Guyana: Situation of ethnic Chinese persons, including treatment by society and authorities; state protection available (2015-December 2018)
1. Overview
According to Guyana's 2002 Population and Housing Census,Guyana's population is "chiefly composed of the native Amerindian population" and the descendants of slaves and indentured labourers, including from India, Africa, Portugal and China (Guyana 19 Sept. 2007, 27). According to the same source, the Chinese make up 0.19 percent of the population, or approximately 1,396 persons (Guyana 19 Sept. 2007, 27). Minority Rights Group International (MRG) indicates that, according to Guyana's 2012 census, the Chinese population of Guyana is 0.2 percent (MRG Jan. 2018). In a telephone interview with the Research Directorate, an associate professor of sociology at Indiana University East, who specializes in race and inequality issues, including in Guyana, stated that Chinese persons live all over Guyana, including in Georgetown and in rural areas (Associate Professor 18 Dec. 2018). According to the same source, there has not been widespread research on the Chinese diaspora in Guyana in recent years (Associate Professor 18 Dec. 2018).
The Associate Professor stated that there have been three waves of Chinese immigrants arriving in Guyana, the first of which was in the mid-19th century, when they arrived as indentured labourers working across the country (Associate Professor 18 Dec. 2018). Similarly, other sources indicate that beginning in 1853, [indentured (MRG Jan. 2018)] Chinese labourers were brought to Guyana (MRG Jan. 2018; Guyana Times 12 Jan. 2017; Caribbean Chinese Association n.d.). According to the Associate Professor, the second wave occurred in the 1980s, when Chinese immigrants arrived in Guyana during the local food and debt crisis and established restaurants across Guyana (Associate Professor 18 Dec. 2018). According to the same source, the third wave of Chinese immigrants arriving in Guyana occurred approximately from 2008 onwards (Associate Professor 18 Dec. 2018). The Associate Professor explained that these Chinese immigrants have been establishing businesses in Guyana, including supermarkets (Associate Professor 18 Dec. 2018). The Guyana Times, a Guyanese newspaper, cites the Guyanese president as stating that "large numbers of Chinese nationals are migrating to Guyana for various entrepreneurial reasons" (Guyana Times 13 Jan. 2018).
2. Chinese Businesses
According to the Associate Professor, "since approximately 2008, there have been major Chinese investments in Guyana, including development projects and businesses" (Associate Professor 18 Dec. 2018). Similarly, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there has been "an increase in Chinese investments, including restaurants, retail stores, and construction, bauxite and timber companies" in Guyana (Guyana 3 Apr. 2017). According to the Associate Professor, "more than half" of the retail businesses in the commercial centre of Georgetown are owned by Chinese persons and the "majority" of supermarkets across Guyana are owned by Chinese persons, including in rural areas (Associate Professor 18 Dec. 2018).
A report on Chinese migration to Latin American and the Caribbean published by the Inter-American Dialogue (The Dialogue), an American think tank (The Dialogue n.d.), and written by Jacqueline Mazza, a senior adjunct professor at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at the John Hopkins University in Washington, DC, states that "[t]he presence of low to mid-skilled Chinese workers in Latin America and the Caribbean has generated some controversy in recent years. This is centered on a perception that low-skill Chinese laborers are being employed instead of capable local labor" (The Dialogue Oct. 2016, 2, 7). Without providing further information, the report indicates that tensions generated by the use of Chinese labour have surfaced in Guyana (The Dialogue Oct. 2016, 7).
According to the Associate Professor,
often, the Chinese investors hire solely Chinese employees. There are concerns within the Guyanese population that there is unfairness concerning employment opportunities vis-à-vis these development projects carried out solely by Chinese persons; however, this has not resulted into physical violence or uproar [against Chinese persons]. (Associate Professor 18 Dec. 2018)
Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
2.1 Incidents Involving Chinese Businesses
According to Freedom House, the "rate of violent crime [in Guyana] remains high, but has fallen somewhat since 2013, when the murder rate was the third-highest in South America" (Freedom House 2018). The US Department of State's Overseas Security Advisory Council's (OSAC) Guyana 2018 Crime & Safety Report states that crimes such as armed robbery and murder are "common" and that armed robberies of businesses in Georgetown occur "frequently" (US 15 May 2018).
