By Heppilena Ferguson in Bridgetown, Barbados
Very few Guyanese would qualify under an amnesty being offered by the Barbados Government to undocumented Caricom nationals, according to Guyana’s representative on the isle.
Norman Faria
And whether the amnesty could be considered to be a genuine one was a question Guyana’s Honorary Consul to Barbados, Norman Faria left open during an exclusive interview with this newspaper at his Eden Terrace, St Michael office yesterday. He also urged that this newspaper not interview any Guyanese at the office at the time but rather wait to see them in “town or on the street somewhere”. When this newspaper visited the office five Guyanese were there seeking services and information and others came in subsequently.
However as things stand it seems as though many Guyanese in Barbados may have to return home as the consul’s records have indicated that very few would qualify for the amnesty.
Today marks day three since Guyanese and other undocumented nationals should have started to turn themselves in to immigration and submit the required documents for consideration under a new immigration policy which would see persons not residing here for eight years prior to December 31, 2005 being “removed”. However on Monday Barba-dians observed Whit Monday as a national holiday.
Radio newscasts on Monday led off with headlines of Prime Minister David Thompson saying that his intention was not to be hostile to Caricom neighbours.
On Tuesday however, the Immigra-tion Office in Bridgetown had its usual long lines from about 7.30 am. Persons on the scene admitted that this was not unusual. When persons entered the building it was business as usual and they patiently awaited their turn as they queued on benches.
One man who spoke but did not want his type of job or name mentioned told this newspaper that most of the transactions appeared to be normal ones and doubted whether the Guyanese and other non-nationals would start to come in so early. Checks later in the afternoon at the Immigration office reflected a lighter crowd.
Prime Minister Thompson made the announcement of the new policy to the Barbadian Parliament on May 5 following deliberations by a cabinet committee that was set up to deal with the issue of migration.
Thompson had reported that the subcommittee had agreed that the current levels of illegal immigrants were “unacceptably high, increasingly difficult to control and posed potentially negative socio-economic challenges for the country”.
“Therefore, with effect from June 1, 2009 all undocumented CARICOM nationals who entered Barbados prior to December 31, 2005 and remained undocumented for a period of eight years or more are required to “come forward and have their status regularised”, the Barbados Nation had quoted Thompson as saying. The issue has since spurred widespread discussion even to the point where Barbados was accused by Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo of being “un-caricom like.”
However many Barbadians with whom this newspaper spoke are in full support of the new policy but a few have suggested that the law-abiding non-nationals should be allowed to stay.
One man who asked many questions about this newspaper before he answered any question insisted that some Guyanese are hard workers while others are intent on making trouble.
He said he did not have any Guyanese friends but admitted to having many St. Lucian and St. Vincentian friends who were working and living in Barbados illegally.
“They hear for a long time and no one didn’t know they here cause they keep out of trouble, but to me the Guyanese stand out and they can’t keep themselves out the courtroom,” he said.
“We don’t want them here giving trouble, if they not doing anything here but that… we have to send them home and the same should go for Barbadians who are in other people’s country illegally, what goes for one should go for all,” he said
The man said too that he did not feel that Guyanese alone were being targeted and urged against any such perception.
Another Barbadian told Stabroek News that he had no problems with Guyanese or any other nationality for that matter and he felt that the policy may have been too harsh.
“At my workplace we have Guyanese and they work hard. There are Bajans illegal in other countries but everybody move cause they want a better life. I don’t understand where this coming from, but then again I didn’t support Thompson in the election so I hardly agree with their policy,” he said.
“If they not doing anything send them home yes … We got to do that,” one taxi driver strongly suggested.
He said he hardly came into contact with Guyanese but would usually hear from friends that they were all over.
“I think foreigners have taken over most of our country. Some St. Lucians and others are well established and I have no problems with them, but once they here to cause trouble, they got to leave,” he added. Despite these concerns though, he said that the non-nationals should be given consideration for regularization once they are hardworking and abide by the laws of the land.
Though there seemed to be a general sense of confusion about the real implication of the policy, among some Guyanese with whom Stabroek News spoke there was an understanding that the government of the day could decide what it wanted to do with its country.
