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Immigration officer took money to change entry stamps

–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.

Comments

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56 Responses to “Immigration officer took money to change entry stamps”

decanadianCarlVeecock
on August 22nd, 2008 6:29 am

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.

[Reply to this]
Ulric
In reply to the above comment on August 22nd, 2008 11:27 am:
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

[Reply to this]
decanadianCarlVeecock
In reply to the above comment on August 22nd, 2008 4:13 pm:
In my day, as a public servant, we did set up “stings” when people came to
offer us bribes.

The one I remember well was that of a well known lawyer.

We had the police waiting to arrest the guy at the moment he would pass the
envelope to the public servant, but the guy, out of the corner of his eye, spotted
the police and beat a hasty retreat with envelope still in hand.

We vex;…vex… vex… that we did not catch him.

Now unless there was a law repeal, I can assure you that it was a criminal offence to offer a bribe to a public servant….IN MY DAYS

GT787
In reply to the above comment on August 25th, 2008 6:21 pm:
Late last year to obtain a marriage license l had to produce my Deed Poll, both of the copies l had were submitted to the embassy and the Registrar’s office refused to accept a valid passport - (can’t vex with them).

Luckily a few days before l came across my sister’s and both were done at the same time, armed with that l went to the Deeds’ Registry in New Amsterdam and explained to the clerk that mine would either be immediately before or after.

She opened the ledger and immediately found my sister’s, flipped a couple of pages and then turned to to say that mine could be found; l then suggested that l be allowed to search and attempted to reach for the ledger, at that point she snatched it up a held to her bosom and said that that was not allowed.

l asked to speak to a supervisor who then explained that she was short of staff the person to do those searches was not around, l got another young lady who was earlier engaged in exchanging pleasantries with a relative of mine to assist.

As night would follow day she found mine immediately before my sister’s, but l had to provide transportation to have it photocopied which l gladly obliged and left her a well deserved gratuity.
amen-ra
on August 22nd, 2008 7:15 am

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.

[Reply to this]
diehardguyanese
In reply to the above comment on August 22nd, 2008 11:09 am:
The officer should be punished to the max if found guilty.

[Reply to this]
bluegrass
In reply to the above comment on August 22nd, 2008 7:30 pm:
15 yrs for corruption.
Susan
on August 22nd, 2008 7:31 am

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.

[Reply to this]
decanadianCarlVeecock
In reply to the above comment on August 22nd, 2008 10:06 am:
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 !

[Reply to this]
mackydog
In reply to the above comment on August 22nd, 2008 9:12 pm:
no, it is Stabroek News who is always blamed for carrying false reports, not the media…

bgsbny
In reply to the above comment on August 22nd, 2008 12:19 pm:
….. 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 ,,…………

[Reply to this]
torbo
on August 22nd, 2008 7:51 am

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

[Reply to this]
true guyanese
on August 22nd, 2008 7:59 am

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….

[Reply to this]
decanadianCarlVeecock
In reply to the above comment on August 22nd, 2008 10:00 am:
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?

[Reply to this]
Pepie
In reply to the above comment on August 22nd, 2008 12:03 pm:
She was acting alone. This is usually a unilateral approach, since immigration officers are assign to work either incoming or departure. Any Immigartion officer working incoming that day can carry out that act, whether there were approach at the counter or by phone during the day. This is not to say that others (immigration officers) may not be involved but they can only be if they were the person(s) who brought idea(hussle) to the accussed Officer.

john brown
In reply to the above comment on August 22nd, 2008 10:02 am:
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.

[Reply to this]
Ulric
In reply to the above comment on August 22nd, 2008 11:39 am:
My reply was not to your comment,but to that of “true Guyanese”..Sorry that the system assigned my comment to you.

[Reply to this]
Mr Anaconda
In reply to the above comment on August 23rd, 2008 3:35 am:
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.

[Reply to this]
bgsbny
on August 22nd, 2008 8:35 am

……….is it just me ? or r there others who hear strains of the music “it’s just a matter of time”……..

