-launches into attack on reporter, Stabroek News
By Khadidja Ba
Following his visits to Linden on October 8th and 9th, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hugh Todd played down reports in this newspaper about Venezuelan migrants living in difficult circumstances and on October 10th, after being criticized by leaders in the town for not engaging with them, he launched into an explosive tirade against this reporter and Stabroek News.
In the Sunday Stabroek of September 29, it was reported that Venezuelans were living in difficult conditions in Linden and local residents had expressed anxieties at their presence. The report was based on a visit by this newspaper to Linden.
In an interview with Stabroek News on October 9th after he had visited the town in response to the newspaper’s story, Todd categorically denied reports of groups of migrants “roaming in groups of 20,” asserting instead that the majority are “employed and living in squatted areas”.
This despite the fact that the Ministry of Home Affairs in December of 2023 had said that there were no Venezuelan migrants in Region 10.
During the interview on October 9th, Todd emphasized the contributions of migrants to the local economy and outlined future support initiatives, including plans for regularizing their status, as well as providing access to healthcare and education.
Attempting to refute the portrayals in Lindeners’ reports to SN, Todd remarked, “An anonymous source claimed that 20 migrants descended on their property and they wanted foodstuff… We did not get any information to verify what you guys got… 80% of them are actually working. There are a few single mothers, who we will give support to, but based on the responses we got they are all working and they are all adjusting well so when I raised the matter that SN published, no one can actually verify that actually occurred, because they don’t move in groups of 20, it’s about over 150 people, so if we have 20 persons who are roaming around aimlessly, everyone would know”.
The Lindeners who spoke with SN during two visits to Linden—one in the daytime and another at night—requested anonymity. Visiting Amelia’s Ward New Scheme, Wisroc, Bounceland and four sawmills, at various times was crucial because SN learned that most migrants squatting in the area typically moved at night. This aligns with an earlier report in SN where a resident stated “About two months ago, I came home one afternoon, and there were over twenty of them—children, teenagers, and adults—wanting to camp out in my yard. They said they had nothing to eat, and I gave them two packs of chowmein and two cans of tuna.” And despite her initial kindness, the situation quickly escalated. “My neighbours came over and told me not to allow them to stay, and I was going to tell them they couldn’t,” she recounted. “They eventually left after starting to row and went down to Bounceland, where they camped out for four days until they were driven away. They set up tents and built a toilet on someone’s property. I’m scared of them.”’ SN visited the previously overgrown property where migrants had settled before being driven away. There was clear evidence of destroyed habitation, and neighbours confirmed these reports.
Todd also addressed concerns about squatting in Linden, stating, “Squatting is not an issue. Most of Lindeners squat.” He insisted that the perception of migrants squatting should not be viewed negatively, as it reflects a common practice in the community.
Not unusual
“For the residents to come to you and say they have people squatting is not what they should do, because most of the people in Linden squat, it’s not unusual. For the migrants to squat is not an insult and they [Lindeners] should not view it like that. There is a lot of land, people just go, put up a shack in Linden and that’s it. Most people in Linden squat. And when they squat and there is a community being developed nearby, then they call the government for utilities, which is difficult because they need to have proper planning so that’s what happened. Most people start off in Linden by squatting you understand so a lot of the areas have not been regularized, it’s only on the banks of the river on the Wismar side are regularized communities, once you go inland and you start going into the hills, they are all squatting, they are not regularized communities and in some cases even on the MacKenzie side, so squatting is not unusual in Linden, most of the people in Linden squat, and we are now working to regularize areas for people can actually go to the banks and have a mortgage on their properties and all of that, there are some families who have been squatting in Linden for decades, it’s just the history of Linden”, he stated. “I don’t want the Lindeners to sensationalize it and take this as a political issue because it’s not,” he added.
Lindeners are however concerned about job competition.
“The jobs intended for Lindeners through the placement of 19 sawmills in Linden are being given to the migrants, because they are asking for $3000 when we the locals want $6000, cost of living high,” SN was told by a resident while others voiced agreement.
