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Guyanese-parented Ethiopia princess to visit Guyana

 

Her Imperial Highness Princess Ariana Austin Makonnen of Ethiopia

WeLead Caribbean on Wednesday announced the inclusion of Her Imperial Highness Princess Ariana Austin Makonnen of Ethiopia as a speaker to the 3rd Annual Women’s Leadership and Business Conference, PowHERful: Transition from Inspiration to Action.

This year’s event will be held on September 18th – 19th, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

Her Imperial Highness Princess Ariana would be delivering a speech on cultural entrepreneurship which would be followed by a questions and answers segment and she is said to be excited to be addressing her Guyanese community.

“Princess Ariana is a philantropist and entrepreneur with invaluable experience and knowledge to be shared at this year’s conference. We are honored to have her and we look forward to learning from her said Abbigale Loncke, President, WeLead Caribbean. And to have Yvette Noel-Schure lead our lineup of speakers this year means that we are going to be in the company of really great women.”

Princess Ariana Makonnen was born on January 6, 1984 to an American father and Guyanese mother. She is a member of the Ethiopian imperial family and the House of Solomon through her marriage to Prince Joel Dawit Makonnen, the great-grandson of Emperor Haile Selassie I.

Her grandfather was former Georgetown Mayor John Meredith Ford. She began her career as a teacher and freelance journalist in Paris, France.

The couple and their wedding party pose for photos after the ceremony. When the two met, Mr. Makonnen didn’t tell Ms. Austin about his royal background. Credit Jared Soares for The New York Times

Inspired by the nighttime arts festival, Nuit Blanche, which she enjoyed while living in Paris, she founded and directed Art All Night, a festival that reimagined public space and enlivened the streets of Washington, D.C. with visual arts, live paintings, musical performances, poetry readings, and light projections.

The festival was an immediate success and attracted audiences of 30,000+ people. After 5 years, Ariana started her own creative agency, French Thomas where she produced dynamic cultural and educational experiences in Washington, D.C. New York City, and Camden, New Jersey.

Today, Princess Ariana works full-time in philanthropy where she continues to channel her passion for culture, education, and communities. In addition, she serves as the Goodwill Ambassador of Friends of Guyana, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting education, cultural, and environmental programs in and about Guyana. She is a graduate of Harvard University.

The conference will be headlined by Yvette Noel-Schure. As Beyoncé’ Knowles publicist, Noel-Schure is responsible for managing Beyoncé’ public image since she was 14 years old. As both the owner of her own company, Schure Media Group, and the head of publicity for Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment, she also represents Beyoncé’s activewear line, Ivy Park, and has worked with artists like Prince, John Legend, Maxwell, and former Destiny’s Child members Rowland and Williams.

Speakers include: First Lady of Guyana H.E. Mrs Sandra Granger, Kerensa Gravesande Bart – Strategic Recruitment Solutions, Shalini Beharry – RAMPREM Trinidad, Dr. Vishnu Doerga – ActionInvest Caribbean, John Housty – Housty Designs, Michelle A. Nicholas – The Nico Consulting/Girls Inc. Westchester, Jacequelyn Shipe – Global Ties Alabama, Maria Cordova Sanchez – ED Challenge, Latoya Blackwood – IPublish Consultancy, Sharon Lalljee Richard – Heal Guyana, Dr. Patricee Douglas – SRHR Adventures, among others.

Tickets cost GY$15,000 (US$75.00) and can be purchased in Guyana from Eco For Life, 7 North Rd, 592 Tees Courtyard Mall Robb St, Java cafe, Duncan St Campbellville, Beaton’s Boutique Reliance Essequibo and online via our eventbrite page via key phrase, Powherful Womens Leadership Conference.

Sponsors for this year’s Conference include Abbi’s Home Care Agency, Eco Atlantic Investment, Global Ties Alabama, Strategic Recruitment Solutions, The Nico Consulting, Inc, Camex Ltd, Regal Stationery and Computer Supplies and many more. For more information about sponsorship opportunities and tickets, please visit us our website www.weleadcaribbean.com, call +592.648.4302 (Guyana) / 800.200.4695 (USA) or email, abbigaleloncke@gmail.com. You can also follow the conference via the app “PowHerfulConference” on any android device.

WeLead Caribbean is a not-for-profit organization which provides a comprehensive and inclusive support for women development, business and philanthropy in Guyana and throughout the Caribbean. With over twenty-five members from Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia and Trinidad, WeLead Caribbean offers services such as business mentoring, training, marketing, internships and coaching. Welead Caribbean recently launched it’s Women Owned Platform that focuses on the development, support, advocacy and marketing of Women Owned Businesses.

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Dave posted:

Since Guyana is on the world map with OIL, all these forgotten sons and daughters suddenly reappear. 

Maybe a few thousand Ethiopians will soon show up for citizenship!

FM
Baseman posted:
Dave posted:

Since Guyana is on the world map with OIL, all these forgotten sons and daughters suddenly reappear. 

Maybe a few thousand Ethiopians will soon show up for citizenship!

