ‘migrant overflow’.
Granger recommended several measures including the implementation of a comprehensive National Migration Strategy; legislation to deal with all migrants including Africans, Asians, Cubans and Haitians; demarcation of a provisional ‘Migrant Reception and Resettlement Zone’ to ensure the orderly mass management of migrants; re-establishment of the Department of Citizenship to coordinate official actions and the deployment of GDF and GPF on vital frontier security duties instead of frivolous municipal chores.
The former president reminded that Venezuelans constitute the most massive immigration since East Indian indentured immigration ended over a century ago. Migration now needs to be managed more competently to ensure the security of the nation and the safety of the population.
