Govt. in sympathy with Venezuelan refugees, but has to protect its citizens

Govt. in sympathy with Venezuelan refugees, but has to protect its citizens – Granger

Aug 01, 2016 News

President David Granger

While a humanitarian, he is also the President. David Granger’s heart goes out to Venezuelans who are “seeking betterment” in Guyana, but the President is not willing to allow Venezuelans into Guyana against the law or at the expense of his people.

Granger made his stance known during the most recent edition of Public Interest.

The President was asked if he is willing to have a humanitarian stance towards Venezuelans who are seeking betterment in Guyana.

We will not turn away persons on humanitarian grounds. But if we feel that there is no justification, if people have just wandered into Guyana illegally and there is no evidence that they are under any sort of political persecution or economic deprivation; we have a duty to protect our territory and our citizens.”

The President noted that Guyana recorded incidents with citizens of Venezuela “who have done some things in the Cuyuni river areas and we want to make sure that people do not continue that sort of mischief.”

Granger added that once authorities are assured that there are “persons who need to enter our territory on humanitarian grounds we will give consideration. The Ministry of Citizenship is aware of that policy and we are going to make sure that people receive refuge from persecution.”

Recently, 14 Venezuelan who fled their country because of its ongoing economic crisis were fined and deported from Guyana for illegal entry.

They appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where they pleaded guilty to entering Guyana by sea and disembarking without the consent of an Immigration Officer at Eteringbang, Cuyuni River, Essequibo.

They were each fined $10,000 with an alternative of six days’ imprisonment.
The Chief Magistrate also ordered that they be taken to the nearest port of exit upon payment of the fines or completion of serving prison terms.
The nine men and five women who spoke through the aid of a Spanish interpreter told the court that they were finding it very difficult to survive in Venezuela because of the economic crisis.
Most of them told the court that they were here in Guyana seeking betterment for their families.