PARAMARIBO--“To us this is a serious matter,” Suriname’s Foreign Affairs Minister Albert Ramdin remarked over the weekend, regarding the plight of some 500 Cuban migrants who are stranded in District Nickerie, in hopes of crossing to western neighbour Guyana, whence they intend to attempt to travel to the US. “These people have the full attention of government,” Ramdin said.
The group of Cuban nationals, which local media reported includes both recent arrivals and longer-term residents of Suriname, are now seeking to leave due to the country’s high inflation rate and economic downturn. On Monday, November 30, they took busses en masse to Nickerie, where they encountered borders that have been closed due to the COVID-19 measures. Unable to cross the Courantyne River into Guyana because the ferry service is shut down, they are now camped out on the premises of the Canawaima ferry. A camp of tents has sprouted up where they live and there are reports of unhygienic circumstances.
The mass exodus of the Cubans is said to have been prompted by American President-elect Joe Biden’s victory over Donald Trump in last month’s election, which has raised hopes among asylum seekers, including Cubans, that Washington’s current hard-line policies on immigration will be relaxed.
Minister Ramdin said that government has informed the international community about the matter; he mentioned the Organization of American States (OAS), the Caribbean Community CARICOM and the United Nations (UN).
Suriname’s diplomatic missions in Cuba and Guyana are also being informed, to be able to direct the developments properly, in hopes of finding a solution. The ambassadors of Cuba and Guyana have also been briefed. And, said Minister Ramdin, Suriname President Chandrikapersad Santokhi is receiving daily briefings as well.
Government will meanwhile continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the migrants. Technical assistance has also been requested from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Red Cross, and the International Organization for Migration.
Ramdin said government wants the matter to be handled well, with proper and equal control. He said Suriname intends to look after all humanitarian requirements the migrants may have. He stressed that Suriname would provide the migrants with shelter, food and medical assistance. The country’s National Disaster Coordination Center NCCR has been tasked with seeing after the migrants and the community of District Nickerie – which is located some 200 kilometres west of Paramaribo – has been asked to support. Specific attention was requested for women who might be pregnant; physicians in Nickerie have been asked to be available for these women.