‘I understand that they got to do what they got to do, but I want to know what our government could do when all of us come back home. We work for better money over here for the same type of job we do home and even though we are exploited, we get better money at the end of the day,” a man working in the construction industry said.
He said he has been a victim of exploitation on many occasions but realized that this has been his fate since he has lived in Barbados illegally for seven years.
“I am able to do more for my family from here and I would love to go home yes, but what do I do home. In Barbados though the cost of living here is high, it gives me hope and I get to help my family back home more,” he said.
He noted that he respected what the government was doing but would have preferred if they were more lenient.
One woman who has done mostly domestic work since residing in Barbados for the last four years admits that the policy has hit her hard.
“I don’t know what I will do. They take advantage of us here but we work and take all sorts of bad treatment because it’s our government that have us in this position. But I am prepared to go home because this is not making sense anymore,” the woman who seemed skeptical to speak at first, said.
Another woman admitted to not fully understanding the new policy but was enlightened by Faria. She said she was at a loss and could not return home and preferred to stay in Barbados despite what the consequences were.
In a deep Bajan accent after living in Barbados for 11 years undocumented, the woman said she will not submit herself because her home had nothing for her.
“Nothing ain’t doing in Guyana, wah I going home for, Not me,” she said firmly before walking away.
Don’t qualify
Meanwhile Faria told Stabroek News that since the announcement by Thompson a number of Guyanese had approached his office and many of them did not understand the new policy and as a result were not sure whether they would fit into the framework set by Thompson. He made mention of previous immigration rules which allowed for persons to apply for immigrant status once they satisfied a five-year requirement of living and working in Barbados and had no run-ins with the law.
However Thompson’s new policy has replaced this one and according to Faria, most of the Guyanese will not fit in.
“According to intelligence coming to the consulate, and I am looking at a general impression while inspecting Guyanese passports, very few of the undocumented over here qualify for that amnesty,” he said. He could not give an estimate of the number of Guyanese nationals residing in Barbados but noted that the majority of those persons here who wish to regularize their status arrived in Barbados after 2005.
“So I leave it up to others to say whether it’s a genuine amnesty in this respect,” he conceded.
He indicated that Guyanese who would have been here for that period would already have applied for immigration status or non-national registration status under the immediate past administration’s system through which undocumented workers became eligible after living in Barbados for five years and avoiding trouble with the law.
Faria says he could not recall seeing one passport where a Guyanese would qualify for the amnesty, while acknowledging that there are instances where people have gone through lawyers.
“This morning I saw about five or six of those persons who came in for general advice about what their options are and I also answer enquiries on the telephone .. I got about 10 or so for the morning,” he said.
However he said the consulate urges Guyanese nationals to respect the regulations of all the countries they live in but acknowledged that just as with the case of Barbadian living overseas, the “undocumented dimension” will always be present.
He noted that the consulate had to give advice even if those making enquiries are not legal immigrants.
Going Home
Though many Guyanese are worried about the new policy and implications for them since they ultimately do not qualify for the Bajan amnesty, Faria told Stabroek News that worry aside many are prepared to return home.
“In addition to the worried aspect … that’s natural with anyone just like Bajans in New York if they hear all of a sudden the prime minister of a country say you have to go in or be removed… so there is also the determination by some to return to their country. Because some of them realize the hopelessness of their ever getting to reside and work and they can’t stand the stress of always looking over their shoulder knowing that they will be detained by immigration,” he said.
Faria said there are increased inquiries from Guyanese who want to go home.
“I would say that more of the Guyanese have decided to return home following the announcement … in proportional terms it is difficult to give exact numbers,” he said.
He acknowledged that as with any other nationality there are some Guyanese who are willing to stick it out until immigration finds them hoping that the time frame could be altered.
Faria has been providing those willing to go home with re-migrant packages which also include facilities for them to ship household articles back home once residing overseas for over four years.
He said he has since sent a full report to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett in which he has also tendered recommendations, among them is the need for more publicity of the ministry’s re-migrant department.
Faria said his other recommendations made to the minister were confidential and as such did not deliberate on them during his interview with Stabroek News. He feels that the Thompson government is firm on the new policy. Faria noted that work is being done at different levels in addition to the ongoing work of the consulate. He refuted comments that enough was not being done by the Government of Guyana but noted that the raising of the matter at the level of Caricom also helped.
