– as work permits denial, deportations of Guyanese continue The Honourable David Thompson, Prime Minister of Barbados, is promising a shake-up of the island’s Immigration Department over growing concerns by immigrants, including Guyanese.The Department has been at the centre of much debate in recent weeks over allegations that larger-than-usual numbers of immigrants were having their applications for work permit extensions denied, or were being deported for overstaying their time.Barbadian Prime Minister, David Thompson “I believe that there are going to be major administrative changes coming; there will be a shake-up. That is the one thing I can say,” he told a press conference last week.He insisted that the large number of applications for work permit extensions being denied had only to do with the fact that there was a backlog of cases.“Matters just weren’t dealt with… and I think that has created some of the challenges,” said Thompson, as quoted in The Nation newspaper of Barbados.The steady increase in the number of Guyanese being rejected renewals to their work permits had caused Guyana’s Honorary Consul Norman Faria to urge employers in Barbados to assist their Guyanese workers.Faria wrote to Harry Husbands, the Executive Director of the umbrella group Barbados Employers Confederation, to pay more attention to their personnel departments.“There are, of course, firms that deal most professionally with all their employees, and we must commend the generally progressive and vibrant nature of the Barbados private sector; but the Consulate is, nevertheless, concerned about the high number of reports to their Consul by workers questioning difficulties they are experiencing at the Immigration Department, in particular when renewing their work permits.”He insisted that Government was not targeting any particular nationality, saying: “Out there, there are some people who think that we are targeting illegal Guyanese immigrants. There are some people who are stirring up that element of strife.“I have spoken to President [Bharrat] Jagdeo about it on several occasions, and I think he understands our position.“Our position has nothing to do with the origin of the immigrants. The fact that there are more Guyanese immigrants in Barbados means that whatever actions taken in relation to immigration policy will impact more on them. But nobody should be of the view that our policy is targeting one group.”Thompson’s position comes on the heels of comments by his Agriculture Minister, Haynesley Benn, who said he wanted to help Guyanese facing immigration woes on the island, recognizing the critical need for workers in the agricultural sector.Benn said he was willing to help local farmers get the “eyes and ears” of the minister with responsibility for immigration to look at the situation with Guyanese labourers and work permits.“If Barbadian farmers cannot get Barbadian labourers, and we want to see agriculture go forward, we would need to help them. Guyanese farmers are renowned for their hard work on farms,Cheap NFL Jerseys, and expertise,” Benn was quoted as saying.“Some farmers have even advertised for local labour, and it seems as though the response from our people is not as forthcoming as the farmers would like, hence they have asked for assistance.” |