140 Venezuelans arrive on North-West ferry

Last Updated on Thursday, 21 March 2019, 7:47 by Writer

140 Venezuelan migrants arrived in Georgetown at 0500 hours Wednesday on the MV Barima which departed from Kumaka in Barima-Waini (Region One) Tuesday, Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix has confirmed.

The Minister informed that the migrants were documented, immunised and taken to the Guyana Police Force’s Eve Leary headquarters in the capital Georgetown. Of the total number of migrants, about 70 of them had connections with relatives, friends and acquaintances in the city into whose care they have since been released.

An additional 66 migrants 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 any needs and concerns of the Venezuelan migrants to the relevant authorities.