Georgetown: The increasing number of attacks on foreigners, particularly the local Chinese community continues to be a matter of great concern for the Government since it can have damaging implication on Guyana’s national image, as well as hinder national development.
Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon at his weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the President today described the politically orchestrated campaign against Chinese as “unsettling”.
He said that the rogue elements that are perpetrating these criminal acts are, “obsessed by their anti-government strategies and are unmindful of the law, patently short on civilities and pretentious and oblivious of the realities of our developmental demands.”
Foreigners are generally welcomed in Guyana and are attracted by the renowned Guyanese hospitality. Moreover, their critical contributions to national development must be recognised.
The HPS said that Government is also concerned that the anti-government bias which is exhibited in the guise of nationalism and make-belief xenophobia can become misplaced.
“The designs of those who contrive to foist their narrow, anti-government agenda through nationalistic appeals must be exposed and repudiated by the saner segments of our society,” the Cabinet Secretary stated.
The Chinese community constitutes the largest number of foreign nationals resident in Guyana followed by the Brazilians. Guyana, only recently, observed the 160th anniversary of the arrival of Chinese.
The situation is being closely monitored by the Home Affairs Ministry and the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
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