–court hears
A 40-year-old immigration officer was placed on $250,000 bail when she appeared before the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court yesterday on charges of forgery and corrupt transaction by a government agent.
Jan Lovell of 119 Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara pleaded not guilty to four charges of forgery and four charges of corrupt transaction by a government agent.
It is alleged that on December 9, 18, 24 and 30 last year at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, Lovell forged one Guyana immigration entry stamp by changing the date on the said stamp in favour of Deonarine Balkissoon, Passport #1187663; Andel Gibson, Passport #0793952; Abassi McPherson, Passport #0904723; and Marc Anthony Mayers, Passport #A41223, respectively.
Further it is alleged that on December 9, 18, 24 and 30 last year at CJIA, the immigration officer being an agent of the Guyana Police Force corruptly received US$50, US$50, US$50 and TT$300 from Deonarine Balkissoon, Andel Gibson, Abassi McPherson and Marc Anthony Mayers respectively as inducement or reward.
Prosecutor Denise Griffith made no objection to bail but she pointed out that the Golden Grove address provided to the court by Lovell’s attorney conflicted with the address on file. Griffith said that the woman’s address was stated as 286 Crane Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara in her file.
Attorney-at-law Adrian Thompson explained to the court that when his client first started working with the force she resided at that address but it has now been changed to the one he provided to the court.
He further told the court that Lovell has been a member of the police force for twelve years and has been an immigration officer for the entire period. According to the lawyer, the woman is still a member of the force but is currently receiving only half her salary.
After listening to the lawyer’s submission Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry granted Lovell bail in the sum of $250,000. The case was transferred to the Providence Magistrate’s Court and will continue on September 8.
What about the other officers who must have been party to the actions?
I doubt if this officer was acting alone;
The persons who offerred the payments should also be prosecuted for
they are at the root cause of the charges.
I agree with you in respect to the bribers, but your suggestion that implies that others may have been involved in this specific incident may be way off base. Were you to suggest that other officers may be doing the same thing is more understandable. The question to ask is: are there laws on the books that calls for the prosecution of bribe givers? The underground economy thrives (bribing for services is a very integral part of the Guyanese underground economy). My personal experience dates back to 1994. I was researching land ownership. I visited a building on Camp street responsible for identifying property ownership. Two minutes into the vault and the clerk advised me that he could not find the document. A wave of my fingers simulating my willingness to pay(BRIBE) resulted to the clerk finding the document in less than a minute…LOL….I say no more
What this officer did was wrong and she should be punished. Then again if she was getting a reasonably living wage there would be no need for taking a small piece from these passengers. This is how come drugs and illegal substance ge to pass through custom.
The officer should be punished to the max if found guilty.
What beats me is why the media have to give specific information of these individuals…passport numbers and all. That information is not relevant to the public. I have seen this repeatedly.
You are right Susan, but look at it this way:
1. the media is always blamed for carrying incorrect reports
2. the best way to ensure accurate reporting is to quote fully from
the official documents.
So inasmuch as he information seems irrelevant, the media does not
want to ad infinitum face the accusation of inaccurate reporting.
What bothers me is the failure to charge the “bribers”.
They too are at fault !
….. Susan ,, do u think the reporter is writing to fill a void/ use up space,,,, much of what is given to us is just basic to fill empty spaces ,,…………
that is the reason so many drugs get out of guyana cost of living high people got to live easy money and easy jail time life goes on in guyana
amen-ra… i don.t agree with your thinking ….if you are being paid a salary to do a job then that what you agreed for… if you think its too ow then quit and find a next job which will pay you but you are not suppose to take bribe if you want to help then that is ok but not for reward..whgen i use to station at the airport i was under paid…i had arrested 2 back trackers and they offere me $1,000.000…but i did not accept as i respect my job….
Careful true guyanese…careful….you might be releasing information
that could be detrimental.
I woild have accepted that 1 M and hightail out of there PROMPTLY !!
Now on a serious note, what about collusion in this case?
Do you thing it possible that other officers might have been involved?
Somehow I believe that she was not acting alone.
Your opinion please?
True guyanese you are not being realistic. where would she find another job based on the limited skills that are required for an immigration officer. The corruption will continue until guyanese are given a livable wage.
My reply was not to your comment,but to that of “true Guyanese”..Sorry that the system assigned my comment to you.
I agree with true guyanese. You are very right in what you say, you agree to the salary , so its your damn decision so live with the consequences. Thats lot of money them people offer you for bribe, they are the very desperate ones. I know some people you go to Guyana and so that all the time. I keep telling them that one day they will be caught and their backside should go to jail. My dad was a teacher for 30 years and the salary wasnt great, but hey he loved doing that. On the other hand these people have a family to take care of they should be thinking on a different page. Get another job!!! (The old saying)–Some people think money fall from the trees in the United States, but here is where you work 3 jobs just to make ends meet sometimes. That officer was looking for an easy way out and should be punished, the bribers should get 3 times the punishment that she gets, i think lock them ass up for a while and they will get it straight next time.
……….is it just me ? or r there others who hear strains of the music “it’s just a matter of time”……..
Time fuh who?
Yuh mean all Guyanese?
Or only sum Guyanese?
De music nat in de right tune…
..bettah wuld bee ” Somewhere over the Rainbow”
Ah notice dat yuh quite calm des days.
I holidaying In France right now, but ah have to keep in touch
wid meh people.
only now they catch someone ppl do this everyday
guyana is a country if u need anything u pay the police officers stop u on the rood and u don’t have all your papers they taking bribe you want birth certificate you have to pay those people to get it right away or fast so they need to sweep all the government offices if she has to go to jail for what she did
Susan I am with you on this one.
decanadiancarlveecock I totally support you on the prosecution of all parties involved.
Thanks Major.
I notice that no one else took up my position.
We are in the know on these matters!
Right? Yea..;Right!