[Reply to this]
decanadianCarlVeecock
In reply to the above comment on August 22nd, 2008 11:31 am:
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.

[Reply to this]
babble beloooooo
on August 22nd, 2008 9:14 am

only now they catch someone ppl do this everyday

[Reply to this]
babble beloooooo
on August 22nd, 2008 9:19 am

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

[Reply to this]
sheik
on August 22nd, 2008 9:42 am

Susan I am with you on this one.

[Reply to this]
Major
on August 22nd, 2008 9:46 am

decanadiancarlveecock I totally support you on the prosecution of all parties involved.

[Reply to this]
decanadianCarlVeecock
In reply to the above comment on August 22nd, 2008 11:33 am:
Thanks Major.

I notice that no one else took up my position.

We are in the know on these matters!
Right? Yea..;Right!

[Reply to this]
Leisalle
on August 22nd, 2008 10:00 am

it doesnt matter if others was doing it. she was caught and she has to deal with her puinishment for the crime. an i AGREE with Susan the media had no right to put the people’s passport information out. thatsa huge privacy matter.

[Reply to this]
decanadianCarlVeecock
In reply to the above comment on August 22nd, 2008 12:02 pm:
Leisalle? did you read my point on the need for ACCURATE MEDIA REPORTING.

SN has borne the brunt of the police and the presenditial secretariat on alleged
iinaccurate media reporting.

Privacy or not ( agreed that privacy is being violated but only by NA standards),
but in Guyana it does not matter.

[Reply to this]
Ulric
on August 22nd, 2008 11:11 am

I love reading the online version of this paper, but am very distressed about the manner in which many stories are reported. Take for instance this story, the writer of the article did not tell readers how changing the date stamp impacted the immigrant (what benifits were derived from theaction). Please Mr. editor demand more from your “reporters”. Another issue is the naming of the passport numbers. What significance is passport number to your readers? Good story telling/reporting covers every angle to the story, something I find disturblingly lacking in the local print media.

[Reply to this]
decanadianCarlVeecock
In reply to the above comment on August 22nd, 2008 11:55 am:
Ulric,

Don”t compare.

Local reporting has some yardsticks to comply with and those are totally
different from NA”s

The charge was one of forgery and was done by an official officially.;
It is not material to the case as to what benefit was derived except of course
the passing of cash, which benefitted the forger.

Additionally, I am not sure tha all internet reports are as per the hard copy
reports. The Moderator could perhaps offer a comment on this.

IMHO the report was sufficiently informative.

Moderator’s note: Internet reports in the main are identical. The details sought by Ulric would only be available once the trial starts. Passport nos. are an integral part of the evidence.

[Reply to this]
mackydog
In reply to the above comment on August 22nd, 2008 9:25 pm:
I see lots of y’all don’t understand reporting especially when it comes to this sort of crime…the basic reason why SN has to mention the passport numbers is because LOTS OF PEOPLE IN GT HAS THE SAME NAMES. What if one was Ramesh Persaud (being fictitious), or Fazal Mohamed (being fictitious), or Orin Williams (being fictitious), how many people would be wrongfully blamed for the crime because of the similarity in names?
People remember… a name is just a name, NOT a person, but a number IS a person, much more effective in identification of a person. Y’all get it now?
Give SN a break, they did the right thing.

[Reply to this]
malaika06
In reply to the above comment on August 22nd, 2008 11:18 pm:
Ha! so you done with cussin SN for it’s unprofessionalism and lazy reporters?

Bravo!!

Debbie
In reply to the above comment on August 25th, 2008 10:19 pm:
mackydog, so you’re saying that the persons with same names would then whipp out their passports and say………….”see, this is my numba, not that one in SN, is de wrang man yall gat!”

I say it was wrong for SN to publish the passports numbers. Security risks are right up front on the list of many reasons, especially with so many other back trackers using Guyana as their point of exit to NA.

