Robert J. Sidi, Esq.
Guyana, the only English speaking country in South America, is rapidly
emptying into the USA. Guyana must develop long-term plans to encourage and
regulate the flow of its people into the USA. A bilateral plan must develop a
comprehensive migration pact that might include a guest-worker program and some
form of legalization for the estimated tens of thousands of undocumented
Guyanese workers already in the United States.
A total lack of economic development, coupled with political instability
triggered a massive migration of Guyanese into the USA for the last 30 years,
with no end in sight.
The US economy can easily absorb all of Guyana's migrants - people only too
happy to come to the US for freedom, education, security and pay that may be 10
times what they can earn back home. Getting the US to legalize and encourage the
flow of this work- force should be Guyana's top priority. The government of
Guyana should push hard for this.
The United States and Guyana should forge closer links. Eventually, the
borders between the United States and Guyana should be dismantled with the aim
of achieving a more fully integrated society and economy. Controls over
the flow of commerce and people should be eased. It must be made easier for
Guyanese and U.S. citizens to enter into each other’s countries and allow the
flow of goods to cross the border duty-free. That should be the goal of every
Guyanese government.
Guyana must make the migration issue its top priority, making it a tool for
greater bilateral cooperation and long-term economic progress.
PREPARED BY THE IMMIGRATION LAW OFFICES OF ROBERT J. SIDI, Esq. Mr. Sidi practices Immigration law in New York City. He is admitted to practice law in New York State; was an Inspector, Examiner, and Trial Attorney with the INS; was class President of Immigration Officer Training Course #55, an intensive 15-week training course at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center located in Glynco, Georgia; is a Board Member of the New York Criminal & Civil Courts Bar Association; sponsored the launching www.GuyanaUSA.org, the website dedicated to the establishment of an American Guyana; writes a weekly column for the Caribbean New Yorker; and lectures on various immigration subjects at workshops, has co-hosted radio call-in shows and can be contacted at 212.941.4700