Opposition fears foreign workers will be eligible to vote next elections 

Apr 02, 2024 News

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Kaieteur News – Leader of the A Partnership For National Unity, (APNU) party, Aubrey Norton has expressed concern over what he views as  a ploy by the ruling party to import foreign workers, who will ramp up its support base in time for next general elections.

Speaking at a press conference last week, Norton pointed out that the Guyana Government’s confirmation that it has moved to hire 500 Bangladeshi healthcare workers is a tactical move which will benefit the ruling party’s agenda in more ways than one. He noted the government is choosing to import skills rather than pay its already highly trained public servants better salaries since they are likely to excise better control over foreign workers.

“It should not be missed by Guyanese that the choice of Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan workers is deliberate since as citizens from the Commonwealth, in one year these migrants will become eligible to vote in Guyana. Consequently, this is a clear attempt by the PPP regime to use migrants to boost its fading popularity in its traditional strongholds,” Norton added.

While the opposition leader did not elaborate on the basis for his contention, Attorney at law and APNU member, Roysdale Forde explained that Norton’s concerns about the foreign workers should be viewed as legitimate since under the Constitution of Guyana subject to the provisions of Article 159, every person may vote at an election if he or she is of the age of eighteen years or upwards and is either a citizen of Guyana or a Commonwealth citizen domiciled and resident in Guyana.

The lawyer noted therefore any citizen of the commonwealth that has been resident in Guyana for at least one year is eligible to vote in national elections.

Alluding to the law, the attorney explained that “subject to the provision, a person shall be qualified to a be registered as an elector for elections if…on the qualifying date, he is of the age of eighteen years and upwards, is a citizen of Guyana or the commonwealth citizen who is domiciled and resident in Guyana and been so resident for a period of one year immediately preceding the qualifying date….”

He emphasized that the persons do not need to be from Bangladesh or Sri Lanka but any of the other 56 commonwealth member states.

Last week, the Government announced a move to approve the recruitment of 500 Bangladeshi nurses to work here.

Government in recent times have been recruiting nurses from Cuba and other countries and reportedly paying them more than their local counterparts.

In the letter which was signed by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, the government confirmed that Sigma Engineers Ltd as the agent to do the recruitment of 500 Bangladeshi healthcare workers  for employment and liaise with the relevant authorities.

The approval letter found its way on social media, raising alarm about the deal, given that the government has been refusing to engage the Guyana Public Service Union in collective bargaining to address the issue of increased pay for nurses and other categories of healthcare workers. Persons have also raised concerns about the language barrier and question the competence of the nurses to be recruited.

In response to the circulation of the approval letter on social media, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it issued the letter to confirm that the agency was authorised to recruit healthcare workers, with the view of addressing concerns raised both by the public and private sectors on the severe skills shortage in the health sector.

“The Private Sector Commission has on numerous occasions requested the Government’s assistance in addressing the need to fill the skills shortages not only in the health sector but also in the critical sectors of construction, engineering, and services given the expansion and growth of Guyana’s economy. In this regard, the recruitment agency was appointed to liaise with relevant authorities from various countries to recruit healthcare workers including, but not limited to Bangladesh. It is within this context that the authorization letter was issued by the Ministry to prevent issues such as human trafficking or any abuse of this process,” the statement read.

However, the ministry said to date no one has been recruited through Sigma Engineers Ltd. Inc as shortages are currently being filled by personnel from Cuba.

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• Bangladesh, foreigners, Norton, Vote, workers

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