Home Affairs Ministry Permanent Secretary (PS), Mae Toussaint Jr. Thomas was not travelling on government business when her cell phone was confiscated on April 8 and visa revok-ed by US border authorities, sources say, amid growing questions as to what in her background triggered the incident.
Since her return to Guy-ana, Toussaint Jr. Thomas has maintained silence and yesterday, APNU Home Affairs shadow, Geeta Chandan-Edmond called on the PS to proceed on leave.
Breaking its official silence yesterday, the government said that it is awaiting a formal report on the issue from the United States authorities before any decisions but that Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) actions were lawful.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hugh Todd said that an assurance has been given by the US authorities that the seized phone will be returned, anytime within a six to eight week timeframe, and that government has accepted that it is within the lawful powers of the CBP to search travellers, confiscate items, and revoke visas.
“We [government] are aware… we contacted the US Embassy on the seizure of the phone and what occurred. Their law gives the Customs and Border Patrol [Protection] the authority to do what they did,” the Minister of Foreign Affairs told Stabroek News.
“It doesn’t affect US and Guyana relations. We have to abide and we have to await their investigations and then determine the next step…we can’t make a determination now,” he added.
The Permanent Secre-tary was at the time in-transit in Miami on her way to China. She was using a United States Service visa on a Guyana Diplomatic passport and was on her way to participate in an exchange programme that was not work or government related, this newspaper understands.
Sources say that Thomas had been on a US watch list. The appearance of her name on the watch list will raise even further questions about what could have caused her name to be placed on it and what could have led to the confiscation of her phone.
Government sources explained to this newspaper that the United States Embassy here has said that it is not aware of what triggered CBP’s actions, as they have no direct interactions with that CBP since it interfaces with the Department of Homeland Security.
Layers
“The US system is different. It isn’t a system like in Guyana where you can pick up a phone and call an agency and get answers. There are many, many layers. What we know is that border security has sweeping powers,” the source explained.
“…It is not at the level of the State Department. It is at CBP so it has to move its way [down],” the source added.
One source said that it was only logical that government waits before it acts on the issue because “it is not clear as yet what information US authorities has on her [Thomas] and until that is revealed then it would be premature to pronounce on the issue.”
And on Thomas’ visa revocation, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said that while she traveled on the A-2 visa, its issuance is discretionary with a condition that gives CBP the right to revoke it.
While Toussaint Jr. Thomas’ phone had been seized by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on April 8, the government did not disclose it even though members of the administration were fully aware of its occurrence. It was not until Stabroek News broke the story in its April 21 edition that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lodged an enquiry with the US Embassy and was furnished with standard information on the methodologies of the CBP.
With Toussaint Jr. Thomas’ return to the country over the weekend, she was supposed to have submitted a report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on which basis further communication will be had with the US Embassy to establish the exact grounds on which her phone was seized and her visa revoked.
Sources say that Toussaint Jr. Thomas left Guyana on April 8 for the US and after the encounter with the CBP she transited Germany on April 9 and proceeded as planned to China. She then arrived in the UK around April 19 and then travelled back to Guyana.
The confiscation of the phone will raise major concerns for the government as it would signal that CBP officials had questions about Toussaint Jr. Thomas who became permanent secretary in 2020 after the PPP/C entered office. The Ministry of Home Affairs is the focal point for law and order in Guyana and Toussaint Jr. Thomas is the point person for engagement with a large number of international agencies and programmes such as citizen security.
According to CBP regulations, “If CBP officers at a port of entry need more information to determine your admissibility into the US, you may be directed to an interview area known as secondary inspection. You could also be subjected to a secondary inspection as a result of a random search. Anyone, including US citizens, may be subject to secondary inspection if the CBP officer has reservations about admitting him or her.
“Secondary inspection is a more detailed inspection to determine admissibility. It allows CBP officers to conduct additional research to verify information without delaying other travellers. During a secondary inspection, the CBP officer may ask you detailed questions about your travel plans and immigration history. You may be asked to produce additional proof of identification and detailed information about the purpose of your visit to the US. Both you and your belongings may be subject to a thorough search. Such inspections may include a search of all electronic information stored on your laptop, cell phone or other electronic devices.”
In a statement yesterday, Chandan-Edmond said that she had noted with “deep concern”, the incident involving the Permanent Secretary.
“The most recent update by Stabroek News on this matter, to the effect that the official had been on a US watch list, has caused even greater concern.
“Thus far what the public knows is that the PS’s phone was confiscated, she was interrogated for hours by US border agents, her US visa was revoked; and, all this was not by chance or random suspicion, she was apparently on a list of persons of interest.
“The public does not know why she was placed on the watch list, how will this affect her duties, or what is government’s stance on the matter.
“It is well known that this government is of the belief that if a matter is ignored long enough, it will eventually go away. But Thomas’ position is too important. She is the Permanent Secretary of a vital Ministry”.
Chandan-Edmond added: “The Ministry if Home Affairs is the epicentre of all international security cooperation arrangements with Guyana and of course the Ministry has control over agencies responsible for law and order locally.
“The events that recently unfolded would obviously undermine public confidence in the PS and by extension, the Ministry.
“The chief accounting officer of the security ministry and the point person for several key security programs cannot also be a person who is smeared internationally. There simply cannot be business as usual at Home Affairs Ministry while its PS is under international investigation.
“Until the public is fully appraised of the facts of the matter, until confidence can be restored, until the government can have an official position on the matter, PS Toussaint Thomas ought to proceed on administrative leave”.
