Chinese, Indians and Peruvians top list of foreigners seeking work here
Aug 03, 2016, http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....s-seeking-work-here/
Guyana seems to be a popular destination for a number of persons seeking work, business and travel. In the past three years, the statistics compiled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Citizenship reported that over 2,836 foreigners came to these shores seeking employment, education and adventure.
The information represents statistics presented to the meeting of the Parliamentary Committee hosted by Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge and Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix, on Wednesday last.
According to the data, visitors from China account for the highest number of foreigners seeking work and extension of stay in Guyana.
Statistics show that with a total number of 760 Chinese came to Guyana seeking work and apply for extension of stay within periods of 2014, 2015, and 2016. Indian nationals accounted for the second highest number of visitors to Guyana – 458 applied for work permits and extension of stay in Guyana within that period. A significant number of Indian visitors were reportedly contracted to work and share their expertise on government projects within the period
Natives from the South American Peninsula of Peru are the third highest on the list. Peruvians account for some 234 foreigners purportedly seeking work in the extractive industries.
Commenting on the topic of granting non-nationals permits to work in Guyana, subject Minister, Winston Felix said that there are certain criteria under which the permits and employment visas are approved.
According to the Minister, one such condition is that the applicant must possess skills and expertise that are not available in Guyana.
“We don’t want take our work and give it to foreigners when there are Guyanese who can do the job,” Felix noted.
Meanwhile the records also show that a number of work permits were granted to visitors from the North America, the Caribbean, England and other far reaching destinations such as the Netherlands, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, New Zealand, Jordan, Estonia, Singapore, Somalia and Syria.
According to the information, approximately 790 non-nationals were granted employment visas; 103 student visas and 283 visitors’ visas were approved in 2014, alone. When added to figures representing those seeking business and courtesy visas, the data indicated that over 1473 visa applications were approved.
The information also highlighted an increase in the number of persons visiting Guyana for leisure, within the three-year period. Approximately, 941 persons visited Guyana seeking adventure within the timeframe.
Earlier this year, the UK Business Insider recorded Guyana as one of the 12 Emerging destinations to visit in 2016, particularly during the observance of the 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations.
Broadcast journalist and photojournalist, Anisha Shah had explained that 2016 is all about emerging destinations.
“Wilderness, wildlife and culture; these themes will illuminate the year’s travel itineraries. Escapism and authenticity are key, and nowhere offers them quite like fledgling and far-flung nations,” she said.
In sharing her perception of the destination, Shah, a freelance journalist for CNN, BBC Travel and Huffington Post, listed Guyana’s untouched pristine interior, Amerindian villages, wildlife, castaway beaches, endangered sea turtles, Kaieteur Falls and virgin ancient jungle, as some of the “must have in an adventurer’s paradise”.