“This ongoing message that Guyanese are contributing to the economy in all the sectors including marrying Bajan nationals and having children …I think they have sunk some roots here and so by implication it would be inhumane to uproot these families and disrupt the family structure and send them back,” he said.
I hope that guyanese learn something from the Bajans. They call the shots and the government responds. I hope that guyanese awake and demand that their government work for them. if they don’t, throw the bums out.
I don’t think the Bajans got a PPP and a PNC to keep them divides along ethnic lines to the point that no matter how bad the administration is it is practically guaranteed reelection if it represents the majority race.
doesnt faria look a bit like jim jones?
“So I leave it up to others to say whether it’s a genuine amnesty in this respect” . Norman Faria .
Norman , I say that it is a genuine AMNESTY offered by the government of Barbados to illegal immigrants . The illegal immigrants in Barbados are mainly visitors , many of whom , knowingly over-stayed the time given to them by the immigration department . Others remain and continued to work after their work permits had expired .
I hope that the reporter also interview guyanese who are living here , legally .
The government of Barbados will continue to treat ALL the illegal immigrants , humanely and Prime Minister David Thompson have the support of the vast majority of bajans as the leader of “Team Barbados” .
I hope that this fact finding mission by Heppelina Ferguson of the Stabroek News will stop some guyanese , at home and abroad , from blogging un-truths about Barbados . The government and people of Barbados are making sacrifices in order to survive this world recession . One Love .
Wiggins it does not matter. Guyanese and other Caribbean nationals will continue to say and think bad things about Barbadians. What they will never understand is that we DO NOT CARE what they think. Barbados is for Barbadians and people who care about Barbados.It is not those who just want to take what they can to benefit themselves.
Gonsalves and Jagdeo need to provide for their people instead of depending on Barbados to do so.
Contrary to what Faria has been saying, most Barbadians support David Thompson.Those who do not, have gained some benefit from the exploitation of non nationals.
Wiggins – I support you 100% on what you have said. Guyanese government got to step off their butts and do things for Guyanese and stop exporting their problems and blaming other Governments for not upholding their partisan policies, like that of the Guyana Government. Until Guyanese start to admit that there is a serious Governance issue in Guyana and tackle it, they will always be treated like dirt where ever they go. Charity begins at home. Stop blaming the Bajans for your troubles. GO home and fix your house first.
I wish you Bajans would leave this list.
We do not want to read your platitudinous comments.
Just leave….now
deCanadianCarlveecock. Ya not given the Bajan bloggers any amnesty?
Keep up the good work Wiggins and send every illegal Guyanese back to Guyana. These are some of the people who voted for the incompetents now in power. Please send Reddy so he can enjoy the fruits of his paradise all due to the great works of his party.
Wiggins you have a very strong agruement,I myself would not want anyone ilagelly in my home,there’s a difference between VISITING and STAYING.If one goes on a visit with the intention of STAYING they should get their documents in order. I do hope that Mr.thompson would be very HONEST in his decision.
That my fellow Guyanes have scattered all over the globe for a livelyhood is all to be blamed on the LEADERSHIP of Guyana. Internationally Guyanese are known as hard workers,jolly and hospitable (the normal ones)Speaking from a foreign-based guyanese; we love our country dearly and would rather be no where else. Situation has caused us to be where ever we are.I was married to a different nationality who knew more of Guyana than I do and he wanted to go back to settle in Guyana instead of his own home land.and that is proof of our hospitality and there are many like him all over the world. Its a shame that Guyanese have to suffer this way while our country is so rich.
