Gov’t to impose ‘necessary’ restrictions after Haitians found at Hotel in Corentyne

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs

The government of Guyana said it will be immediately reviewing its immigration protocols and impose such lawful restrictions and conditions that it considers in the circumstances after ten Haitians suspected to be trafficked, were found at the Swiss Hotel in Skeldon, Corentyne Berbice.

The announcement was made on Thursday via a press statement coming from the Office of Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall.

It was noted that the police received information on Thursday that the nationals who claimed to be juveniles amounted to five males and five females who were reportedly found without any passports or forms of identification.

According to the statement from the Attorney General, one among the group who speaks English told the police that they were brought from Suriname by speedboat and left at the hotel since Monday, June 14, 2021. “The person who brought them reportedly took away their passports, documents, money and other personal belongings.” The statement also mentioned.

The suspicion that a huge trafficking in persons and human smuggling ring including children is taking place in the Caribbean Region and Guyana being used as a transit point, is now manifested in the latest development in Skeldon the Attorney General stated. This ring he said also includes Cubans and Nigerians.

Nandlall said the governments of Brazil and Surinam have expressed concern and shared intelligence that suggests the practice is also affecting the two nations. The Cuban Ambassador to Guyana has also been engaged in relation to the issue.

According to the statement issued on Thursday, a number of Haitians, Nigerians and Cubans were arrested in Lethem, Region 9 where some of them did not have entry stamps in their passports even as our borders with neighbouring nations are currently closed.

The individuals identified are said to be coming into Guyana through the Cheddi Jagan International and Eugene F. Correia International Airports.

As a consequence of the developments, the Government of Guyana has since informed the relevant international agencies which deal with human trafficking and people smuggling. The government also plans to engage the United Nations Human Rights Council and the INTERPOL from who, assistance will be sought.

Last month, BIG Smith News Watch broke a story where the Commissioner of Police was reportedly given verbal instructions to halt the process that allows Haitians from coming into Guyana. The Guyana Police Force quickly labeled the report as fake but failed to point out what specific details of the report they considered fake.

The police, however, back then, did not deny that it had a number of Haitian nationals locked away in a room at the Ogle Airport in inhumane conditions before deporting them.