Gov’t seeking accommodation for over 60 Venezuelan migrants

The Government is currently seeking accommodation for 66 Venezuelans who travelled to Georgetown in the early hours of Wednesday.

Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix in a video statement released by the Ministry Presidency disclosed that 140 migrants arrived in Georgetown on a vessel – the MV Kumaka – at around 05:00 hrs on Wednesday.

The persons were taken to Police headquarters, Eve Leary, where they were registered and subsequently vaccinated by personnel from the Ministry of Public Health.

The Minister said it was found that “a number” of the migrants have either relatives, friends or some connections in the country as many of them, maybe were descendants of Guyanese who were born in Venezuela.” As such, those persons were released into the care and custody of their friends and relatives.

The remaining persons are currently at Eve Leary as the Government tries to find accommodation, Felix said.

In the meantime, they are being provided with meals in partnership with the International Organisation of Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

 “So far, we are in control of the situation,” the Minister said.

The Ministry last reported that the number of Venezuelan migrants in Guyana now stands at 4, 421.