Over 600 immigrants granted residency.
By: Anna Ramdass (Express).Over the past 32 years, a total of 643 immigrants, including 470 Chinese, were granted approvals for residency in this country.
In response to a question on the Order Paper, Minister in the National Security Ministry Donna Cox said yesterday the records indicate that between July 1, 1976, and September 30, 2008, a total of 643 nationals of China, Ghana (
, Nigeria (164) and Cameroon (1) were granted approvals for resident status in this country.
Cox added that over the past six and a half years, 172 immigrants of those nationalities were detained by the Immigration Division for being in this country illegally.
She said 79 were detained for illegal entry, while 93 were detained for entering the country and overstaying their allotted time.
Cox also indicated that over the last three years, 56 people working in security or construction firms were detained as illegal immigrants, and of that total, two were working in security firms and 54 in construction firms.
"In such cases where it was discovered that persons are working illegally in the country, the owners of the employing firm or company are served initially with a warning and random monitoring is undertaken," she said.
She added that in the event that the illegal practice continues, prosecution is initiated.
"The Minister of National Security has not received or been advised of exploitation of illegal immigrants at such job sites," Cox said.
"The records of the Immigration Division do not suggest that there is a rampant influx of illegal immigrants" she added.
Cox said with the cooperation of law enforcement agencies and law abiding citizens, together with the ongoing recruitment drive aimed at strengthening capacity within the Immigration Division, it is envisaged that the issue of illegal immigrants will be properly addressed.
