The Honourable Hugh Hilton Todd, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation today convened a meeting of The Multi-Agency Coordinating Committee for Addressing the Influx of Migrants from Venezuela into Guyana.
The respective agencies comprising the Committee provided updates on recent activities undertaken at the various levels. They shared details of their continuous efforts to provide relief in the areas such as labour, health, water, sanitation, shelter, education and social services, among others.
During his opening remarks, the Foreign Minister reiterated that humanitarian assistance to migrants from Venezuelan and their integration into Guyanese society is one of the Government’s main priorities. He further urged the agencies to regularly engage with the Foreign Ministry, which serves as focal point and the Coordinating Secretariat of the Committee, to further streamline coherent action.
In attendance at today’s meeting were; Advisor on National Security, Captain Gerald Gouveia, Major General (ret’d) Joseph Singh, representatives from International Organization for Migration (IOM) Regional Coordinator and Chief of Mission, Robert Natiello; United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Representative; Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, Ministry of Labour, Guyana Water Incorporation, Guyana Police Force, Guyana Defence Force and the Civil Defence Commission.
The Committee is co-chaired by the Honourable Hugh Todd, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Honourable Gail Teixeira, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance.
December 20, 2021