The Associate Professor noted that there are media reports about Chinese businesses having been robbed (Associate Professor 18 Dec. 2018). Media sources report the following incidents:
- A Chinese restaurant operator was killed in Georgetown in his home located above his restaurant during an armed robbery on 7 August 2015 (Guyana Chronicle 7 Aug. 2015; Stabroek News 8 Aug. 2015).
- A Chinese-owned supermarket in the East-Berbice, Corentyne region of Guyana was robbed on 10 January 2017 by robbers armed with a gun and a cutlass (Kaieteur News 14 Jan. 2017; Guyana Chronicle 11 Jan. 2017). The supermarket owners were robbed of a cell phone and 500,000 Guyanese dollars (GYD) [approximately C$3,150] (Kaieteur News 14 Jan. 2017; Stabroek News 13 Jan. 2017) or 600,000 GYD [approximately C$3,800] (Guyana Chronicle 11 Jan. 2017). The suspected robbers were detained in a prison at the Albion Magistrate's Court (Kaieteur News 14 Jan. 2017).
- Men armed with cutlasses robbed a Chinese restaurant of cash and cell phones on 26 June 2018 in Goed Fortuin (iNews Guyana 27 June 2018; Stabroek News 28 June 2018). The suspects were arrested after the robbery (iNews Guyana 27 June 2018; Stabroek News 28 June 2018).
- A Chinese-owned supermarket in Georgetown was robbed on 21 August 2018 (iNews Guyana 21 Aug. 2018; Kaieteur News 22 Aug. 2018) of cell phones, US$30,000, and 7 million GYD [approximately C$44,150] (Kaieteur News 22 Aug. 2018). The owners of the store were physically assaulted (iNews Guyana 21 Aug. 2018; Kaieteur News 22 Aug. 2018).
- In September 2018, a Chinese-owned supermarket was robbed in West Bank Demerara (Guyana Times International 21 Sept. 2018; Stabroek News 20 Sept. 2018). The owner was shot during the robbery (Guyana Times International 21 Sept. 2018; Stabroek News 20 Sept. 2018). A police investigation followed the robbery (Stabroek News 20 Sept. 2018).
- On 16 October 2018, a building where a Chinese restaurant is housed in East Berbice-Corentyne was broken into and robbed (iNews Guyana 16 Oct. 2018; Guyana Times 17 Oct. 2018). The owner of the Chinese restaurant was robbed of 300,000 GYD [approximately C$1,900], and another relative in the home was robbed of 20,000 GYD [approximately C$126] (iNews Guyana 16 Oct. 2018). The police responded to the robbery and an investigation followed (iNews Guyana 16 Oct. 2018; Guyana Times 17 Oct. 2018).
According to media sources, China's Ambassador to Guyana raised "concerns" in September 2018 with Guyanese officials over the number of Chinese businesses being robbed (Guyana Times International 21 Sept. 2018; Guyana Times 15 Sept. 2018). Similarly, the News Room, a Guyanese news website, states that China's Ambassador to Guyana is concerned that Chinese businesses in Guyana "are being targeted by criminals" (News Room 15 Sept. 2018). According to the newspaper Guyana Times International, the Guyanese Public Security Minister responded that "Chinese businesses [are] not being targeted" (Guyana Times International 21 Sept. 2018). According to the News Room, the Public Security Minister and the Commissioner of Police stated that "'the crime statistics and the motives of those caught do not suggest any [profiling of Chinese businesses]'" (News Room 15 Sept. 2018). The Associate Professor stated that "all sorts of businesses, whether Chinese-owned or not, are robbed in Guyana" (Associate Professor 18 Dec. 2018). The 2018 OSAC report states that "[e]thnic and religious diversity have not been directly linked to incidents of violence in recent years" and that "incidents of violent crime appear not to be racially-motivated" (US 15 May 2018).
