75 Venezuelans turned back

Mar 12, 2025 News

…after illegally entering Guyana through Essequibo

Kaieteur News- Seventy-five Venezuelan nationals, comprising adults and children, were on Monday intercepted by police in the vicinity of the Abram Zuil Sea Wall on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two.

The boat transporting the 75 Venezuelans who illegally entered Guyana

The 75 Venezuelan nationals comprised 57 adult males, nine adult females, and nine children.

Police in a statement on Tuesday said that the interception occurred at about 06:45h Monday by the ranks who were on patrol.

“The Venezuelan nationals were in a boat measuring about forty-five (45) feet in length and eight (8) feet in width powered by two 75 HP Yamaha outboard engines,” the statement said.

Following the interception, members of the Immigration Department were summoned and “it was found that the Venezuelans failed to present themselves to the Immigration Department or Port of Entry, using the Atlantic Ocean.”

“They were treated humanely, provided with the basic necessities of food and placed at an institution. They were deported today (Tuesday) to their country of origin with the assistance of adequate fuel and other amenities,” the police said.

The interception and subsequent deportation of the migrants come amid growing concerns over the large influx of Venezuelan here and President Irfaan Ali recently acknowledged that the economic implosion of the neigbouring state’s economy has been contributing to the crisis and it has also increased the vulnerability of Guyana’s borders.

Speaking at the recent Guyana Defence Force’s Annual Officer’s Conference, he said that criminals can take advantage of the migrant crisis and border vulnerability which will cause an increase in transnational crimes. Therefore, he urged the GDF to remain vigilant and advance their border management capacity, so that they will be able to intercept any threats.

Only recently, Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister, Amanza Walton-Desir criticised the government over what she described as its lax approach in formulating and implementing a national foreign policy which will cater to issues such as migration. “It is crucial that we address the challenges posed by our porous borders which continue to expose us to significant risks that could undermine our national security, territorial integrity, and social cohesion,” she insisted.

Alluding to a Stabroek News article which quoted the Minister with responsibility for immigration, Robeson Benn, saying that it is anticipated that the migrant population will increase in the coming months,” Walton –Desir said that to date, the government is unable to provide a realistic estimate of the number of Venezuelan migrants in the country. “The reason is clear… They simply do not know. It is obvious that the PPP government has lost control over the migrant situation resulting in grave risk to our country’s security and sovereignty.” Walton-Desir stressed “to mitigate these risks and protect the integrity of our nation, we must immediately establish a mandatory migrant registration system.”

(75 Venezuelans turned back)

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criminals, Immigration Department, migrant crisis, Monday, Port of Entry, Venezuelan Nationals

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