Food shortages and medical drug scarcities; crime and hyperinflation; mismanagement and dictatorship. Are such issues oppressing and killing the Guyanese populace? There is no apparent shortage of food here though some of our citizens do starve. But even the homeless wanderers manage to find morsels to continue what often appears as wretched existences. However, maybe because they are not burdened by the demands that control most of our lives, they are also freer than most of us.
At times there are shortages of medicine; we have heard complaints about public institutions, such as the Georgetown Public Hospital, frequently lacking certain drugs. Though the institution is supposed to provide free medical care, relatives of the sick must often buy some of the medicine they need. Nevertheless, at this time it does not seem like we are in a crisis.
Crime, of course, is ever present; murders and robberies are prevalent as are corporate crimes, whose perpetrators are often the most powerful and so escape prosecution. We have experienced inflation. Mismanagement and dictatorship are part of the reason we have not progressed further as a nation. But certainly, these issues are not responsible for a current exodus even though Guyanese are continuously migrating.
The same cannot be said for Venezuelans, who are fleeing their country because of the economic and political crisis. The oil rich country once had one of the fastest growing economies in this part of the world. However, within the last five years dire conditions have led to the crisis.
Venezuela’s late president Hugo Chavez was elected in 1998. He largely invested in education, health, housing and food, which reduced poverty but increased the dependence on oil. Chavez sold oil below market rates, but also did not invest in the maintenance of oil facilities, which led to production decline. He died in 2013, but his successor, Nicolas Maduro, has not been able to rescue Venezuela from the crisis.
Maduro has been described as a dictator who has attacked opposition leaders and the media and even attempted to dissolve the National Assembly. But he was reelected in 2018.
Because of the crisis, many Venezuelans have migrated to other South American countries, the Caribbean, North America and Europe. With the influx of not only Venezuelans, but other natives of South America, the Caribbean, Asia and Africa, our country is certainly becoming more diversified. Many businesses now advertise for workers who can speak a foreign language, such as Spanish.
In Guyana, we speak English and Creolese, but the importance of a speaking a foreign language has never been more evident. Most of us would have studied Portuguese, Spanish or French in school, but not many would have pursued being fluent in the languages thereafter. I think it is imperative that it becomes compulsory in our schools that our children learn at least one foreign language moving forward. Because of the imminent oil industry, our country will be flooded with even more immigrants and the more Guyanese who can speak their languages, the better it will be for our relations with them.
Many Venezuelans who have fled to Guyana came here with nothing. They left their homes and their families. Husbands and wives have been separated and children from their parents. Many have come to work to help their relatives who are still in Venezuela. Scenarios such as these are quite familiar to the average Guyanese as remittances are still a large part of our experience.
There are also cases where families that have fled the country come here and are physically and verbally assaulted and robbed in our streets. They are vulnerable because most of them stand out and the common criminals seize the opportunity to take advantage. Venezuelan women are also being forced into sex work, even though some of them are also choosing to work in the industry.
A friend of mine has relatives who are Venezuelans. They have all come to Guyana to escape the crisis. Some of the women have been propositioned. Some of the men have found work but their employers overwork them and delay their payments, sometimes by months.
Many Guyanese have expressed concern about the influx of Venezuelans and are not sympathetic to their plight. Some believe that the migrants are coming to compete with us for our jobs. But what jobs are Venezuelans taking from Guyanese? Are they being employed in large numbers in the public sector or are being hired to run corporations? Are they opening law firms or medical practices? Do we see them in the media or in the Joint Services? How can one be Guyanese and xenophobic when enough Guyanese have migrated to the point that it is assumed that most Guyanese live overseas?
I have seen some Venezuelans with small businesses on the streets. They are mostly selling food. Some are also employed in sales. The businesses that advertise for Spanish speakers are often run by Asians, such as Chinese, who are scattered across Guyana. Some of them employ Venezuelans. Cubans come here every day in large numbers to shop and support many of the Asian-run businesses, so having employees who can speak their language is an advantage. Some Venezuelans who have fled their country are professionals but are unable to work in their respective fields.
I agree that we must be vigilant always because of the border controversy with Venezuela. However, we must also be compassionate and remember that many Guyanese also fled this country in times when we faced crisis. While being compassionate will probably not win a war if Venezuela decides to one day attack us over their claim of Essequibo, I am quite sure that the average Venezuelans who are coming here are not coming with master plans to take the county.
Our country is troubled, but our crisis does not measure up to what the Venezuelans are currently experiencing. Guyanese who choose to mistreat Venezuelans might not quite be aware of their plight. They are here out of desperation. I am sure if their issues are resolved tomorrow, most would promptly return home.
Nevertheless, systems should be in place to monitor migration to our country. We should be aware of who is entering and leaving our country at all times and deal with any threats we suspect.
Venezuela is an example of what can happen when leaders are ambitious, but their vision is not comprehensive. Oil should not be the only resource we ever depend on. Though Chavez seemingly had good intentions when he invested in social programmes, mismanagement of resources and great dependence on oil revenue are part of the reason they are now in crisis.
