Guyana’s hospitality towards immigrants is renowned; the mere fact that we’re a cosmopolitan country of at least five different peoples, with the Amerindians who account for nine separate nations, allows us to cultivate and maintain friendly relations with others. We have always promoted a flexible immigration policy to encourage not only South American and Caribbean travelers, but visitors from around the world. There is no need to further defend that Guyana needs foreign investments much like any other country, whether on an individual or corporate scale. However, the reader would recall the then Opposition pitting of Guyanese against foreign investors in Guyana, in particular the Chinese and the Brazilians, many of whom have established businesses and are residing in the country. Resentment was sensed in particular from those in the diaspora who were led to believe that the country was being raped by the Chinese and the Brazilians at the grand detriment of local citizens. It seems as though the anti-immigration sentiments of the APNU/AFC have found grounds on which to thrive with the coalition’s ascension to power. Citizenship Minister Winston Felix who secured a newly invented position which drastically reduces the mandate of Public Security (formerly Home Affairs) Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, incarnates the fear harboured of endangering Guyana’s relationship with its neighbours as well as our image in the international arena. Earlier this month Minister Felix justified his refusal to grant entry to eight Indian nationals who had no visas and allegedly no return tickets as they entered Guyana on July 19, by stating that the Government was reviewing our “systems” and as such “deemed it necessary to disallow entry to the country at this time, both to be fair and non-partisan and to send a message to anyone who thinks that they will take advantage of our legendary hospitality.” Indeed, the image of eight foreigners on the CJIA tarmac does speak of our “legendary hospitality”, and so did the Minister’s disregard for consultation of the Indian High Commissioner. To bring further embarrassment to Guyana in the face of observers, during the 2015 National Budget debate, Minister Felix displayed his ignorance of basic immigration policies and management. He declared to the House that the Granger-led administration was “not averse to visitors or to having investors” but that “Guyanese must have an equal play,”. He went on to supposedly “prove” his point by demonstrating that applications for work permits for cooks and labourers are processed despite there being Guyanese available for such jobs and showed the House that in 2012, 1050 work permits were granted to 991 Brazilians and 24 Chinese respectively while in 2015 so far, 304 permits were issued of which 236 granted to Brazilians. While Felix did indicate that he didn’t “want a lopsided situation… where our own people do not have access to our lands to do what other people are doing,”, he should have pointed out that these numbers represent 0.14% and 0.04% of the Guyanese population for 2012 and 2015 respectively. How does this threaten Guyanese accessibility to the job market? The importance of immigration is translated through the country’s dire need for foreign skill and expertise from which Guyanese can benefit, much like the Chinese did before they became a super power in the last decades. Also, deterring investors with both financial and human capital is a foolish move considering the nature of our emerging economy which needs to be become more attractive to foreign investments. We still have this luxury that many developed countries no longer have access to. Finally, there is the case where Guyanese may not want to occupy positions readily taken up by immigrants, or do not have the skills necessary, especially in the building and construction industry. Those who readily criticise Chinese and Brazilian investors must be unaware of the fact that the center of international affairs is gravitating to include dynamic exchanges with a stoutly booming South South cooperation, spearheaded by BRICS, in which Guyana over the years has secured a place. Should Minister Felix further attempt to jeopardise Guyana’s progress and foreign relations by turning away investors and instilling needless fear in the minds of Guyanese, Guyana will become a loser on the international market, and remain at the heels of those who have no other intention but to ensure we remain in the periphery.