navyseal I hope u will live HAPPILY EVER AFTER wen guyanese get thrown af yuh piece A RACK. GUYANESE TAKE NOTE of these COMMENTS. don’t go visiting Barbados any more because it ONLY for the BAJANS. With all this BIG ASS TALK I would not even spend a cent at the air-port if ever I am in transit.I know that frustration has stepped in and any good leader would do whats best for his/her country unlike JAGDEO AND HIS AAN-HANG.As a GUYANESE TO THE BONES I feel for my country man/woman I do hope that my nephew GET THE HELL OUT of BAJAN ROCK I will support him financially.. THANK GOD HE HAS HIS OWN HOUSE.All guyanese who do not have a house lot. I can help five or six if they agree not to:-CAIM NAT WAN PIECE A GRASS…AND I MEAN IT. I willing to assist anyone FREE OF CHARGE UNTIL YOU GET ON YOUR FEET. POST YOUR E-MAIL AND I WILL GET BACK TO YOU. One thing I would like to make very clear is that the five/six house lots are for TEMPORARY USE
Incase allyuh dont know I aint no Bajan. And besides allyuh can’t put me outta Guyana, when I come deh. I refuse to be a patriot to a system in Guyana that discriminates because of the colour of my skin. Even though I am not 100% Guyanese, I still do consider myself one. I have seen and witnessed first hand how some black brothers were treated. There are some Guyanese that are painting this picture that they cannot do better. YES U CAN. One door close another will open. Gods says he will never forsake us in our times of trial. Trust god and things will get better. IT do not mean that we will sit on our butts and let a system treat us like sucker. One man cannot change all. I am willing to stand up and assist to make a change in Guyana, but some sell their souls for a few pennies. READ BETWEEN THE LINES. Talk half n lef half.
But look at all these Bajans mouthing off, obviously you cor blimeys don’t know, or choose not to remember when half of Christianburg used to be Bagantown. Just remember now, this here life is cyclical, the big wheel keeps on turning. Yall enjoy your spell at the top of it right now and pray real hard them tourists keep coming.
Wiggins this has nothing to do with the recession and you know it.
Bajans have wanted to get rid of Guyanese off the island for years.
That was the platform this govt ran on to get elected.
@Deze Tante, you seem to be either contracting yourself , or somebody is impersonating you.
Wig gins becareful the season has just begun … the hurricane remember wheather patterns have change and hurricane can get vishous hope none pass your way.
Guyanese go home and deal with what you vote for. The times are going to get harder in BIM.
hmmmm…. i was thinking the other day that if i was an illegal immigrant in Barbados and I had agreed to go and legalize myself with the local authorities, do you know what will happen to me…Is on de next flight back to Guyana I deh pon.
Amnesty was given to illegals before (in the 90’s) and it was genuine in that the government did what it said (they kept their word). I should know, believe when I tell you so.
Nah sandman, NAwrrrrman would have gotten you one o dem PPP flying fish you woulda got to hold on for dear life though.
Seems that systems are in place at the Barbadian end – hope there is a point of contact and general assistance at the Guyana side. The GY government always making false promises and does not deliver. Two critical issues: safety,jobs, and more jobs!!!!
Did the Guyana Government sent them there illegally??? What are you expecting that they should be fed with gold spoon after they are thrown back in Guyana where they belongs.Their main objective to mirgate is foreign mindedness, Guyana has lots of land and space for them to make a decent living…The Government giving away land now wild west…
“Soldier, you right to say the wild west cause you wild. Don’t get any money and see how you gonna get land.
Soldier their main objective is a better life. Why did you not stay? Why don’t you go back since you are not foreign minded?
Soldier, lead the way and others will follow you back to Guyana.
NeNE:Lets be fair and honest now,the present Guyana government don,t always give false promises but I agreed with you on these two critical issues:safety and jobs.They keep promising better,reliable,efficient security and we not seeing any result.As I said a few days back,once the security system in Guyana improve,there will be alot of employment opportunities.
Soldier the GY govt may not have sent them there illegally but one can definitely make the case that the GY govt is the reason they are there illegally.
you seeing me Soldier?
I am with you on this soesdyke, Soldier boy yep you line up and we will all follow you like the PPP lamb you are.
Thsi is Bharrat Jagdeo fault. If he was working for the well being and development of all Guyanese people ,It would have been Guyana everyone would that eeryone be coming to.
When will u guys wake up and see that Guyana cannot acheive any stable development without unity of the entire country.Its a shame that we have to be vacating our beloved and birt-right land to be illtreated by those who are poorer in resourses and intellect than us.
SHAME SHAME SHAME
To whom were you referring when you spoke of “those poorer in intellect”?
