Latest update January 10th, 2026 12:30 AM
‘Halt discussions with the U.S. for third-country nationals’ – Norton
(Kaieteur News) – Chairman of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Aubrey Norton, has called on the Government of Guyana to halt all discussions with the United States (U.S.) regarding the acceptance of third-country nationals.
Speaking during an APNU press conference on Friday, Norton said the coalition remains firm that Guyana’s oil wealth must be managed prudently.
Chairman of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Aubrey Norton
He warned that current geopolitical developments in Latin America and the Caribbean could further strain the country’s economy.
“The situation is exacerbated by the potential negative economic impacts on trade by recent Geopolitical occurrences within the Latin America and Caribbean regions. Additionally, should any migration issues pop up we will be forced to distribute national wealth to supply the needs of migrants,” he stated.
Norton strongly rejected the idea of Guyana accepting deportees who are not Guyanese nationals, describing the move as unacceptable.
“We wish to reiterate our position that accepting non-Guyanese deportees through deportation is unacceptable. This is more so, when they are rejects of another society and detrimental to ours. APNU cannot understand the logic behind accepting deportees that another society does not want. Were they assets, the sending government would have kept them? The question becomes; why would we accept what others do not want? We demand a halt to this insane hurtling to an agreement that is not in our national interest. This is, in environmental terms, like sending toxic material to another country to affect them rather than the sending country,” Norton said.
His comments come amid media reports that Guyana is in discussions with the U.S. to accept third-country nationals. Guyana’s Foreign Secretary, Robert Persaud, has since confirmed that the government is engaged in consultations with the U.S. on an arrangement to facilitate such transfers.
“Specific details and operating procedures including the responsibilities of the sending and receiving parties are still being discussed both bilaterally and internally, to ensure that the arrangement is implemented in full compliance of international legal obligations and national laws and policies of Guyana,” Persaud had said.
Persaud noted that the United States remains a strategic partner of Guyana and that both countries will continue to strengthen bilateral relations through cooperation in areas including security, defence, migration, trade, investment and energy. However, he said that because consultations are ongoing, it is not possible at this time to provide specific details on the third-country nationals arrangement.
Norton during an interview with News Source this week said government must halt all discussions with the U.S. until national stakeholders are consulted and a migration policy is in place along with requisite systems to support such a movement.
He also expressed concern that the Government has advanced discussions without first holding consultations. He told News Source that at this stage the PNCR is not “disposed” to supporting the proposed arrangement but is willing to engage in meaningful consultation to ensure that there is clear policy in place.
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