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Brazilians should be given three months permission to work while awaiting work permit

Apr 07, 2014 Letters

Dear Editor,
The Brazilian Mining and General Association would like to address with deep concern to the President of the Republic of Guyana , the Minister of Natural Resources and the Minister of Home Affairs to act upon a feasible solution for the betterment and the welfare of the Brazilians living and working in Guyana.
The Association had fought a tremendous battle, particularly regarding the matter of the work permit/extension of stay being delayed. Brazilians are required to secure the signature of a sponsor, which cost them a large sum of money, just for the signing of the application forms.
Sometimes the sponsors aren’t qualified or approved by the relevant authorities, then eventually if the signatures aren’t approved the applicants would have to repeat another frustrating process. Henceforth, the Association would think it wise to request of the Governing bodies to initiate a system for the Brazilians who are interested in working in Guyana, to pay the relevant authorities with the submission of the application for the work permit/extension of stay, instead of having the sponsors bare such responsibility that would contribute to the application being rejected.
They should be given three months permission to work whilst the work permit/extension of stay is being processed through the relevant authorities.
The Association has received numerous complaints from Brazilians whereby they weren’t made to understand clearly, the status of their work permit/extension of stay or the reason behind the given faults and delays of the process. This occurs mainly because of the language barrier or failure to properly assist the Brazilians with the information they need.
Honourable President, the Brazilians usually contribute more to our local economy, as their expenditure is three times higher than the average Guyanese. Brazilians are spending the majority of their finances on hotel accommodation, food and transportation. I n many instances they are forced to request financial assistance from their countrymen and in some cases the Association, whilst they await their work permit/extension of stay from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Association has been trying its best to encourage the Brazilians to bare up with the procedure of the work permit/extension of stay for the sake of abiding by the laws of our country and so that they wouldn’t feel pressured into taking other steps to bypass the procedure and relay on a path contrary to our laws.
Mr. President, the Guyana Geology & Mines Commission (GGMC) would usually process the work permit after the application has been checked and verified.
Within a week, the application would then be sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs to have the final authorizing procedures, and this is where the delay is normally reported.
The Association understands that the Minister is very busy but we would like the relevant Heads of Department to please address the issue in the near future.
Brazilians are coming everyday to the Association requesting help, but the Association can only assist so much. We are hoping that the Association and the government can work towards a betterment for both countries.
Antonio Szala

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