Starting today, the University of Guyana through its International Centre for Migration and Diaspora Studies (MiDias), will be offering five programmes, addressing issues related to Migration and the Diaspora.

The University hopes that the new programmes will pave the way for students to have an in-depth understanding of the social and economic impact that migration has on the society, and its role in shaping Guyana.   

Diaspora through conquest, slavery and indentureship, Diaspora and Migration in and around Academia; Migration, Diaspora and Citizenship; Youth, Technology and Vulnerable Communities; and Indigeneity, Indentureship and Slavery are the programme areas being offered.  

“The centre will focus on fostering and promoting supportive research and teaching environment for scholars concerned with issues of migration and diaspora, drawing on the skills and expertise of national and international academics, agencies, organizations and members of civil society,” Migration Specialist, Dr Coreen Jacobs-Chester explained.

Dr Jacobs-Chester, at the time, was speaking during the launch of the International Centre for Migration and Diaspora Studies, which was held at the Turkeyen Campus on Friday.

Dr Jacob-Chester said as part of its work, the Centre will place tremendous focus on Latin America and the Caribbean. The Caribbean, she said, is largely influenced by two diaspora movements – the Transatlantic Slave and Indentureship.

“Guyana’s distinct ethnic makeup can also be traced to conditions that prevailed during colonial period. To supply the labour required for sugar cultivation, plantation owners had first imported slaves from West Africa. The indigenous Amerindian population of Guyana was small and lived mostly in the impenetrable interior. Thousands of slaves were imported each year as plantations expanded. More than 100,000 slaves worked in the colony by 1830. The second occurred when East Indians, Chinese and Portuguese were brought to Guyana as indentured laborers between 1838 and 1917 to fill the gap in three labour that existed,” the Migration Specialist explained.

It was also noted that focus will be placed on entrepreneurship, investment and businesses.

The launching was told that the diaspora plays an important role in facilitating trade and investment between countries of origin and countries of residence.

“This key discipline of the centre – trade and business can support socio-economic development activities, and social entrepreneurship via participatory financing, commonly known as crowd funding. As an example, crowdfunding microfinance programmes offer the diaspora innovative opportunities to invest in projects in their country of origin, maximizing financial inclusion throughout the country. Moreover, it facilitates the strengthening of the small and medium enterprise sector through the provision of access to credit and business development services,” she explained.

The International Centre for Migration and Diaspora Studies will be working along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Diaspora Unit among other institutions.

Related posts:

Security, Trade, and Investment among issues to be discussed at upcoming Diaspora conference Local content in oil and gas cannot ignore the diaspora . -GCCI Forum hears Diaspora Conference seeks to strengthen ties in areas of education, arts and finance PPP questions appointment of Advisers on Diaspora Affairs; Government responds