-residents say they need help
By Khadidja Ba
A number of migrants from Venezuela have squatted in parts of the Ruby Backdam and Good Hope Sea Dam and this has led to problems with drainage and access to arable lands and residents there want the authorities to intervene and provide assistance.
A councillor for Ruby Backdam, who goes by the name `Romel’, highlighted to the Sunday Stabroek the influx of squatters following the economic upheaval in Venezuela.
“After what happened in Venezuela, the situation where all of them start to flee… Ruby is not far from the Atlantic so they get to come off anywhere, they don’t go all the way to Parika so they just come off on the shore and come in to Ruby. This has been happening since 2020,” the councillor explained, adding that the initial settlement began with a single family who received aid and drew others to the area. The councillor also told the Sunday Stabroek that since the migrants arrived, they have not received any government support. The assistance they receive comes from NGOs and local residents who provide hampers and food.
