UN committee quizzes Guyana over former PS incident, extrajudicial killings

several months earlier, a close relative of Toussaint Jr Thomas who is a US citizen also had their phone seized at a US airport, underlining that the US authorities have been keeping a close watch on their movements.

When Toussaint Jr. Thomas broke her silence weeks after the incident, she did not provide any significant details on why the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had taken her phone. She said that the phone was seized on April 8 and she was notified of her visa revocation two days later.

“I wish to refer to speculation, both in the print and social media, about my interface recently with US immigration officials at Miami International Airport on April 8, 2023. Most of what has been reported is erroneous. I wish to clarify that I was referred for a ‘routine secondary check.’ There was a misunderstanding over my official cell phone without me being able to advise my officials. I advised that the cellphone be sent to the Minister of Home Affairs, Honorable Robeson Benn in Guyana,” Thomas had said in a statement.

“Thereafter, I was allowed the choice of entering the United States of America or continuing on my journey- which last I opted to so do. Subsequently, during my return journey I was advised that my US visa was revoked on the 10th April, 2023 and that I would have to make alternative arrangements to return to Guyana,” the statement added.

She said that she remained “open to engaging with US authorities on any possible travel arrangements to the USA in the future.”