140 Venezuelan migrants arrive in Georgetown

A total of 140 Venezuelan migrants were processed by the police yesterday morning after arriving in the city and while about half were released into the care of acquaintances/relatives, the others are being accommodated at Police Headquarters, Eve Leary.

The migrants arrived in Georgetown around 5am on the MV Barima, which departed Kumaka in Region One (Barima-Waini) on Tuesday.

In a statement issued last evening, Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix confirmed the arrival of the migrants and said that additional measures are being organised for their accommodation.

“We are seeking to source…long-term arrangements for them in terms of accommodation…but so far we are in control of the situation. We have assistance from the UNHCR [United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees] and IOM [International Organization for Migration] and we are managing the situation with their support,” Felix said in the statement.

Following their arrival, the migrants were documented, immunised and taken to the Guyana Police Force’s Headquarters, Eve Leary, the statement said.

It further revealed that the 70 migrants who were released had connections with either friends, relatives, or acquaintances who are living in the city.

The other 66, the statement added, do not have any connections and therefore remain at police headquarters where they are being provided with meals.

A police source told Stabroek News that the processing of such migrants is a customary process which is conducted to ensure that their documents are intact.

The needs and concerns of the Venezuelans are being heard with the aid of Spanish-speaking Guyanese, the statement said.

It is unclear why this large group travelled to Georgetown.