-Guyanese mothers had to lodge children’s passports
Guyana has written the Antigua and Barbuda government inquiring about its new immigration policy after it received information that the passports of three sets of Guyanese children travelling to that country with their parents were being held by the authorities until their exit.
Carolyn Rodrigues–Birket
Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues–Birkett told Stabroek News yesterday that the three reports came to the ministry recently.
She recounted one case to this newspaper in which a mother was travelling to the CARICOM sister state with her two children to visit a relative who was residing there legally. When they arrived and handed their immigration forms to the immigration personnel she was asked the routine questions, including her intended length of stay and the address where she was staying.
According to the minister the authorities took the name of the person with whom she was staying and asked if the children she had were hers. She was then told to sit down while the officer said he was going to get her sister with whom she was staying.
She waited there for a while and within minutes another officer came and asked for their surnames and then told her that she was required to leave the passports of the children with immigration until she was ready to leave. The woman then told the immigration personnel that she did not agree and after asking to speak with a supervisor, was advised that it was part of the country’s immigration policy and if she did not want to comply she had to take the next flight out.
Forced to agree
The woman was forced to agree to leave her children’s passports and was allowed entry into the country.
Rodrigues-Birkett said the woman’s husband made contact with the ministry and informed it of the situation. He later advised that on their departure, the woman was handed back her children’s passports along with a letter which had an official explanation that it was indeed immigration policy.
She told Stabroek News that many of the Caribbean countries hold up sovereignty when pronouncing on their immigration policies but she feels that they should at least advise their sister states who would then be able to inform their citizens accordingly.
“… because we are all part of a community and we should also check whether the retention of the travel documents is a legal procedure,” she emphasized.
The minister said she was concerned since the passports remain a document of the Government of Guyana and so at least an explanation should be given.
The Antigua Sun reported yesterday that its Immigration Chief Colonel Ivor Walker could not be reached for comment on the matter as he was out of the country. According to the Sun, over the past few months a steady stream of CARICOM nationals, particularly from Guyana and Jamaica, have been returned to their countries because they had violated the Antigua and Barbuda immigration laws.
Barbados policy
An immigration policy which was implemented by the Barbados government upped the temperature on the issue since many CARICOM nationals residing there without the necessary documentation would be sent home if they do not qualify under a set of requirements. They have until December 30 to get themselves in order if they had been residing on the island for eight years prior to December 2005. Those residing there for shorter periods after the stipulated time will have to leave or be removed.
It was this issue that took centre stage at the 30th Meeting of the Heads of the Caribbean Community which was held here in Guyana.
Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson had set the ball rolling when he called a press conference a day before the meeting’s official opening to explain his country’s policy.
At the meeting’s ceremonial opening, President Bharrat Jagdeo emphasized that if nationals were ill-treated by their own people then the region could not expect a third country to receive its citizens in any better way. He said, too, that the region’s work will remain incomplete until the day a child born anywhere in the Caribbean can wake up to a Caribbean minus boundaries and nationalities. It was a direct reference to the Barbados policy which was pilloried following reports of ill-treatment of Guyanese who were awakened from their beds in the wee hours of the morning and then sent home.
Antigua Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer also addressed the gathering on the matter and his focus was on how the once liberal policy on the island had impacted on the socio-economic infrastructure.
Spencer had said that Antigua could not sustain a liberal immigration policy amidst the growing threats posed by cross-border criminal activity and the challenges of the global financial crisis. According to him, continuing such an arrangement is counter-productive to his government’s policy of providing the greatest good for its citizens.
“While Antigua and Barbuda will continue to welcome our brothers and sisters to our shores, our current immigration practices must be re-evaluated. A closer examination is warranted in respect of the capacity of the socio-economic institutions and infrastructure to adequately manage the continued inflow of persons desirous of taking up residency. . .” Spencer had stated.
A new policy was then introduced but so far its details have been sparse.
Did Allen Stanford suffer the same indignity as the Guyanese Caricom national? Are non -Caricom nationals from North America and Europe treated this way? I doubt it and therein lies the discrimination being practised by the Antiguan Immigration Department. This humiliation of the Guyanese people could not occur during Forbes Burnham rule. There was grudging respect for the man’s intellectual powers and a fear to cross his path. Jagdeo and the present crop of leaders are all tenderfoots compared with the giants who went before. Guyana has become a nation of intellectual pygmies.
yes i say Amen to that
Fix Guyana first Carolyn.
