The main opposition party PNC/R this morning lashed out at the ruling PPP/C saying that the party’s policy under the present President has failed to create the national conditions which would encourage Guyanese to stay at home to contribute to national development.
The party’s statement came in the wake at the most recent revelations by the United States Embassy that, on average, 14 Guyanese leave Guyana daily to take up permanent residence in the US.
The Leader of the PNCR, Mr. Robert Corbin, in a Press Release, dated 11 October 2009, had pointed out that, based on the statistics recorded in a United Nations Development Programme Report (UNDP), Guyana had the highest emigration rate in the CARICOM region. Mr. Corbin also noted the alarming emigration of skilled and experienced Guyanese workers to the USA and CARICOM neighbours.
According to the PNC/R Factors which compel Guyanese to want to emigrate, apart from the high levels of unemployment, include: working conditions; low salaries and wages; high levels of taxation; racial and political discrimination; the cost of housing; the widespread corruption at all levels; and the crime and security situation. All of these contribute to creating a feeling of hopelessness among Guyanese of all ages, particularly the growing army of young people, who have graduated from the schools and tertiary institutions, such as the University of Guyana, only to be faced with long periods of frustration because they cannot find a job. Many have no choice but to emigrate.
After the PNC/R statement was made today questions of the migration was thrown to members of the Guyanese public who said that the high rate of migration did not start now but way back in the 70’s and 80’s.
Some persons claimed that the rate might have been more then but the mechanisms were not in place to have the statistics published or made open to the public.
