Latest update April 18th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 04, 2009 News
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs seems to be disconnected from the reality on the ground as it relates to Guyanese in the Diaspora and its neighbouring countries.
This is according to Leader of the Alliance For Change, Raphael Trotman, who said that he could not fault the Minister in that she pronounces on issues based on information that is supplied to her by her officers.
Trotman was responding to the recent comment by Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett who had commented on the issue of Guyanese in Barbados in light of the recent immigration policy in Barbados.
Rodrigues-Birkett had told media operatives on Tuesday that her Ministry did not have any reports of Guyanese in Barbados experiencing any difficulties.
“I know there have been inquiries at the consulate and when those questions are being asked our honorary consul in Barbados will answer…We certainly don’t have any reports here but like I said once they are Guyanese, they are always welcome home.”
Trotman pointed out that the Honorary Consulate in Barbados has been inundated with complaints and there have been several pronouncements by Guyana’s representative there, Norman Faria.
He pointed to several instances where the Foreign Affairs ministry has not been on the ball such as the recent seizure of a vessel that was scheduled to ship sugar from the Skeldon Sugar Factory and was on the Corentyne River at the time.
He also drew reference to the recent fiasco at the Takutu Bridge where there was a gala ceremony and Guyana did not have a clue as to what was transpiring until after the fact.
The Barbadian Government has embarked on a campaign to rid the island state of illegal nationals, most of whom are Guyanese and St Vincentians.
There are reports of raids on the properties occupied by mostly Guyanese of East Indian origin.
The move has been criticised by several prominent persons, including CARICOM Secretary General Edwin Carrington, and the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves.
Trotman up to press time last evening was unaware of whether his motion on the imbroglio would be debated in the National Assembly today.
Trotman said in his motion, that was seconded by the party’s Chairman, Khemraj Ramjattan, that “the Treaty of Chaguaramus and the CARICOM Charter of Civil Liberties (Instruments) to which Guyana, Barbados and the other CARICOM States are signatories, declare inter alia that the Community is moving to become one customs and economic union which requires that all of us as a united Community, share and benefit from the region’s resources, including human resources, collective expertise and skills.”
The motion in one of its resolve clauses, calls on the Guyana Government to intercede with sister CARICOM states, through diplomatic and any other means, with regards to representing the rights and protection of the Guyanese nationals residing in and traveling to Barbados and the wider Community.
A reason established by Trotman, was to ensure that there is no real or perceived discrimination against Guyanese nationals, on the basis of their nationality, which treatment may be repugnant to the spirit and letter of the various instruments to which CARICOM States are all party to.
Trotman was adamant via his motion, that the Guyana Government must exhaust all diplomatic and or legal efforts to guarantee the protection of Guyanese people, by providing the necessary assistance for the dignified repatriation of those Guyanese, who unavoidably are returned to their homeland from Barbados or the wider Community, and to make preparation for their social and economic re-integration into Guyanese society and national life.
JAGDEO ADDING MORE DANGER TO GUYANA AND THE REGION
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