Cubans have the wrong idea of Guyana when they reach Immigration
February 4, 2016 By
Dear Editor,
Guyana and Cuba have shared diplomatic relations since 1959; today, Guyana benefits from Cuban scholarships that hundreds value in the field of medicine and engineering.
Cubans don’t need a visa to enter Guyana, but whatever the basic requirement for entry must be conveyed at boarding.
As President of the Guyana-Cuba Solidarity Movement (GCSM), I have been receiving numerous complaints from Cubans who travel to Guyana. They have related to me that they are being forced to pay bribes between US$100 to US$250 by immigration authorities at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).
In making sure all Cubans who visit Guyana get the message of the bribe they are compelled to walk with when visiting Guyana, the immigration officers refuse entry to those who don’t walk with a bribe in favour of those willing to pay.
Those denied entry related what happened and others visiting make sure they walk with cash to pay up. These immigration agents have someone outside who collects the bribes. A most recent ordeal forced me to pen this letter after my complaints to authorities fell on deaf ears.
A Cuban by the name of Jessica Saavedro Marrero travelled to Guyana on Copa Airlines CM0254 on January 6, 2016, I has purchased her ticket personally from Sarah Travel Agency. Upon her arrival, I sent a Cuban associate and family friend who drives a taxi to pick her up at the airport. Upon arrival, she was denied entry.
A man who spoke Spanish who is also an agent for the immigration authority related to her that she has to pay US$200 before she is allowed to enter Guyana. The taxi driver then called me and related the story to which I demanded that no bribe be passed. I then contacted a senior immigration officer about my complaint of which I am assured that no bribe should be passed. Although given this assurance Jessica was denied entry by 16:40h because the money was not paid over. I then decided to contact another immigration officer in charge of the airport [name withheld] at 16:45h; I know him since he was a constable. I subsequently explained that Ms Marrero was visiting Guyana and I was in charge of all her expenses while staying in Guyana. He asked for a minute, and this was his response several calls after. Frustrated, I visited the CJIA the following day and spoke with the immigration officer at 09:00h and related the ordeal once more. His excuse was that the passenger had already departed to Trinidad and that no one was at the airport to pick her up. I reminded him that I personally was in communication with the taxi driver who related to me that after speaking with him, he told the driver: “I don’t want hear anything.”
What was even more shocking was that all the time I was at the airport speaking with immigration officer the Cuban passenger was on the aircraft and he had told me she already left on the return flight since morning. Meanwhile, another case occurred on December 29, 2015: I know of a few Cubans who again paid US bribes to immigration. These immigration officers on that occasion asked for them to show their US cash and how much they pulled out was the exact amount they had to hand over. Another occasion, a Cuban doctor visiting Guyana was refused entry after he refused to pay over US$500 out of his US$2500 that was for hotel and other expenses. I would like these immigration officers to understand that these Cubans are poor people and should not be taken advantage of because of the language barrier and other issues.
I am calling on President David Granger to look into these matters if we honestly want to promote Guyana’s tourism and hospitality sector. This corruption must stop and persons should be made examples if necessary. Mr President, the first encounter a foreigner has with Guyana does not need to be with corrupt immigration officers who are looking for prey instead of executing their duties with honour and dignity. One must remember, we must treat others the way we want to be treated. I have personally experienced officers turning up their eyes and being rude when entering Guyana and visitors merely saying good day or good night.
Sincerely,
Guyana-Cuba
Solidarity Movement
President
Haleem Khan
Editor’s Note: A copy of this letter was sent to the Ministry of Citizenship
