By Lear Matthews
Lear Matthews is Professor Emeritus and former Lecturer at University of Guyana. He is author of “English Speaking Caribbean Immigrants: Transnational Identities” and Co-creator of the video “Dis Time Nah Lang Time”. He has written extensively on the Caribbean Diaspora.
The stream of refugees and other immigrants who have entered the country particularly, but not exclusively from Venezuela, has not escaped the attention of Guyanese at home and in the diaspora. There have been grumblings about the increasing number of immigrant families who ‘locals’ refer to as “the silent invaders”. At the same time, nation-wide challenges and opportunities have emerged due to unpredictable economic outcome of the gas and oil industry, which is likely to attract immigrants voluntarily or by invitation. If the emerging cross-cultural dynamics caused by this phenomenon are not addressed carefully, the changes can be problematic. As a multi-cultural society with a history of tension at all levels, now facing economic and demographic transition, development planning in Guyana must be carefully handled.
A new set of population clusters in two areas has appeared on the Guyana scene. They include unskilled refugees leaving untenable situations and other immigrants with identified skills. Growing Venezuelan immigrant settlements have been established along hinterland border communities such as Mabaruma and Kumaka. There has also been a noticeable increase of various other transnational immigrant groups throughout the country.
Although there has been an effort to establish healthcare training facilities locally, nurses are being recruited from India and Bangladesh. Furthermore, the government plans to invest in healthcare to counter the adverse impact of out-migration of Guyanese nurses by recruiting Cuban healthcare workers. As they have done elsewhere, Chinese contractors tend to bring in their own workers. The socio-political and economic impact of a growing foreign multiethnic workforce and residency is yet to be determined. However, with Guyana’s history of ethnic tension, such phenomena needs some attention.
With more than half of its population residing outside the country, Guyana is more accustomed to sending than receiving large numbers of immigrants. The increasing settlement of refugees and other transnational immigrants require socio-cultural adjustments. There is likely to be the formation of new alliances between the new arrivals and ‘locals’, potentially establishing another layer of ethnic cleavage and/or competition.
The Caribbean diaspora, particularly in North America and Europe is familiar with the experiences related to a group’s immigration status in a host society. We know that migration deprive sending countries of important talent and skills. Terms such as Alien, foreigner, illegals, nativism have been used historically to divide, discriminate and exploit, inflaming transnational relationships. In the case of Guyana, the presence of foreign multiethnic groups with a different language and unconventional needs engender new challenges, thus making cultural adaptation and host accommodation challenging. It takes time for the local population to fully adjust to the influx. Public perception and “feelings” about new arrivals do matter. The reception of refugees and other immigrants tend to vary from appreciation to resentment. In the case of some returning Guyanese are subject to negative responses. Nonetheless, the transfer of their knowledge and skills is generally valued. Having returned to the homeland, their intellectual, social and economic capital can be collectively harnessed for the benefit of the nation.
This writer believes that the idea of a “melting pot” is a myth. The imagery of a “salad bowl” whereby the
entering groups entering Guyana will not give up certain customs to become fully integrated, is more realistic. With no previous connections in Guyana and some speaking a different language, assimilation becomes a long-term process for most foreign immigrants. Their initial “attachment” to Guyana is more economic than cultural. With the availability of the Internet and opportunity for frequent travel, keeping in touch with their home culture is feasible. Other dimensions of the immigrant experience include being part of an adopted home, with assumed rights, responsibilities and civic identification. Their ethno-cultural relations with their homeland may not readily dissipate. Further, do they commit to a separate ethnic community or become integrated into the Guyanese society? Is there the creation of a vulnerable segment of the labour force with few legal rights, working hard at jobs few others are willing to take?
Are there procedures to address the resettlement process and border security? Some concerned Guyanese reported that a number of small contracting jobs are given to “foreign workers”. Furthermore, if there is credence to the belief that immigrants are granted more rights than “locals” in certain sectors, this could exacerbate xenophobia, i.e. fear and resentment of foreigners. While many immigrants adhere to the civic codes of their adopted home, others may feel privileged and exempt from restrictions levied against Guyanese. This could exacerbate conditions for further tension. Owing to the history of political machinations this could include a battle between rival political parties for membership and support of new immigrants.