Following the concerns raised by China's ambassador to Guyana, media sources report that Guyanese officials indicated that "additional police patrols" would be deployed in the commercial areas of Georgetown and "other communities" (News Room 15 Sept. 2018; Guyana Times 15 Sept. 2018).
3. Treatment by Society
The information in the following paragraph was provided by the Associate Professor:
There are ethnic divisions and tensions in Guyana, but primarily between the Afro-Guyanese and the Indo-Guyanese populations. There is no systemic discrimination against Chinese persons in Guyana from society, although "sporadic discrimination at the individual level, including name-calling, could happen against Chinese persons" (Associate Professor 18 Dec. 2018).
The same source added the following:
Chinese persons have been able to climb the social and political ladder like any other person from other ethnic groups. There have been notable, influential Chinese Guyanese persons in positions of power in politics and business in Guyana. Following Guyana's independence, Guyana's first president, Arthur Chung, who was the child of Chinese immigrants, was elected. (Associate Professor 18 Dec. 2018)
Similarly, in an address at a celebration of the Chinese New Year, the Guyanese president noted the "important contributions" of persons of Chinese origin to Guyana and that they are "well represented" in various professions, including "academia, accountancy, agriculture, aviation, business, engineering, finance, law, medicine, sport and tourism" (Guyana 22 Feb. 2016).
4. Treatment by Authorities
In an address for Chinese New Year in 2016, the Guyanese president stated that Chinese entrepreneurs who have been arriving in Guyana as independent investors are "welcome" (Guyana 22 Feb. 2016). The Guyana Times cites the Guyanese president as noting, during the 2018 commemoration of Chinese Arrival Day [1], "the importance of the contribution of the Chinese towards national development" and as stating that "Guyana will forever be op[en] to accepting Chinese immigrants" (Guyana Times 13 Jan. 2018).
According to the Associate Professor, there is no systemic discrimination against Chinese persons in Guyana from authorities and Chinese persons are not denied social services (Associate Professor 18 Dec. 2018). Further and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
5. State Protection
The 2018 OSAC report indicates that the confidence in the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is low (US 15 May 2018). According to Freedom House, the "police do not always operate with professionalism, and there have been reports that officers have prepared poorly for court cases in which they are involved or have accepted bribes" (Freedom House 2018). According to the US Department of State's 2018 OSAC report, corruption is perceived as "commonplace" within "many government agencies" (US 15 May 2018). The same source explains that "[p]olice officers often are reportedly paid off by criminal elements and are alleged to work with criminals by either assisting or protecting them. The judicial system is strained by limited resources and often influenced by threats/bribes" (US 15 May 2018). The source further states that the "police response to emergency calls is often slow (15+ minutes) or not at all" and that the GPF
has resource and manpower limitations that inhibit its ability to deter or respond to criminal activity. Even on the occasions when the GPF responds to a crime scene, victims are asked to go to the nearest police station to file a report and complete other investigative formalities. (US 15 May 2018)
According to the US Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2017,
[d]elays and inefficiencies undermined judicial due process. Shortages of trained court personnel, postponements at the request of the defense or prosecution, occasional allegations of bribery, poor tracking of cases, and police sluggishness in preparing cases for trial caused delays. (US 20 Apr. 2018, 4)
The Associate Professor indicated that "[w]hile police statistics, including arrests, convictions and sentences, may be kept by authorities, this data is not necessarily published online or through reports" (Associate Professor 18 Dec. 2018). Further information on police statistics could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
