Attachments
Key Figures
23,412 forcibly displaced Venezuelans received stay permits since 2018.
991 people received information and participated in awareness sessions on international protection and how to access Government services.
232 forcibly displaced people received case management and protection services.
Context
Guyana is not a signatory of the 1951 Convention nor its 1967 Protocol. Authorities provide legal stay permits to forcibly displaced people, and Guyana’s policy ensures everyone has access to health and education services, regardless of status. These groups face limited livelihood opportunities and language barriers, both obstacles to integration. Access to sanitary facilities and potable water is challenging, especially for Indigenous people in remote areas.
In December, Guyana presented its final written argument to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the border dispute with Venezuela. This starts a second round of written submissions following Venezuela's countermemorial in April 2024. The ICJ will schedule oral hearings after Venezuela submits its final response in 2025.
Tensions rose after Guyana announced plans to renovate the Camp Tigri airstrip, also known as Camp Jaguar, in the disputed New River Triangle between Guyana and Suriname. Although internationally recognized as part of Guyana, Suriname also claims the area. Officials from both countries met to discuss the issue, emphasizing policies to improve social services, infrastructure, and support for remote vulnerable communities while advancing bilateral cooperation.