Todd responded and said “By and large they perform better than the Lindeners and they want to work and that is why they are being employed. The migrants want to work, they are human beings just like everybody else, they have some who may want to work today and not tomorrow. That is why they [migrants] move to Linden because when one family or person goes to Linden, they contact their other colleagues and that is how persons are going to Linden because there are opportunities for jobs.”
A Venezuelan migrant confirmed this claim to SN, stating that he was working in Georgetown but had a job waiting for him at a sawmill in Linden. He mentioned that the sawmill also provided wooden accommodations for his family, which is why he decided to move to Linden.
Addressing the reported lack of communication with local leaders Mayor of Linden Solomon and MP Jermaine Figueira who both reside and contribute to the region, Todd maintained that he is in regular contact with the local government and that there are no significant challenges regarding migrant integration.
“I chair the committee [Multi-Agency Coordinating Committee] and I report to the committee on matters. What I have seen in Linden and based on your report, it’s not connecting. The people are not hungry and they are not running around trying to make people’s lives uncomfortable. I want people to understand that we have a Regional and Multilateral obligation to ensure that these people are taken care of within international law without discriminating. There is no issue.,” he said, reinforcing his stance that the migrants are settling in without issue.
The Minister outlined future plans, emphasizing that “regularization is the key issue for migrants, many of whom have expired permits. We need to focus on renewing these permits and on regularizing and naturalizing individuals who are not Guyanese descendants, particularly those who have been here for 6 or 7 years. We’ve already started collaborating with the Guyana Post Office Department regarding birth certificates and registration. In terms of healthcare, while primary care will be provided, we recognize that some individuals may have additional health issues not covered by primary health services, and we will explore ways to support them. As for education, all children are currently enrolled in school, which is a positive development. However, we want to stay engaged to identify and address any gaps, ensuring that educational institutions are aligned with these needs. This is the government’s approach to managing the influx of migrants.”
On October 10th, Stabroek News carried a report in which Mayor of Linden, Solomon and Member of Parliament for Region 10 Figueira criticized Todd for not engaging with them during his visit to Linden.
Upon entering the Arthur Chung Conference Centre that day to cover President Irfaan Ali’s address, this reporter was confronted by Todd who angrily criticized the newspaper’s reportage of the situation in Linden as well as the coverage given to the Mayor of Linden and MP Figueira. Todd screamed angrily in the lobby of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.
“Why are they on page 2! They don’t do anything! They hadn’t done anything back in December like they had claimed! You are embarrassing me on an international stage! What do you mean “raps” [The article’s headline is “Figueira, Solomon rap Todd for snubbing local leaders during Linden visit on migrants”], how could they rap me! Your article is false! When we went there was nobody to verify the claims! In your article, you couldn’t even name who said anything! Who are these anonymous sources! Why aren’t you naming them?! These Venezuelans are not hungry! They are working! They are working harder than the Lindeners and that’s why they are getting the jobs! This is nonsense! Stabroek News needs to get themselves together! That article with Figueira and Solomon is not balanced at all! I went and spoke to the Venezuelans myself! This is poor journalism! Stabroek News is writing as if the migrants are not humans! They are escaping a serious situation back in Venezuela”, he raged.
The Minister continued with his tirade even though fellow Minister Kwame Mc Coy communicated to him that the reporter who he was shouting at was not responsible for the statements being published. After the explosive delivery, Todd stormed off fuming.
In an invited comment Stabroek News Editor-in-Chief (EiC) Anand Persaud condemned the minister’s verbal attack on the reporter. He said it was most unbecoming of a minister to behave this way in public and it was contrary to the supposed government recognition of the role of the free and independent press in interrogating national matters. The EiC added that if Todd had concerns about the reportage there were well-established channels through which these could have been addressed.
Persaud said that Todd’s anger appeared to stem from the fact that his ministry was unaware of the presence of the Venezuelans in Linden living in difficult circumstances. Persaud said that the newspaper stood behind all of its reportage on the squalid circumstances that the Venezuelans faced as this was based on multiple interviews and visits.