According to the Associate Professor,
Chinese persons do not face specific discrimination while they seek state protection when they are a victim of a crime, like robbery. The police responds to a case involving a Chinese person like any other case, including launching an investigation. Chinese persons do not face undue discrimination in their ability to access state protection. (Associate Professor 18 Dec. 2018)
Further and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
5.1 Complaints Mechanisms
According to a report by the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent on its mission to Guyana,
[t]he Police Complaints Authority, established by the Police Complaints Authority Act of 1989, became operational in January 1990. It allows members of the general public to report alleged disciplinary and criminal offences by members of the [GPF]. It oversees the investigations into allegations and decides on whether reports should be recorded and investigated further (also in cases where a police officer who had received a report of a crime has failed or refused to record and investigate an offence). (UN 13 Aug. 2018, para. 18)
Information on the effectiveness of lodging a complaint before the Police Complaints Authority could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
According to the Associate Professor,
[w]hile there is an Ombudsperson in Guyana, there is a lack of public knowledge about its functions and services. As such, the Ombudsperson is an underused resource. The Office of the Ombudsperson is not used to file complaints, because people do not know they can file complaints. The appointment of the Ombudsperson is political. The efficiency of the Office of the Ombudsperson depends on the willingness of the individual holding the seat as Ombudsperson. (Associate Professor 18 Dec. 2018)
Further and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
6. Chinese Organizations
According to the Associate Professor, "Chinese persons are well represented by the Chinese embassy in Guyana, who lobby the Guyanese government on their behalf, for example, for Chinese persons' access to law enforcement services" (Associate Professor 18 Dec. 2018).
Regarding Chinese organizations in Guyana, the Associate Professor mentioned the Association of Chinese Enterprises (Associate Professor 18 Dec. 2018). According to the Guyanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Guyana, which was established in April 2013, includes 19 Chinese companies (Guyana 3 Apr. 2017).
According to sources, an organization called the "Chinese Association [of Guyana]" works to represent Chinese persons' interests and has an office in Georgetown (Associate Professor 18 Dec. 2018; DevNet n.d.). According to sources, the Guyanese president spoke at the Chinese New Year celebration hosted by the Chinese Association of Guyana in 2016 (Guyana 22 Feb. 2016) and in 2017 (Stabroek News 30 Jan. 2017). Further information on the Chinese Association of Guyana could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Note
[1] In January 2017, the Guyanese president declared 12 January as Chinese Arrival Day (Guyana Times 13 Jan. 2018; Guyana 6 Jan. 2017) through an Executive Notice in order to "'foster a greater appreciation'" for the history and contributions of Chinese persons in Guyana (Guyana 6 Jan. 2017).
References
Associate Professor, Indiana University East. 18 December 2018. Telephone interview with the Research Directorate.
Caribbean Chinese Association. N.d. "Journey to the Caribbean." [Accessed 17 Dec. 2018]
DevNet. N.d. "The Chinese Association." [Accessed 27 Dec. 2018]
Freedom House. 2018. "Guyana." Freedom in the World 2018. [Accessed 27 Dec. 2018]
Guyana. 3 April 2017. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "Investment Must Be Aligned to Local Employment - President Granger Tells Chinese Investors." [Accessed 17 Dec. 2018]
Guyana. 6 January 2017. Department of Public Information. "President Designates Rose Hall Martyrs' Day and Chinese Arrival Day." [Accessed 3 Jan. 2019]
