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By Shyon Hoppie
Twelve foreign nationals including Haitians, Russians, Colombians and Cubans were yesterday refused entry into Guyana’s jurisdiction after Immigration Officials suspected illegality to be the prime motive behind their travel.

Minister Winston Felix

At a press conference held at the Ministry of Citizenship, the media was informed of the recent development.
Minister Winston Felix said that at 14:02 hrs yesterday Copa Airlines CM-254 arrived at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport with a number of passengers including six Haitians, who had no visas and were carrying local Ministry of Foreign Affairs documents which appeared to be forged.
These letters if not detected by the immigration officials would have approved the Haitians for visas which would have allowed them to enter the country.
Also on the said flight were two Russians, a husband and a wife, the husband was granted entry into the country, but unfortunately for the wife her entry was denied because of suspected illegality. After becoming infuriated with the immigration officers, the husband returned to the aircraft with his wife.
Subsequently a Colombian national, was similarly denied leave-to-land because he had no means of sustaining himself for the duration of his trip and no visa.
Another issue was developed where four Cuban nationals, two women and two children ages five and three, were also denied entry into the jurisdiction. Like the Russians, they came with their return tickets but were suspected of illegality.
The women, however, having been denied leave-to-land, refused to return to the aircraft. They have not been landed.
The Cubans up to press time were at Timehri as authorities were seeking to have proper accommodation for them, because of the fact that they were travelling with young children.
The women were not placed into detention centres like the eight Indian nationals who were also refused entry on July 19 last.
Felix also emphasised that he brought this latest development to the public’s attention because, “Guyana seems to be the focal point for people who are either on the backtrack activities or trafficking in persons.”
He further purported that airlines should follow the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulations, which is to ensure persons arriving to this country have the appropriate visas and return tickets.
The airlines nevertheless are mandated to follow the ICAO regulations by not allowing persons without the requisite documents to board their aircraft to avoid immigration disputes.
The call for airlines to act responsibly and observe the international laws has been made by the Ministry of Citizenship after it had recently discovered that persons have been attempting to enter Guyana without the essential requirements.
With respect to having penalties enforced upon these airlines who are not currently abiding to the ICAO regulations, the Minister said that this is being contemplated with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure under which aviation falls.
As many would argue the “Visa-on-arrival” was always available to visitors who did not have Guyana visas prior to their travel, Minister Felix said, “In order for a Visa-on-arrival to be issued, the ministry had to be notified prior to the arrival in which they would have gone through various procedures before immigration would’ve been informed to issue the visas.”
It was reiterated by the minister that it is the obligation for airline officials to check with Guyana’s Immigration to ensure that the information given by persons boarding the aircraft – that say that they are subjected to visa on arrival – is accurate.
Recently Guyana joined the rest of the world in registering its voice and committing to action against Trafficking In Persons (TIP).
TIP is believed to be the main suspicion surrounding the circumstances under which the 12 foreign nationals were denied entry.
On July 19 last, eight Indian nationals were refused entry into Guyana citing similar circumstances. The men allegedly travelled with no visa, on a one way ticket and had no adequate means of sustaining themselves during their stay in the country.