Regions collaborate to help address migrant-related challenges in Region One

Jan 27, 2019 News

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The Regional Democratic Council [RDC] of Region Four has joined forces with its Region One counterparts to address the increasing challenges of Venezuelan migrants.

This collaboration was forged through a visit by RDC Region Four’s Regional Executive Officer [REO], Ms. Pauline Lucas, and a team from the region. Accompanying her were: Regional Health Officer [RHO], Dr Quincy Jones, and Dr. Christopher Seetram from the Regional Health Department.
The one-day visit saw REO Lucas holding a number of meetings with newly-appointed Regional Executive Officer of RDC One, Lieutenant Colonel Retired Randy Storm; Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley; RHO Dr. Cerdel Mc Watt; the Regional Environmental Officer and other officials from the Army, Police Force, Childcare and Protection Agency, the Welfare Department and the Education Ministry.
REO Lucas told her counterparts that she is very concerned over the many challenges and difficulties being encountered by the women and children migrants as well as the affected Guyanese.
Even as she recognised that the migrant issues are of national concern, Lucas noted that RDC Four remains committed and as such, will provide technical and other support to RDC One in addressing a number of the glaring migrant-related challenges.

“From my assessment this isn’t a quick fix situation, but with collaboration at all levels, I am confident that the issues being encountered by various officials and departments can be properly addressed,” she said.
The REO disclosed too that the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund [UNICEF] has also come on board to lend its support. As she insisted that her Region is in for the long haul, Lucas went on to congratulate the Health Department of Region One, adding that “their hard and significant work and efforts continue to demonstrate that Government is indeed committed and dedicated in addressing a number of issues and concerns”.
Lucas went on to urge the Region One’s RHO [Dr. Mc Watt] to continue the excellent work being undertaken even as she added that her Region through the RHO will continue to emulate and/or review a number of initiatives and systems being implemented with a view to follow suit.

Adding his voice of congratulations to the Regional Health Services department of Region One was the Region Four RHO [Dr. Jones] who declared that the efforts and work of Region One is worthy of being emulated.
He thanked the Region One RHO [Dr. Mc Watt] for what he said has been a tremendous and fantastic job in addressing a number of issues.
According to Dr. Jones, his department, backed by the REO, will remain committed and dedicated to providing the required assistance in ensuring that Region One can effectively address the several concerns of both nationals and migrant Venezuelans.
Meanwhile, Regional Chairman [Brentnol Ashley] was high in praise for REO Lucas and her team congratulating them on stepping forward to lend what he dubbed as “very valuable and significant assistance and support.” He took the opportunity to enlighten those gathered that his region is in dire need of all assistance and support that they can garner as they seek to address a number of important issues coming out of the migrant situation.

“Residents have expressed concerns, some have expressed fear, and there is the feeling of wanting to know what to expect or what will happen. Therefore, as the Regional Chairman, I must thank REO Pauline Lucas and her team because the support and assistance that she is giving and has committed to give is certainly important and welcomed.”
The Regional Chairman said that he and his REO, will be attending a very important Civil Defence Committee meeting at the end of the month which will address a number of important issues. He noted that he is adamant that a number of solutions and ideas would be addressed, thus ensuring that upon their return, residents can have their fears and concerns properly addressed.
“Every day people are meeting me, as there are fears and rumours circulating that the Sindicato gangs plan to seize the boat that usually brings in food into the region. This has resulted in persons meeting me every day asking me what is government doing and more so, what do we at the regional level plan to do?

“There is great uncertainty as the number of people coming from Venezuela continue to increase while our resources are strained and pressured, thus placing our residents at a great disadvantage as crime, unemployment and health related issues would be of significant importance to all,” he stressed.
REO Lucas accompanied by her team and officials from Region One visited one of the camps in Kan Hill, which, according to the Toshao of the community, Ernest Santiado, have some 104 Venezuelans consisting of 28 children.
The Toshao urged the REO and her team to lend whatever support that can be given, stressing that the Region has been unable to provide food and other critical resources that are desperately needed by the migrants.
“We have received health support and other support, but what the Venezuelans are in urgent need of is food. Honestly speaking they have not eaten in three days and because of desperation they [Venezuelans] have been venturing to eating from garbage bins and sourcing food from various places which in many cases put their health and those around them at great risk,” Toshao Santiado said.

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