Guyana. 22 February 2016. Ministry of the Presidency. "Address by His Excellency, Brigadier David Granger, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana at a Celebration of the Chinese New Year 2016 Hosted at the New Thriving Restaurant, Georgetown, on Sunday 21st February, by the Chinese Association of Guy." [Accessed 3 Jan. 2019]
Guyana. 19 September 2007. Bureau of Statistics. Population and Housing Census, 2002: National Census Report. By Sonkarley Tiatun Beaie. [Accessed 17 Dec. 2018]
Guyana Chronicle. 11 January 2017. Nafeeza Yahya-Sakur. "Bandits Pounce on Good Life Supermarket." [Accessed 17 Dec. 2018]
Guyana Chronicle. 7 August 2015. "Armed Bandits Murder Chinese City Restaurateur." [Accessed 27 Dec. 2018]
Guyana Times. 17 October 2018. "Armed Bandits Beat, Rob Chinese Restaurant Owner." [Accessed 21 Dec. 2018]
Guyana Times. 15 September 2018. "China Concerned over Robberies of Chinese Businesses in Guyana." [Accessed 27 Dec. 2018]
Guyana Times. 13 January 2018. "Guyana Celebrates 165 Years of Chinese Arrival." [Accessed 31 Dec. 2018]
Guyana Times. 12 January 2017. "Minister Norton Reflects on Chinese Contributions to Nation." [Accessed 17 Dec. 2018]
Guyana Times International. 21 September 2018. "Another Chinese Business Attacked in Guyana." [Accessed 18 Dec. 2018]
iNews Guyana. 16 October 2018. "Chinese Restaurant Owner Beaten, Robbed by Armed Bandits in Corentyne." [Accessed 21 Dec. 2018]
iNews Guyana. 21 August 2018. "Supermarket Owner Attacked, Robbed at Gunpoint." [Accessed 17 Dec. 2018]
iNews Guyana. 27 June 2018. "Chinese Restaurant in Goed Fortuin Robbed, 2 Suspects in Custody - Police." [Accessed 24 Dec. 2018]
The Inter-American Dialogue (The Dialogue). October 2016. Jacqueline Mazza. Chinese Migration to Latin America and the Caribbean. [Accessed 3 Jan. 2019]
Inter-American Dialogue (The Dialogue). N.d. "About." [Accessed 9 Jan. 2019]
Kaieteur News. 22 August 2018. "Bandits Grab Millions from Real Value Supermarket." [Accessed 17 Dec. 2018]
Kaieteur News. 14 January 2017. "Chinese Supermarket Robbery Suspects Refused Bail on Several Charges." [Accessed 17 Dec. 2018]
Minority Rights Group International (MRG). January 2018. "Guyana." World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples. [Accessed 8 Jan. 2018]
News Room. 15 September 2018. "Chinese Community Feels Targeted by Criminals in Guyana." [Accessed 24 Dec. 2018]
Stabroek News. 20 September 2018. "Supermarket Owner Shot in Belle West Robbery." [Accessed 18 Dec. 2018]
Stabroek News. 28 June 2018. "West Coast Restaurant Hit by Three Armed Men." [Accessed 24 Dec. 2018]
Stabroek News. 30 January 2017. "Chinese Welcome to Help with Economic Transformation." [Accessed 3 Jan. 2019]
Stabroek News. 13 January 2017. "Berbice Police Arrest Suspsects in Good Life Supermarket Robbery." [Accessed 17 Dec. 2018]
Stabroek News. 8 August 2015. "Mandela Ave Restaurateur Murdered in Home." [Accessed 27 Dec. 2018]
United Nations (UN). 13 August 2018. Human Rights Council. Report of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent on its Mission to Guyana. (A/HRC/39/69/Add.1) [Accessed 27 Dec. 2018]
United States (US). 15 May 2018. Department of State, Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC). Guyana 2018 Crime & Safety Report. [Accessed 27 Dec. 2018]
United States (US). 20 April 2018. Department of State. "Guyana." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2017. [Accessed 27 Dec. 2018]
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: academics specializing in human rights and political issues in Guyana; Amnesty International; Caribbean Chinese Association; Chinese Association of Guyana; Guyana Chronicle; Guyana Legal Aid Clinic; Guyana Times; Kaieteur News; lawyer based in Georgetown; Stabroek News; Transparency Institute of Guyana; UN – Development Programme in Guyana.
Internet sites, including: Agencia EFE; Al Jazeera; Amnesty International; ecoi.net; The Guardian; Guyana – Ministry of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Social Cohesion, Police Force; Human Rights Watch; Inter-American Development Bank; National Public Radio; The New York Times; Organization of American States; UN – Refworld, UNHCR; Xinhua Press Agency.