The important thing about a country is not how many resources it has or does not have but how it manages what it does have. So While Barbados maybe poorer in resources than Guyana, our system of governance (not without fault) manages our resources much better than Guyana manages theirs. Barbados’ resource is its people that is why the Governments of Barbados go to such lengths to protect its people. Social health care, social education (incl. tertiary), etc. The countries of the Caribbean need to seriously rethink their policies as it relates to its own people before we can really think of a truly united region. Until that time nationals from countries who are finding it difficult to live in their own states will move to other countries like Antigua, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago.
Truth be told Barbados is small, and in this global economic slowdown, it cannot maintain a large illegal resident population.
Guyanese returning home to develope the country would be TAMPERING with the LAWS of ‘”RICH REWARDS’” ALYU AINT GET IT YET?
Enam’
And WHAT resources you talkin bout that Barbados “have”? I never hear anybody buying Coral Rock or exporting it and yall rum still ain’t better than Guyanese rum, and yuh kyan plant rice nor ground provisions fuh yuh survival. Barbados may be more literate than Guyanese AT THIS TIME…But who do you think educated oilya, eh? Is WE Guyanese brighten oilya up when the exodus from Burnham and his ERROR was in full swing we came to Barbados and worked in every concievable top job on yuh rock including yuh run down schools till oilya coulda “learn”. The criminal expertise we brought was minimal considering the good we did fuh upliftin oilya country, but yuh choose to use that as a “cop-out” to justify mis-treatin we, so watch wha yuh saying…DOH CUSS DE BRIDGE YUH CROSS, gor bli me yuh see.
JAMES.
WELL I WONDER WHAT THOSE APPLE PICKERS FROM THE ISLAND DOING IN CANADA?????????????
NOW THEY FIGHTING FOR RIGHTS TO STAY.
GUYS PLEASE COMMENT ON THIS.
It’s about time norman do some work[reddy], well guyanese people in barbados if you’re not qualify for the amnesty just pack up your belongings and leave, it may sound simple for me to say that, but what option do you have, and i hope the guyana govt make preparations for the influx of guyanese who will soon be coming home. It really rough out deh.
I would like to hear what are the plans of the government of Guyana for the soon to be deportees of Barbados. The government has deliberately outsourced its problems to other countries and now those countries are taking action. What is Borat’s plan going forward? You have had 17 years to turn this ship around but it’s still heading for the rocks.
Borapork change yo name…… yo gat me mouth watering!!!
Yo practically fixed meh Saturday menu, swine flu or not.
By the way I really thought Captain Borat ship, already hit de rocks with the feds checking de cargo. He hoping that all dissident passengers and crew will migrate to any vacant rock or extinct Volcano, ensuring that the helpless and his soup drinkers remain to return him (or his designate) to power.
Based on this premise I really think the plan is to further frustrate the re-migrants to find another port.
Perhaps T&T, Grenada, Suriname, Brazil, wherever………
As far away as possible from his successful democracy
WOW!!! after all the years of battle, it has finally come down to a policy. Guess every government has a right to make its decisions suitable for its nation. Every country has illegal immigrants, however i trust that the Guyanese government and Guyanese nationals take heed, as they would need to stop being hospitable and lenient to illegals living in their country, and help to provide for their own. Migration would not be if needs are being met, on the whole migration is done whether by people, animals or other for improvement. Don’t know if bajans are hostile to other nations, however it appears their hostility towards Guyanese has turned to hatred. Most Guyanese are hardworking people and luckily any hard worker can thrive anywhere. As Caricom nations, one would have thought that the issue could have been resolved differently but, guess it comes down to ‘each country for itself’. A foreigner is a foreigner and worst yet if you’re illegal. To the nationals who have decided to willingly return home, it could be viewed as a blessing in disguise, as exploitation from your own is bad however worst from a stranger.
well said samantha all countries has illegals even some of the blogger in the usa maybe illegal and the next issue is the rate of pay in Guyana is ridiculesssssssssssssssssssssssssssss it is not funny at all
What you talking dude Ecoanalyst…
Indo Guyanese are resouceful people and afro guyanese the same.
But if you done a survey on both races maybe the data you will get will show a different picture than what you wrote about Indo Guyanese.