When the host community realizes the accretion of whose entry into the country is not officially announced or for who they are not adequately prepared to accommodate, confusion, resentment and distrust tend to prevail. Local residents would have to share scarce resources such as jobs, housing, schools and health care facilities. At times mutually beneficial relationships develop between “locals” and newcomers, particularly in cross-cultural learning in areas such as occupational and language skills.
At times the impact of immigrants is also felt in social and cultural spheres of life. Some Guyanese have reportedly adopted the “taste” for Venezuelan (Spanish) cuisine over the long-standing attraction to Chinese food. It has also been reported that the names of streets in Region Seven have been changed to reflect the increasing Spanish-Speaking population there. The inclusion of Spanish-language classes in the Education system is significant as a regional demographic strategic approach to enhance cross-cultural communication. The establishment of the Intercultural Bilingual Program in Southern Rupununi region is credited with appropriately responding to this challenge.
Could certain recent changes be a gateway for the newcomers to demand celebrating cultural milestones which replicate their own traditions and heritage as they become “rooted” in Guyana? Has there been an increase in the display of artifacts and symbols reflecting the new immigrants’ culture?
There is clearly an argument for bolstering Guyana’s population size to meet expanding economic development and manpower demands. However, the admission of refugees, though compassionate, may not be the most palpable way to fulfill industrial needs. it is important to identify and encourage the category of immigrants considered resourceful to Guyana, which in the past comprised of farmers and tradesmen. Today the leading foreign labour force in Guyana is increasingly comprised of workers skilled in the gas and oil industry and foreign investors of every elk. Such persons may include diaspora re-migrants. The recent inter-governmental agreement with the Republic of Barbados to have a cadre of that nation’s youth establish farming communities in Guyana is a good model for regional collaboration and mutual development. It also signals the intent and importance of sustaining the agricultural sector despite the discovery of oil and the anticipated benefits. The social, economic and political repercussions of mismanaged resettlement of refugees can heighten tensions among the local population, government officials and new settlers. How the processing of refugees and other immigrants, particularly at the border is handled, is critical.
Vulnerability to human trafficking is also a concern.
At this crucial period of nation-building, evidence-based decision-making is the most reliable arbiter of effective policy decisions involving human resettlement and adaptation to new resource-driven socio-economic development. Deconstructing the challenges in response to an unprecedented groundswell of immigrants, astutely dealing with those from the country with which there is a boiling land dispute, should be prioritized. In order to maintain safety and sovereign integrity there should be a deployment of adequate resources to Ports- of-Entry and areas of sizable immigration enclaves. The Amerindian Peoples Association has called for the provision of humanitarian support for Venezuelan migrants in Guyana. Such a “call” signals a desire for an inclusive approach characterize inter-cultural identity and strategic planning. Nevertheless, it is inevitable that immigrant communities will begin to assert themselves as they accumulate economic and cultural capital, signaling the extent to which they are invested in Guyana.
Out-migration and in-migration are inevitable global phenomena. These movements can influence aspects of national development, which in turn impact a nation’s growth and safety projections. There is a link between transnational immigration and nation building. Demographic transformation must engage local communities and immigrants by instituting a public education program. This includes teachings in various aspects of culture and adaptation to changes that affect all of us. The government is encouraged to continuously generate reliable information about demographic and cultural shifts forged by the presence of new transnational immigrant groups. The role of the Bureau of Population and Housing Census and the University of Guyana would be instrumental in this venture. An understanding of the dynamics of push/pull factors of migration and the capacity to accommodate newcomers is essential. While the government is responsible for the flow of immigrants, the Guyanese populace must be prepared for changes in the social, cultural and physical spaces. Failure to introduce measures to streamline migration flows could exacerbate tension.