Over 1100 work permits granted last year

Jun 24, 2017 News

– 90% approved between 2012 and 2014 were Brazilians

There are some startling figures coming out from Government on the number of work permits

Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix

being issued.

According to Minister Winston Felix, who has responsibility for Citizenship, over 1100 work permits were granted last year, with nationals from China, India and Brazil among the leading recipients.

The figures would contrast starkly for the three years between 2012 and 2014, a period that the previous administration – the People’s Progressive Party/Civic – was in power.

During those three years, the Ministry of Home Affairs, under Minister Clement Rohee, issued just over 2,300 work permits, with Brazilian workers receiving 2,147.

This represented about 90 percent of the work permits granted during the period.Brazilians mainly work in the gold fields and in the entertainment industry.

Felix told the government news media, that there are 10 top countries whose citizens routinely apply for work permits in Guyana.“For the past year, we issued 1,164 work permits to nationals from 10 countries – Chinese, Americans, Cubans, Indians, British, Trinidadians, Canadians, Venezuelans, Jamaicans and Brazilians.

Those are the top ten.”The Minister pointed out that as much as Guyana is lacking certain human resources, an orderly migration process for these citizens is a priority for the department.Felix added that marriage, and Guyanese whose children are born out of Guyana, are some of the leading areas for citizenship application.

“We have two hundred and thirty-six foreign nationals who have obtained Guyanese citizenship. Some by marriage and some by ordinary residency, meaning those that have been living in Guyana for the prescribed period,” Felix added.

The administration has said it is tightening up on work permits and citizenship, amidst indications of a racket being run under the Ministry of Home Affairs, in the past.

Minister Felix stressed that the David Granger administration intends to accommodate foreign investment, but it would not do so at the expense of Guyanese workers.

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