The new APNU+AFC administration is keen on opening a consulate in French Guiana.
This was revealed during an interview on Wednesday given by President David Granger to French Television Senior Journalist Nicolas Pietrus, GINA reported yesterday.
“I will ensure that there is a consulate in French Guiana to look after the interest of the Guyanese there”. It was noted that French Guiana has a large migrant population of Guyanese.
According to Granger, many of Guyana’s diplomatic representatives have been serving overseas for long periods, in one case more than 22 years. He said that “this is unacceptable”. Many countries rotate or change their diplomats every three or four years. Foreign Minister Carl Greenidge has already told Stabroek News that those who were political appointees to the Foreign Service will be asked to step down.
GINA said that in relation to the diaspora, President Granger said that while many departed this country, “in the 1980s and 90s, to the present time” due to mostly economic reasons, he is optimistic that as Guyana begins to improve economically, this trend will be reversed.
“I think they love their homeland and I’m confident that they will like to make a better future for themselves and their children, right here in Guyana so they would return home. I expect migration to be reduced, the Diaspora will come home, they love their country”, he told GINA..
Told of a negative perception of many Guyanese in French Guiana, notwithstanding the fact many who have migrated to the territory are law abiding citizens, Granger responded that as with any community, “You will find that the good people outnumber the bad people. We are aware that many fugitives from justice and many persons from poor economic conditions go to neighbouring countries to seek a better life. Some of them might be criminals, and we hope that when we establish a consulate, we’ll be able to ensure that persons who are identified as criminals in their homeland will be identified to the authorities in Cayenne, and we will be able to extradite persons who are wanted for criminal offences”.
On the question of whether he would support the efforts of French Guiana, an overseas territory of France, to associate with Caricom, Granger replied in the positive. He said that while the Caribbean Community was launched initially with English speaking countries, Haiti and Suriname which are not English speaking are now members.
The president said, “We feel that the Caribbean Community has as its objective the alleviation of poverty and the provision of a good life for all its citizens so I would welcome the citizens of French Guiana although it is the smallest of the Guianas. I would welcome it in to the Caribbean family”.
