Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has indicated that the Government is actively considering new laws, which when passed will curtail some of the rights and privileges for migrants in Guyana.

At a press conference this afternoon, the Vice President said the recent deadly bombing at the Mobil Regent Street gas station, which has led to terrorism charges being filed against Venezuelan and Guyanese nationals, has cause government to look at the issue of migration closer. He said new measures are actively under consideration.

“Further, we have to pass laws that will determine what rights people are going to have here if they are migrants. We want people come and work because we need that but they can’t change the nature of our society and we made it clear that we would have to think about people who come here and maybe they can have residency but not voting right,” Jagdeo stated.

Mr. Jagdeo said a new migrant policy is also in the works, and with the Government’s planned Electronic-ID programme, every person present in the country will have to register.

He said the E-ID will help the Government to know the people in the country and gauge their movements.

“So every person in Guyana will have a card with biometrics there, facial recognition and everything on it and if you don’t have that card it will be hard to survive in this country, you can’t be working because the people who employ you will face serious penalties when they check the workers and they don’t have that card, to open bank accounts and remit money to another country you will also need that card,” Mr Jagdeo stated.

The Vice President also said the Government will be holding consultations on the rights it is prepared to accord people who come to Guyana, given that the country must be preserved for Guyanese.

He said the new interventions are nothing new, and have happened in places like Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Mr. Jagdeo described the issue as a crucial one for the safety and security of the country.

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