Did you not hear what foolish Columbus said just recently. A proper Head of State should be encouraging his citizens to stay at home and return home, even if he had to lie saying he was trying to make things better. Instead he resignedly says “who wants to go, go”. Ya all don’t molest me.
So Carolyn, how come you are so concerned with what bad treatment Guyanese have to endure abroad. Charity begins at home.
I agree that Jagdeo should be ashamed. Ashamed that other countries are treating Guyanese like they are bringing the plague to their country.
This man’s head is buried in the mud. This is a direct assault on his leadership. This is an embarrassment to his govt.
The Guyana govt is destroying it’s people and we are allowing it to happen. Time to rebuild the PPP with new and educated leaders.
csingh, were it not for Trotman and Ramjattan, I would have been with you in full force on this one. Unfortunately Uncle Moses will not make it, and neither will Mr. Ralph Ramkarran…so what next? I guess you’ll have to cross that bridge when you come to it…
And you know my friend, while your eyes are open to the kind of leadership being offered by the President, he has managed to distance himself from Freedom House and cultivated the image of being a hero to the masses – much like in Sonny Deol movies.
Sadly many do not question the allocation of resources nor the choice of management the very central Gov’t. led by the President makes, and applaud when he rides in on his big white horse, clad in shining armour and armed with 6M for that koker here and 4M for that road there.
Ms Birket needs to pick up the phone and call her counterpart in Antigua and Barbuda and find out what is the new immigration policy regarding CARICOM nationals entering that country.
Why Guyanses want to go to these small island,spend their money and get humiliated is beyond me. Guyanese need to use said money and visit the sites of Guyans…go to kaieteur,Orinduk, Baganara, Iwokrama and the list goes on and on. The islanders need their space…give it to them.
Lam Debra, after that what happened next. Guyanese leave Guyana to make money not to spend, when the make enough they go back home and spend it.
If you are an immigrant think again if not just read all the news
Shows our hard working Minister (and the Guyana government) is doing their work on behalf of Guyanese wherever they are . This compares with the Ministry being prior to 1992 mainly a travel agency for the ruling elite and concerned with one issue (South Africa) despite some well meaning patriotic staffers….
you mean how they start to work hard after the barbados
fiasco, not like you erratic reddy/aka norman faria .
Prior to 1992…Guyanese were not being harassed in any Caribbean island including Barbados…LOL. Now we have this regime, the PEEPEEPEE and Guyanese are the doormats of the region. get rid of this inefficient government and elect a new and competent party. this party and it’s supporters have ruined Guynan.
Here we go again.
Reddy we just need for you and your acolytes to take care of those remaining at home, the home guard. We will do what it takes to fend for ourselves our here. Is that too hard to do? Salaries for the staff,for instance. Big money is being spent for the training and development of the police force, yet no mention is mede of salary increases which is pretty flow.
For Decoder, electing another party only means there will be more parties, for all parties is about partying. Either it is kept on the state lawns or at somebody bottom house. PNC party was one big party, PPP yet a bigger party, that is like a three day bottle fete.
Decoder, just a gentle correction – the bad treatment of Guyanese in the Caribbean began with the traders under the PNC.
I am in full agreement with you otherwise, and indeed this government has made the perception and consequent reception of our people even worse.
Reddy, bear with me and please go through the following short exercise: Place yourself 17 years back and tell me honestly if today’s situation vis-a-vis our reception in the Caribbean is what you would have expected. I can only assume you, like me, were in the struggle with the PPP back then for a better Guyana.
Gerhard (and Decoder) take this down because I will only say it once(and I haven’t the time to spell everything out for you in one blog) : I”m glad the point about the traders dimension was brought up, but haven’t you forgotten the post 1992 opening up of the agriculturture , construction and service sector (tourism) sectors especially in Trinidad, Barabdos and Antigua.Burnham was in bed with the “kith and kin” governmetn sin Caribbean and did not raise a finger for (clearly) difficulties for Guyanese migrants at the time.
