‘Tremendous interest’ by Guyanese in the diaspora to return home – Ambassador Insanally

DPI, GUYANA, Thursday, April 19, 2018

There is a growing interest among Guyanese in the United States diaspora to return home in the advent of the country’s oil and gas developments.

Guyana’s Ambassador to the United States, Dr Riyad Insanally, told the Department of Public Information (DPI) in a recent interview.

“There is tremendous interest on the part of Guyanese in the diaspora to return home not necessarily permanently but at least go back see what’s happening. They feel the buzz as well. Some of them have important skills, they are interested in offering their services,” Ambassador Insanally said.

The Ambassador noted that his office is in the process of rolling out the diaspora engagement strategy, a draft of which has been completed. Ambassador Insanally noted that there are still areas for consideration to include in the strategy.

“We perhaps need to consider other incentives, we perhaps need to consider structured programmes to attract specific skills and perhaps we need to do a better job of communicating with the diaspora to let them know what is possible, what is available to encourage them to come back,” Ambassador Insanally explained.

Earlier this year, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, told the Guyana Chronicle the draft Diaspora Engagement Strategy and Action Plan was being reviewed by the Diaspora Unit of his Ministry before being submitted for Cabinet’s review and approval.

Guyana received support from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in the development of the Strategy and Plan which included extensive consultations with the diaspora.

The policy paper will formally guide the administration’s relationship with the diaspora with a focus on three main operational areas–Diaspora Communities, Home Country and Social Media.

 

By: Tiffny Rhodius