Chinese optimistic about settlement of citizenship, work permit issues

TIMES INT'L

By Reuben Stoby

Executive member of the Chinese Association of Guyana, Margery Kirkpatrick, said the association welcomed the recent announcement by President Bharrat Jagdeo regarding citizenship and work permits for Chinese nationals. However, the group is hoping that the policies would be enforced in a timely manner. 

The head of state had said that Chinese nationals living legally and continuously in Guyana for no less than seven years would automatically qualify for citizenship, while the duration of a work permit would automatically be three years. This announcement was made while the president was addressing some 400 Chinese nationals at the International Conference Centre early this month. 

Kirkpatrick said she is hopeful that the commitments that the president made would be realised early next year. “We are happy about it because there are people who’ve been living’ here 10-20 years and still have not been able to acquire citizenship. So far, nothing has changed, perhaps in the New Year,” Kirkpatrick said. 

This newspaper contacted Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, who said that he would comment on the progress of implementing the policies at another time. President Jagdeo had not set a deadline for the policies’ implementation, but assured his government is committed to resolving the issues. 

Many Chinese nationals have claimed that they were finding it difficult to acquire citizenship and work permits or renewal of the latter. Some called for respect from the Guyanese population, and said that they were being harassed by authorities who often demand money from them. 

Kirkpatrick opined that language barrier contributed hugely to the problems that the Chinese nationals faced with getting citizenship and work permits or its renewal. “….We local Chinese people would like to help them, but the language poses a big problem for us, too,” said Kirkpatrick.

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