The bottom line is that the limitations of Ministry of Foreign prior to 1992 is documented….Peace
reddy i am now convinced that you are a hater. when you people mention “south africa” it is for one reason only and that is to compare the resilience of nelson mandela with that of cheddi jagan. guess what? jagan was not in the league of mandela so stop being sinister about your motives and come clean. what you need to do is remove the vail from your eyes and tell your buddies in the pee pee pee that history has a way of repeating itself.
Reddy aka Norman Faria , the official mouth-piece for the PPP in Barbados ; the foreign policy of the inept PPP government is no longer working , therefore , the government of Guyana must prepare to repatriate many guyanese and find work for them at home . The world recession has adversely affected Barbados , Antigua and Trinidad & Tobago . The building boom in Barbados is over and reddy aka Norman Faria , you must report to your master , President Jagdeo that the illegal immigrants in Barbados have created some socio-economic problems for the government of Barbados , which must be dealt with , immediately . This is the 1st time in the history of Barbados that the govt has provided so many housing solutions but because of the large number of illegal immigrants living here , the private sector is renting their houses to the non-nationals at very high prices and serving notices-to-quit on bajan tenants . A bajan man put out his relatives and now have a guyanese woman and her 3 children living in the house . Foreign exchange is leaving this country , illegally . Guyanese are seen shopping for US$ in non-banking places . Mrs. Birket must tell the President of Guyana to find creative ways to help his people at home . The govt of Barbados recently borrowed US$120,000,000.00 , in order to boost our foreign reserves . The PPP govt and minions are still blaming the PNC for the state that Guyana is in after 17 years of PPP rule but the problem is the inept PPP govt now led by a President who does not know how to govern Guyana .
“Where there is no vision , the people perish” .
good move by the antigua govt. alot of guyanese using their country
as an exit point for drugs and getting to the usa illegally….
if u have nothing good to say. say nothing all at all
Dwayne I would have put slightly different.
If you have nothing good to say, it is good to say nothing.
Others don’t have to see you everyday. You are not scoring points or marks for consistency.
So Turbo, old time teachers used to make you, “put your finger on your lips”.
GUYANESE HAVE GOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THESE LITTLE ISLANDS ARE PROTECTING THE INTEREST OF THEIR PEOPLE, SOMETHING GUYANA NEEDS TO DO,THESE ISLANDS DEPEND ON TOURISM AND WITH THE DOWNTURN OF THE WORLD ECONOMY THEY ARE GOING THROUGH A CRISIS, WE CANNOT EXPECT THEM TO ALLOW ANYONE WHO WANTS TO RESIDE THERE IN.GUYANESE SHOULD GO ELSEWHERE. ONE DAY THE ISLANDERS WILL FLOCK TO GUYANA AND THEN WE WILL DO THE SAME.THEY ARE JUST A HURRICANE AWAY FROM DIDASTER.
17 years ago I would most certainly have believed you.
Should the Caribbean be destroyed by natural disasters today, I can see very few people come running to Guyana – unless it’s to continue illicit businesses – remember we haven’t convicted a single druglord in Guyana, nor has any big-wig gone down for corruption despite our lowly ranking by Transparency International – http://www.transparency.org/news_room/in_focus/2008/cpi2008/cpi_2008_table – Guyana is #126
When my guyanese bothers and sisters will able too be respected. This is a problem with guyana. we need better leader. one how care about they people.
Why are we complaining, just the other day guyana rounded up the mormons and order them to leave, the mo was they overstayed their time, well the children’s passport were held because the antiguan think she might leave the children there and not return for them, that means when she leave the children leaves with her and at departure she gets the passports back.
There is no guarantee that an individual gains automatic entry into a particular country. It is up to the Immigration Officer to admit you into that state or not. Even when in possession of a US Visa it clearly states you can still be denied entry into that country.
In Antigua Immigration Officers do exercise such judgments particularly around the carnival season where people enter the country and never leave. The next thing is you find in some cases one week after entering the country parents are seeking to admit their children into schools when both parties are on “Holiday.”
If an Immigration Officer does not believe your story, he/she allows you into the country after you have properly identified and given information on your family. They however hold on to your passport to ensure you leave the country when your time is up. If not, they will then have sufficient evidence to track you down.