Migrant support centre to be established in Region Two

Georgetown, Guyana – (January 7, 2019) The National Multi-Sectoral Coordinating Committee, today, convened its first meeting for 2019 during which it was announced that a two-storey building has been identified by the Regional Administration of Pomeroon-Supenaam Region (Region Two) that will serve as a support centre for Venezuelan migrants in that area.

Once set up, migrants will have access to a wide range of support services, inclusive of documentation and immunisation assistance, at one convenient location.  Some minor rehabilitation works are slated to be carried out on the building with funding from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

Minister of Citizenship, Mr. Winston Felix, who heads the fortnightly forum, informed that his Department and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) will be conducting a joint operation at Eteringbang and surrounding communities in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni (Region Seven), to address a number of issues that have been brought to his attention, including the immunisation and documentation of migrants.

Meanwhile, the Minister has tasked the GPF with the responsibility of ensuring that all boats ferrying passengers to Region Two from Venezuela report to immigration authorities, who will be located at a central point along the Pomeroon River, so that the migrants can be properly screened and processed before they disembark at various landings.

To date, the number of documented Venezuelan migrants in Guyana stands at 3,868.