GOG TO INVESTIGATE UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS IN INTERIOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L GEORGETOWN 000208

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

G/TIP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2016
TAGS: PGOV SMIG ELAB CVIS KCRM KCOR GY
SUBJECT: GOG TO INVESTIGATE UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS IN INTERIOR

REF: GEORGETOWN 1349

Classified By: Ambassador Roland W. Bullen. Reason 1.4 (b)


1. (SBU) Commissioner of the Guyana Geology and Mines
Commission (GGMC),Robeson Benn, informed EconOff on February
28 that mine officers and immigration officials will begin
inspecting interior mining locations by the second week of
March in an effort to identify and regularize undocumented
workers. Reports indicate a number of undocumented Brazilians
work in the mining industry, and Benn suggested that mining
operations that have relocated to Guyana after being expelled
from Bolivar state in Venezuela are also a draw for such
workers. Guyanese law requires that no less than fifty
percent of workers on a mining operation be Guyanese. Benn
stated that the GOG has yet to determine how to handle
undocumented foreign workers (i.e. Brazilians) at sites
exceeding this limitation that the GGMC may find.


2. (C) Benn also corroborated information reported in reftel
that a business of immigration brokers purporting to arrange
work permits for Brazilian workers flourished under the
previous Home Affairs Minister, Ronald Gajraj, who had also
removed the GGMC's responsibility for vetting work permit
applications. Current Home Affairs Minister Gail Teixiera has
restored the GGMC's authority to vet work permit applications.

BULLEN
BULLEN