IMO consults Guyana on Global Compact for Migration modalities

February 5, 2018

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DPI, GUYANA, Monday, February 5, 2018

Today, stakeholders participated in a national consultation on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration facilitated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

Hosted at the Pegasus Hotel, Kingston, the meeting is part of efforts to develop modalities for the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) while discussing migration challenges facing Guyana.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge.

Guyana is not significantly affected by migration but it is considered an important country of transit. It is also a country of origin of migrants. IOM’s Chief of Mission in Guyana and Regional Coordination Officer for the Caribbean, Robert Natiello, said the discussion is “crucial and timely”, as Guyana faces a potential increase in migration and remigration with the projected economic growth because of its oil discoveries.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, in his capacity as second Vice President, noted Guyana is “unwaveringly committed” to the discourse and the efforts to find a solution to global migration.

“It is incumbent upon us to ensure that we, who are responsible for policy making, have arrangements and platforms for dialogue and discussion on this matter so that we can contribute in the global discourse, global decision making, and policy-making as fully as possible,” Minister Greenidge said in opening remarks.

The Minister added it is necessary for Guyana to be an “integral part in the international community’s quest for this Compact for safe, orderly and regular migration by 2018”.

IOM is leading global consultations to discuss migration challenges as it negotiates the global compact to ensure good governance of migration and minimise negatives consequences associated with migration.

“It’s important to note that in order to achieve its ambitious goals the global compact needs to listen, consider and respond to the interests, priorities, and interests of government and other stakeholders in different regions of the world taking into account all perspectives and experience of migration,” Natiello said.

Guyana was among the 193 United Nations members which adopted the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants at the UN’s Summit for Refugees and Migrants in 2016. Annex II of the Declaration makes provision for “consultation and negotiations culminating in the planned adoption of the Global Compact for Migration at an intergovernmental conference on international migration in 2018”.

The GCM is expected to be “a definitive instrument” which seeks to protect the life integrity and rights of migrants from the departure of a country to arrive at the destination country. The GMC will also seek to facilitate safe, orderly and regular migration by generating more and better channels and opportunity to migrate regularly. The GMC will also endeavour to reduce the incidence and negative impacts of forced migration and irregular migration and address the impact of mobility caused by disasters due to environmental phenomena or complex emergencies.