Bajans coming to Canada to the jobs Guyanese don’t even do here, they work on farms for couple months of the year get some money and go and sit at home alike HOMER SIMPSON…farm workers are treat like slave and live in some shacks for a free and their life horrendous.
People came to Barbados and stayed illegally and worked underground and in public… slaved and saved and sent their money home. Guyanese and Vincentians were the majority, and over time if they get citizenship, affect the politics and economics of Barbados.
The previous government under BLP’s Owen Arthur ignored and even encouraged illegal immigration and the situation has become worse as undesirable elements entered the country and brought some of their “habits” with them. In any case Barbados is not breaking any CSME or Caricom agreements with their amnesty proposal. P.M. Thompson did not have to give an amnesty to illegal immigrants anyway.
Mr. Faria may be correct when he says that very few may qualify, as those who meet the criteria could have applied earlier under more favourable conditions. This may have been purposely done by the Barbadian government so that they can clean house and start a properly managed immigration and work permit system. Too bad for those who are in Barbados illegally. The Government of Barbados owes them nothing. They knew the rules and they broke or circumvented them with phony documents, phony marriages etc..
Mr. Faria is not liked by most Barbadians and even Guyanese in Barbados. He has, over the years, irritated everyone with his rhetoric. He has not helped the Guyanese here at all, and there are many who want to put the screws on him and Guyanese will suffer for this. There is also the racial aspect. Barbadians feel that Guyanese Indians suppress and marginalize Afro-Guyanese, and then they come to a well managed country run by Afro Guyanese and just use it to make money to build Guyana, instead of staying in Guyana and making that country achieve its potential for ALL Guyanese. People here in Barbados read the Guyana papers and the blogs and they know what is really going on there in Guyana.
In any case Guyanese of all races will be sent back home. Those who continue to stay illegally may be jailed as the laws will be changed and they will be hunted down and reported to authorities, according to what I have heard from “good sources”.
Maybe now the Guyana government will have to work to keep Guyanese at home and ensure that the economy can support them. The Barbadian clampdown on Illegal Immigrants will spread throughout the region so Guyana can expect people from Antigua, (where there are many illegal Guyanese) and other islands returning home.
The party is over.. yes it is….. Guyana has to stop using emigration to solve Guyana’s economic problems and to increase its remittances.. (US$450million in 2007). Now the Guyana government will have to deal with thousands of people asking for change and proper government to make Guyana the jewel of the Region it was under Colonialism. Jagdeo was not born yet so he will not know or care… he is a communist sympathizer.
Guyana can now expect a steady flow of “Regional Returnees” over the next few months in time to spend Diwali and Christmas in Guyana.
i think the hurricane season started a couple of days ago and i hope the Caribbean countries can handle what comes they way or else each one will have to help each other at least i think so hope we do not have to run to our enemies because that will be bad so bad
This writing is not an angery Barbadian, it sounds like an angery Guyanese. any way if so there are a lot of Barbadian living and working in American illegally would this country like the American Govt. post them back home by the droves. If the Guyanese had money to come and buy big house and build hotel like the American and the Englishman it would be nice no deportation.Tiger Wood has a home there did he get his landed there no but he has money. Many Barbadian has guyanese roots, my greatuncle when to Barbados and had children there which are my cousins. This kind of treatment will divide people up. My Barbadian friend is going to guyana in July for a month with my family, I can feel the tention already she said she is scared to go to Guyana I told her that is one counrty that accept people without a problem.
Enemies ?Mary Jane. So now you have declared war?
NE NE DREAM ON!! THE GUYANA GOVERNMENT DOES NOT HAVE A CLUE
HOW TO RUN A GUYANA……IF THEY DID GUYANESE WOULD BE AT HOME
WORKING AND ENJOYING THE COUNTRY THEY WERE BORN INTO…..SINCE
BARBADOS HAS DECIDED TO DEPORT GUYANESE THE GUYANA GOVERNMENT
SHOULD HAVE HAD SOME SORT OF PLAN FOR THOSE RETURNING.
jAGDEO THE economist CAN’T manage his own ECONOMY and it seems all these insultive LOW-TALK does not bother him
The PPP Administration only concerrn is aboout the next
elections in 2011 and to hell with illegal Guyanese
who will be returning frome from Barbados WHOCARES.