Guyanese in Suriname urged to return home, pursue abundant opportunities

Guyanese living in Suriname were Saturday told of opportunities back home and encouraged by two senior officials of the Guyana Government to return to the country and pursue those opportunities.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and Foreign Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Robert Persaud met with Guyanese in Paramaribo on Saturday.

An estimated 25,000 Guyanese are living in the neighbouring South American nation where they work in the agriculture, fishing, construction and oil and gas sectors.

Foreign Secretary Persaud said the intention of the outreach was to update the diaspora of the countless opportunities that exist in Guyana as well as opportunities for them to contribute to the country’s economic expansion.

Similar exchanges were held in other regional states and North America where there is a large Guyanese diaspora.

Persaud said the role of the diaspora in Guyana is critical in allowing the country to accelerate the vision of President Irfaan Ali.

According to a release from the Department of Public Information, the Foreign Secretary said the opportunities that are provided to citizens through the recently passed Local Content Act amount to an incentive for Guyanese in the diaspora.

Minister Mustapha highlighted the advancements in the agriculture sector, including the wide-ranging opportunities for local farmers. He also told those Guyanese abroad of the government’s effective approach to addressing the rising cost of food prices brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and more recently, the invasion of Ukraine by armed Russian forces.

The two senior government officials encouraged those interested to pursue the opportunities, given the anticipated needs of the various sectors in Guyana.

Meanwhile, persons were also updated on the incentives available for Guyanese who wish to return home under the Re-migration Scheme.