Attorney at law Darren Wade has raised critical questions regarding the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) proposal to “import labor like Dubai” ahead of the upcoming elections. He emphasizes the need for the PPP to clarify the implications of such a policy for the people of Guyana.
Wade points out that Dubai sources much of its labor from South Asian countries, including India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Workers are typically brought in under temporary contracts with limited rights, which could significantly alter Guyana’s demographics and electoral balance. This raises concerns about potential long-term political dominance for the PPP.
Ironically, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo previously alleged that the former Granger-led APNU government had imported Haitians to influence elections, despite Haiti being a CARICOM member state. Under the Treaty of Chaguaramas and the Caribbean Court of Justice’s ruling in Shanique Myrie v. Barbados, CARICOM nationals have the right to move freely within member states. Therefore, imposing visas on Haitians is seen as both discriminatory and unlawful.
Wade also highlights that nationals from Commonwealth countries, including India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, can become eligible to vote in Guyana after just one year of residency. This raises serious concerns, especially following reports of over 100 Indian nationals registered at a single address in Ogle.
These developments pose urgent questions about electoral integrity, national sovereignty, and the socio-political implications of the PPP’s labor and immigration strategy. Wade calls on all contesting political parties to publicly address these issues and demand transparency before the elections, ensuring that all voters are fully informed.
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