Dear Editor,
Approximately two months ago I sent a letter to the Commander of Immigration in Suriname outlining an incident where I was maltreated by an immigration official at Nickerie. The letter was copied to Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque; Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett; Foreign Minister Winston Lackin of Suriname; and Suriname Ambassador to Guyana Manorma Soeknandan.
To date I have not received a response or an acknowledgement of receipt of my letter (despite providing full contact details in the letter). At a minimum, I would have expected a follow-up from my own Ministry of Foreign Affairs or at least a call from the Embassy of Suriname, but then again maybe their plates are full dealing with other important matters and not infringed human rights.
This non-response speaks volumes about the regional integration movement. Secretary General Irwin LaRocque has been advocating that regional integration would only work if you put people first.
The actions of Suriname regarding this matter suggest the country may not be ready for the CSME regime based on Mr LaRocque’s postulation.
I feel compelled to highlight this issue in the media because of the non-response so far and I therefore think this is my final recourse for highlighting this matter to the relevant authorities and to the Guyanese public. Guyanese who suffer from such mistreatment and unjust actions in a foreign land have a civic (and personal) responsibility to make the relevant authorities aware about these incidents (not just complaining about it to family and friends) and I would to think the Guyanese authorities would be interested in ascertaining the facts and raising these at the appropriate bilateral level.
Guyana, like any other country has some citizens whose actions and conduct will not classify them as bona fide, but is this reason to stereotype Guyanese as a whole? Shouldn’t the requisite due diligence prevail before any pronouncements are made?
The issue of mistreatment of Guyanese is not a new one and Guyanese have been harassed and their basic human rights infringed by immigration authorities in our sister Caricom countries notably in Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda. Is Suriname signalling its intention to join this bandwagon?
Below is a copy of the letter referenced above:
“Dear Captain Samuels…
“Further to our telephone conversation earlier today, please find below the details of the above incident:
“On August 31st, 2012 I arrived at Nickerie via the 9am MV Canawaima. I parked my car and proceeded to the immigration queue for CARICOM citizens. There was a second queue for non CARICOM nationals (which was considerably shorter and processing seemed to be more… [expeditious]). As the non CARICOM queue was nearing its end, I noticed several persons who were in the CARICOM queue voluntarily left and joined the queue for non CARICOM nationals and they were processed by the Immigration Officials. Upon seeing this, I joined the non CARICOM nationals queue (based on the precedence that others were allowed to do so).
“When it was my turn to proceed to the Immigration Officer, I was told that I had to wait since I came out of the CARICOM line. When I pointed out to the Officer manning the queue that other travellers did the same and were processed, I was ignored. I further pointed out to the said Officer that there should be non discrimination in administration of the procedures.
“At that juncture, I decided I will not seek to reclaim my space in the CARICOM nationals queue but wait until the end of said queue to be processed. Upon presentation of my documents to the Immigration Officer, I was asked by him if I had a problem with Surinamese rules, to which I replied “I don’t have a problem with Surinamese rules, but I have a problem with how they are being administered.” I started to recount my earlier experience and I was told by the said Officer, to “shut up” that he didn’t want to hear anything from me. I was shocked at his response and I told him he should not speak to me in such manner since I was respectful to him and I indicated that his behaviour was unprofessional. This was interrupted by several commands to “shut up” and as I continued with my response, the officer threatened to refuse me entry if I didn’t “shut up.” To this, I remarked, “On what grounds, for speaking for my rights?” I was eventually processed and sent through to Customs.
“Upon clearing Customs, I asked the Customs Official to speak with the Officer in Charge of Immigration. I was referred to an officer who queried what the problem was. I asked whether he was in charge and he replied that no one is in charge since Immigration works independently. I also asked him for the name of the Officer that harassed me and he refused to provide the name. When I insisted again to see the Officer in Charge, I was finally taken to an Officer in army uniform. I related my ordeal and he was defensive of the Immigration Officer saying that the officer didn’t mean what he said. When I told him, I will take the matter up with the relevant authorities, he then apologized on behalf his colleague.
“I am utterly dismayed at this incident. I do accept responsibility on my part for joining the line for non CARICOM nationals (since it was shorter and secondly other persons with CARICOM passports, both Guyanese and Surinamese did so and were processed). My decision to wait until everyone was processed and not reclaiming my spot in the CARICOM line was certainly acceptance on my part. My complaint is not that I had to wait but (1) unfair administration of rules (to a lesser extent) and (2) the maltreatment meted out to me as a CARICOM citizen by authorities in a neighbouring CARICOM country.
“Guyana and Suriname are both signatories of the protocols leading to the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas establishing the Caribbean Community including the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) which provides for the free movement of persons. Article 46 (2b) of the Revised Treaty provides for movement of CARICOM nationals into and within their jurisdictions without harassment or the imposition of impediments.
“The harassment and abuse I experienced in Suriname certainly negates the provisions under Free Movement of Persons regime one, ‘Facilitation of Travel‘ and is in direct contravention to the very treaty to which Suriname subscribes.
“As a young CARICOM citizen, I am utterly concerned about the future of the region as a unified space for mutual trade and other economic benefits. The many cases of mistreatment of CARICOM nationals by Member States will certainly discourage intraregional tourism and trade. Consequently there will be an exodus of Caribbean dollars to places outside of the region where our nationals are respected, get value for money and in the process contribute to the building of foreign shores.
“This situation calls for increased understanding and improved participation in the implementation of the CSME regime by state agencies and hopefully we can curb this problem before it gets worse.
“Attached is a copy of my passport page which the Officer in question would have stamped and signed. The Government of Suriname may wish to investigate this incident and take the necessary actions so as to avoid further maltreatment and abuse of CARICOM nationals in an effort to contribute to the realization of CARICOM’s vision of a unified and integrated region…“
Yours faithfully,
Anand Harrilall