I’m happy to see corruption in the Guyana Government being addressed, My Mom was harassed by an Immigration Officer when she refused to give him her pen.
Pepie
on August 22nd, 2008 11:37 am

Well, well….what can i say about this situation…..hmmmm. I think the bribe she took was too little.lol. If in this hard times this officer is taking US$50.00 this a shame to immigration officers of the pass. In the late 90s an entry stamp was price at USD$100.00, now it reduce by half. One would think that an entry stamp almost 10 years on would have been somewhere around USD$200.00, I guess the demand is not there anymore or things have gotten really bad at the Airport.

Why would one need and entry stamp?

1. If you over stayed you time in another country, such as Barbados, Antigua, even the US etc and have intentions of going back, you would approach an understanding Immigration officer who would assist you, at a afford cost, by back dating your entry stamp. In the olden days, if you stayed out for too long on your return the entry stamp may have change and this would make it difficult for your entry to be back dated, since it would be a clear give away, to both the passenger and officer. Sometimes officers would just stamp your passport and allow you to put a date and signiture.
2. if you enter the country illegally and want to stay. ie. Brazilians and other South American nationals. Invasion from the south and west.
3.If you enter the country Illegally but using this port at a transit point. Here number one (1) is applied and now you will need an even more set of understanding immigration officers, Airline personnel, Airport Security to leave the country, which is done at an affordable cost and this type of departure is know as Backtracking. This situation is more common with African Nationals coming through Brazil, Chinese, Indian and Pakistani Nationals.

These are just some of the reasons you may need and entry stamp. Anyway, this is the first i have heard an incident of this nature is before the court, where the immigration Officer is in the hot seat.

[Reply to this]
Pepie
In reply to the above comment on August 22nd, 2008 11:44 am:
Ok bloggers I’m not advocating corrupt practices here and I do applaud the move to end this practise.

[Reply to this]
decanadianCarlVeecock
In reply to the above comment on August 22nd, 2008 11:59 am:
Hey Pepie!

Man you sure have it all in your memory chips.

Thanks for the elucidation.

None of it did I know of.

[Reply to this]
Pepie
In reply to the above comment on August 22nd, 2008 12:34 pm:
I sense a degree of sarcasm here.

LoveGT4Real
In reply to the above comment on August 22nd, 2008 12:49 pm:
Veecock I agree with U that publishing those names was the right thing to do.
And Pepie has made it Cristal clear for those who don’t know what is happening.

Therefore, those requesting the back dates are equally guilty of a crime as their motives are to deceive the immigration system in countries they will be returning to.

By the way, do you have any idea how much our immigration officers are paid?

decanadianCarlVeecock
In reply to the above comment on August 22nd, 2008 3:41 pm:
Sorry Pepie that you have such a sense;

Mes excuses, monsieur.

The reference to “memory chips” was on he supposedly experience
you prbably had as an investigator.

OOpps;;;grrr…another sense of ????

Man ah have to get outa hay !!

Ulric
In reply to the above comment on August 22nd, 2008 11:13 pm:
Good work guy. This is the info I needed, when I querried the impact of changing dates re the immigrant. Thanks

[Reply to this]
Susan
on August 22nd, 2008 11:52 am

I guess the big question is, who else is involed in such scam, ’cause I’m sure she is not the only one.

[Reply to this]
allison
on August 22nd, 2008 1:01 pm

this is sad, of course, that our people still have to live like this.
Anyways, why does veecock think he has to rebut everything?
others have an opinion too.

[Reply to this]
malaika06
In reply to the above comment on August 22nd, 2008 5:59 pm:
Sad, why you say sad that we still have to live like this? Where have you been these past few years, on Mars?

[Reply to this]
coolieman
In reply to the above comment on August 22nd, 2008 11:01 pm:
I agree with allison Carl should take a break now

[Reply to this]
decanadianCarlVeecock
In reply to the above comment on August 23rd, 2008 2:30 pm:
Ok allison and coolieman, seems that I got on your nerves.

So on review, did I make any good comments?
You are both peeved at my responses to various posts,
but why did you not make posts at those times?

You two got me confused, but like old school days, it is the
brightest whose hands are always up to answer!

Did I say tek dat?

