Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton on Friday reiterated his party’s unwavering commitment to supporting the government’s efforts in safeguarding Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Be that as it may, he said concerns remain regarding the government’s response to Venezuelan troops which have been observed conducting military exercises in proximity to Guyana’s border.
Norton said the government has not been taking the situation seriously.
Norton’s comments came in response to Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo’s recent call for unity between the government and the parliamentary opposition to address the ongoing border dispute with Venezuela and the escalating tensions in the region.
During a routine weekly press conference held yesterday, Vice President Jagdeo highlighted allegations made by members of the Alliance for Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity during a joint press conference.
These allegations insinuated that the Government of Guyana might be facilitating the influx of Venezuelan migrants to bolster the voter’s list for the upcoming 2025 Elections, potentially favoring the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). Jagdeo, however, dismissed this narrative and revealed that only around 13,000 Venezuelan migrants are registered in Guyana.
Nonetheless, Norton, at the recent press conference, raised concerns about the perceived lack of transparency in the government’s handling of Venezuelan registration. He accused Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo of using outdated statistics, potentially misleading the public on the current situation. Norton emphasized the importance of up-to-date information concerning the registration of Venezuelans in Guyana and the necessity to understand the current state of the registration process.
Norton also posed several vital questions to the government, demanding transparency. He called for the Vice President to disclose the number of Venezuelans registered in 2023, seeking specifics on how many of these individuals have Guyanese parental ties and how many lack such connections to Guyana. Additionally, Norton questioned the government about the number of Venezuelans denied entry due to concerns about potential links to foreign agents.
The Opposition Leader underscored the importance of accurate data sharing concerning Venezuelan refugees in Guyana and expressed his intention, as Opposition Leader, to bring these questions to the National Assembly to ensure transparency and accountability in the registration process.
