Over last year, 186 C denied entry for insu
Immigration authorities within the last year have denied entry to 186 CARICOM nationals because of “insufficient funds” and Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix yesterday defended this stance saying that it is part of the efforts to prevent trafficking in persons.
“We are very concerned in some cases that we need to address this issue of trafficking in persons. For example women and young children arriving at your port and they have no support, they can’t show you evidence of how they will support themselves for a month…some of the persons were treated like that (deported) because we did not want to allow the development of any issue of trafficking in persons” he said during intensive questioning from members of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Foreign Relations.
He along with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge made presentations to the Committee on the mandates, roles and functions of their respective ministries with regard to the issuance of visas, work permits and citizenship. The presentations which were followed by a question and answer segment were made in the Parliament Chambers.
The information on the Caribbean nationals who were denied entry was contained in a written response which was submitted to the committee by Felix. That response was not shared with members of the media.
Chair of the Committee, PPP/C MP Gail Teixeira asked if there was a change in the immigration policy and how much money a person has to show before they are granted entry into Guyana.
“When we looked at what seems to be a rather large number of CARICOM nationals who got turned away or denied entrance then one wonders, because the freedom of movement of people makes it very clear on what grounds you can turn away people”, she said
Greenidge was the first to respond. He said that the authorities are bound by certain guidelines. “We do have certain guidelines which now follows from the CCJ (Caribbean Court of Justice) decision on the (Shanique) Myrie case”, he said adding that CARICOM member states are only now attempting in a phased manner to implement these.
“Some of those may not be fully in place in Guyana”, he said. He expressed the view that even when one accepts that there should be movement across the borders in keeping with the principles set out in the CARICOM Single Market it does not entitle Caribbean nationals to move wheresoever they wish whatever the circumstances. “They have to satisfy minimum requirements. He said Guyana does have an obligation as a member of the United Nations and under the Anti-Terrorism and the Anti-Money Laundering Acts.
Felix then said that the authorities are “rigid” in the enforcement of the immigration laws. He added that there may be situations that might set off a trigger in the gration officer th amiss”.
Noting that a r being done, he sai was done last year sons based on the for their stay. “Som es have no houses”
He stressed th coming in and giv do not exist and tha Immigration Office given the assignme
“The immigratio be very alert and are landing visitor We do not want to right to visit Guyan come everyone but which ought to b immigration office nized as our door k
Later in respon questions from co PPP/C MP Nigel questioned wheth arrived at the airp that he was stayin month and only ha possession should b Grilled “It is insufficie before being again who clearly was no response. She aske it is that an immigr know how much th
Felix in respon would be ascertain tioning.
Teixeira then ind travelled through countries and had how much money with.
“Maybe you d Guyanese even tho might say so…or economic migrant” les from other com
She said that sh section of the i which asks you to d over US$5000 in Felix said that Trinidad persons making reference added that that c equally rigid o Barbados.