A total of 140 Venezuelan migrants arrived in Georgetown around 05:00hrs this morning on the MV Barima and, up to this evening, 66 of them remain at police headquarters, Eve Leary.
This development was confirmed by Minister of Citizenship, Mr. Winston Felix.
The Minister informed that the migrants were documented, immunised, and taken to the Guyana Police Force’s Headquarters, Eve Leary and arrived on the vessel which departed from Kumaka in Barima-Waini (Region One) yesterday.
Of the total number of migrants, 73 of them had connections, whether relatives, friends or acquaintances in the city; they have since been released into the care these persons.
An additional 66 who do not have any connections on the coast remain at Eve Leary where they are being provided with meals.
“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 Organisation for Migration] and we are managing the situation with their support,” Minister Felix said.
Additionally, Spanish-speaking Guyanese are on hand to translate the needs of the Venezuelan migrants as well as their concerns to the relevant authorities.