Not yet !…..hehehehe
K.L.Forde-Clarke
on August 22nd, 2008 4:12 pm

Good luck to the others that left there I was there and did my thing as well but, there comes a time when u show move on and Ms Lovell think different

[Reply to this]
J.ANDERSON
In reply to the above comment on August 24th, 2008 9:26 pm:
HEY FORDE [SQUADE] I SUPPORT SOME OF WHAT YOU SAID, BUT YOU AND I KNOW MANY THINGS GET SWEPT UNDER THE RUG IN THAT DEPARTMENT.

[Reply to this]
bbuckman
on August 22nd, 2008 5:33 pm

good for internal affairs

[Reply to this]
bgsbny
In reply to the above comment on August 26th, 2008 12:34 pm:
….. internal affairs ,, is just another bird of the same colour ! the malcontents ford-clark and,, anderson ,, is indicative of the contempt they had for the job from which they made a living and the people who paid them to do the job ! i have said it b4 ,, many,, who after their concerted abuse of the system ,, have now found themselves in various societies ,, where it’s not surprising to find that they r living the same shameful life ,, habits die hard !

[Reply to this]
Pinnacle
on August 22nd, 2008 7:51 pm

She was not working alone, there are more officers in this …….. i hear about this about 2 -3 times a month.

[Reply to this]
bess
on August 22nd, 2008 8:12 pm

ULRIC MAKE A VALID POINT, THE NEWS WAS NOT PROPERLY REPORTED. WHAT HAPPEN AFTER THE DATES CHANGE?????????????/ TELL ME I NEED TO KNOW ALL. THIS IS NOT A SHORT SHORY TO BE LEFT IN SUSPENCE. WE ALL AT SOME TIME HAD TO PAY BRIBE TO FOR FAVOR, PEOPLE MAY NEED TO LEAVE, THUS THE USES OF THE IMMIGARTION. BRIBERY GOES ON EVERY WAY IN GUYANA. GUYANA HAS BECOME A VERY HARD PLACE TO SURVIVE, TO GET FAVORS GRANTED. EVERY ONE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING, WE NEVER KNOW WHAT WE WILL DO UNTIL WE ARE FACED WITH A SITUATION, THIS TOPIC WILL HAVE A LOT OF COMMENTS, CUS IT IS A MATTER OF GRAVE CONCERT, AFTER ALL IS GUYANA AND GUYANESE, WE ALL KNOW ABOUT IT……………THANKYOU, PEACE FELLLOW GUYANA

[Reply to this]
faye
on August 22nd, 2008 10:24 pm

ha, ha, ha, laugh like brer rabbit. This is how we do it.

[Reply to this]
bishnu R
on August 23rd, 2008 5:08 pm

police find arms in buxton where? where? we want to know.
to charge the only bribe taking officer the passport with the dates in them is the evidence and the passport is the property of the GUYANA GOV.

[Reply to this]
El diablo
on August 24th, 2008 10:36 pm

It happens everyday. We needed some documents approved right away at eve leary just over a year ago in Guyana and an officer ask us for some lunch money which we gladly gave. We were given approval in minutes. Its very unfortunate this woman got caught because everybody knows “things hard in Guyana.”

[Reply to this]
Omkar
on August 25th, 2008 10:41 am

Many drive beyond and far beyond the prescribed speed limit and/or do not wear seat belts.

Only those who are nabbed are cited for the infraction. Those ‘ticketed’ may choose to pay the fine or dispute the ‘ticket’ and appear before the courts.

[Reply to this]
GT787
on August 25th, 2008 5:57 pm

In matters of this nature and for the paltry sum of money, it would have been a “lone-ranger” operation or through an intermediary. US 50 between more than one officer just isn’t worth it

[Reply to this]
apretoute
on August 28th, 2008 10:24 pm

When will the investigations begin within the government? If this day ever arrives, then there will be no one to govern nor run government agencies. She was wrong and should pay the price for her folly, but, SHE IS ONLY SMALL FRY! Look within!

[Reply to this]