The Government of Guyana issued 4,739 employment visas for the period September 1, 2020, to June 30, 2023, according to data provided during the 69th sitting of the National Assembly.
This information was provided following a question posed by the parliamentary opposition on the number of employment visas issued for the period September 1, 2020, to June 30, 2023, and the breakdown by nationality.
A total of 957 Filipino nationals were issued employment visas, followed by 690 Chinese nationals, who arrived in Guyana during the specified period.
Migrants from India were granted 460 employment visas, followed by Indonesians 252, Malaysians 126, and Pakistanis 12.
Nigerian migrants were the recipients of 112 employment visas, followed by Venezuelans who received 122.
According to the data provided, migrants from the United Arab Emirates were granted 41 employment visas, followed by Bangladeshis 270, Croatians 166, and Cuban migrants 38.
Some 120 Colombians and 172 Mexicans were granted work permits.
Nationalities such as Azerbaijanis, Belarusians, Ukrainians, Thais, Peruvians, Russians, and Romanians were also beneficiaries of work permits
Former Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix raised concerns about the number of employment visas being granted to foreign nationals under the PPP/C administration. He told the National Assembly that the PPP/C had no regard for Guyanese labour as the Guyana Marriott Hotel was built by overseas labourers.
Felix asserted that “Guyanese, should not be left to look on at others who come in and enjoy the same jobs that they can perform.” He also claimed that concerns have been raised over locals not being “given a fair play” in the interior, where they see lands being occupied by foreigners.
In this regard, he informed that in 2012, 1,050 persons received employment visas and out of this figure, 991 were Brazilians and 24 were Chinese. In 2013, he said 462 Brazilians were granted employment visas, while in 2014, of the 744 employment visas issued, 694 were issued to Brazilians.
According to Felix, in 2015, under the former APNU+AFC coalition government, 304 employment visas were issued, out of which 236 were granted to Brazilians. Emphasising that his government was not against foreign investment, Felix stressed the need for equality. “What we are saying is that Guyanese must have an equal play.”
“That is what we want. We don’t want to have a lopsided situation where our people cannot have access to our lands to do what the foreigners are doing,” he said.
The former Minister of Citizenship pointed out that employment visas have been issued to cooks and labourers, which are jobs Guyanese can perform.
