Long-term objective is to integrate Venezuelan migrants into Guyanese society – Todd

Some of the attendees at the meeting (Ministry of Foreign Affairs photo)
Some of the attendees at the meeting (Ministry of Foreign Affairs photo)

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hugh Todd on Friday chaired a meeting of the Multi-Agency Coordinating Committee to address the influx of Migrants from Venezuela and said that the long-term objective was to integrate them into Guyanese society.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in a statement yesterday noted that Todd during his opening remarks reminded the Committee that the policy of the Government remains intact as it relates to support for the migrants from Venezuela.

According to the statement, the Minister noted that the long-term objective is to integrate them into Guyanese society but in the meantime, the respective agencies are tasked with combining resources to provide services in key areas such as Healthcare, Education, Labour, Sanitation, Shelter, Food and Clothing for the most vulnerable.

Todd urged the Committee to organize another outreach activity at the earliest possible opportunity which will be undertaken in Region 1 on this occasion, as a result of the high concentration of migrants from Venezuela, the release stated.

The release noted that the first Committee meeting for the year was attended by the relevant government stakeholders and international partners who collectively set the agenda in principle for the Committee to continue its work with regard to providing the necessary humanitarian assistance to those migrants, inclusive of returning Guyanese fleeing the economic hardships in Venezuela.