By Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News |
Opposition parties have voiced strong objections to ongoing discussions between Guyana and the United States on a possible agreement that could see Guyana accepting third-country deportees and refugees.
Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Aubrey Norton, said the proposal raises serious social, economic, and security concerns. He warned that Guyana’s already diverse and complex social fabric could face additional strain if the country accepts migrants without a clear, comprehensive migration framework.
Norton argued that Guyana currently lacks the institutional capacity to adequately vet third-country nationals, noting that assurances that deportees are non-criminal may not be sufficient without strong verification mechanisms. While stressing that he is not opposed to migration in principle, the opposition leader said Guyana should not willingly accept deportees under arrangements that allow external states to determine who enters the country and under what conditions.
He further emphasized the need for a structured migration policy that ensures any incoming migrants contribute meaningfully to national development. Norton noted that, despite Guyana’s growing oil revenues, the country continues to face resource constraints and social demands, warning that additional pressures could exacerbate existing challenges.
We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) also raised concerns, stating it opposes any arrangement that would see Guyana accept third-country nationals from the United States. In a statement, the group criticised a lack of transparency, parliamentary oversight, and public consultation surrounding the proposed deal. WIN questioned how Guyana’s already strained infrastructure and social services would absorb additional migrants and said it would not support any agreement without full disclosure and scrutiny by the National Assembly.
Meanwhile, the Forward Guyana Movement also weighed in on the matter. Its leader, Amanza Walton-Desir, said that if the government believes such an agreement is in Guyana’s national interest, it must make the proposed terms public and subject them to parliamentary debate.
Walton-Desir added that the agreement should undergo thorough security and economic impact assessments and be informed by wide public consultation. She warned that secrecy surrounding matters of national importance undermines democratic principles and Guyana’s sovereignty.
As discussions reportedly continue, opposition groups insist that any decision on migration, security, and international obligations must prioritize the welfare of Guyanese citizens and be guided by openness, accountability, and broad national consensus.