If that has to become a reality, so let it be. The freedom of movements will change Guyana as we know it. Why Guyana still maintained a population of 750,000? If Guyanese had stayed in Guyana to this day, our population would exceed "one million". Douglas is the fastest growing race in Guyana today, while the same amount spreads across NA, Europe, the Caribbean through the freedom of movement. Granger said he wants Guyana to be like Africa. Burnham had envisioned the same. Coolie must go back to India.   

FM
Baseman posted:
Dave posted:

Since Guyana is on the world map with OIL, all these forgotten sons and daughters suddenly reappear. 

Maybe a few thousand Ethiopians will soon show up for citizenship!

Any stopping of East Indians from the Caribbean or Indians from India entering Guyana or given Citizenship ??

Django
Prince posted:
Baseman posted:
Dave posted:

Since Guyana is on the world map with OIL, all these forgotten sons and daughters suddenly reappear. 

Maybe a few thousand Ethiopians will soon show up for citizenship!

If that has to become a reality, so let it be. The freedom of movements will change Guyana as we know it. Why Guyana still maintained a population of 750,000? If Guyanese had stayed in Guyana to this day, our population would exceed "one million". Coolie must go back to India.   

You are a hypocrite Prince.

You are part of the hundreds that left Guyana with family members.. isn’t it Prince. Why didn’t you stay? 

FM
Django posted:
Baseman posted:
Dave posted:

Since Guyana is on the world map with OIL, all these forgotten sons and daughters suddenly reappear. 

Maybe a few thousand Ethiopians will soon show up for citizenship!

Any stopping of East Indians from the Caribbean or Indians from India entering Guyana or given Citizenship ??

Indians have PRIDE they work for what they have, they don't run ,coming for free hand outs. I guess you don't know what I am talking about.

K
Django posted:
Baseman posted:
Dave posted:

Since Guyana is on the world map with OIL, all these forgotten sons and daughters suddenly reappear. 

Maybe a few thousand Ethiopians will soon show up for citizenship!

Any stopping of East Indians from the Caribbean or Indians from India entering Guyana or given Citizenship ??

Good advice for the PPP if they win. Why don’t you advise Jagdeo on this matter? 

FM
Dave posted:
Prince posted:
Baseman posted:
Dave posted:

Since Guyana is on the world map with OIL, all these forgotten sons and daughters suddenly reappear. 

Maybe a few thousand Ethiopians will soon show up for citizenship!

If that has to become a reality, so let it be. The freedom of movements will change Guyana as we know it. Why Guyana still maintained a population of 750,000? If Guyanese had stayed in Guyana to this day, our population would exceed "one million". Coolie must go back to India.   

You are a hypocrite Prince.

You are part of the hundreds that left Guyana with family members.. isn’t it Prince. Why didn’t you stay? 

Prince run to America fuh tek BIG Bamboo.

K
Dondadda posted:
Django posted:
Baseman posted:
Dave posted:

Since Guyana is on the world map with OIL, all these forgotten sons and daughters suddenly reappear. 

Maybe a few thousand Ethiopians will soon show up for citizenship!

Any stopping of East Indians from the Caribbean or Indians from India entering Guyana or given Citizenship ??

Good advice for the PPP if they win. Why don’t you advise Jagdeo on this matter? 

Jagdeo should take notice how APNU is taking care of their own. It seems the only race living in Guyana is Afro. 

FM
Dave posted:
Prince posted:
Baseman posted:
Dave posted:

Since Guyana is on the world map with OIL, all these forgotten sons and daughters suddenly reappear. 

Maybe a few thousand Ethiopians will soon show up for citizenship!

If that has to become a reality, so let it be. The freedom of movements will change Guyana as we know it. Why Guyana still maintained a population of 750,000? If Guyanese had stayed in Guyana to this day, our population would exceed "one million". Coolie must go back to India.   

You are a hypocrite Prince.

You are part of the hundreds that left Guyana with family members.. isn’t it Prince. Why didn’t you stay? 

I was trying to formulate a response to that clown but you said it.  He ran his ass away now pontificating the opposite for the Indians remaining in Guyana.

So let it be, allow yourself to be displaced and replaced.  And he supports Trump’s policy on this!

FM
Dondadda posted:
Django posted:
Baseman posted:
Dave posted:

Since Guyana is on the world map with OIL, all these forgotten sons and daughters suddenly reappear. 

Maybe a few thousand Ethiopians will soon show up for citizenship!

Any stopping of East Indians from the Caribbean or Indians from India entering Guyana or given Citizenship ??

Good advice for the PPP if they win.

Why don’t you advise Jagdeo on this matter? 

Will advise any new leader of the PPP , not him.

Django
Django posted:
Baseman posted:
Dave posted:

Since Guyana is on the world map with OIL, all these forgotten sons and daughters suddenly reappear. 

Maybe a few thousand Ethiopians will soon show up for citizenship!

Any stopping of East Indians from the Caribbean or Indians from India entering Guyana or given Citizenship ??

You talk sheer shit.  Let the PPP attempt to flood Indians into Guyana in a naked effort to effect the electoral outcome.  GT will be in flames and many Indians would be lying in ditches!

Ayuh talk sheer shit.

Its this attitude why I sometimes say, fk it, let the Hispanics, Brazilians etc swamp it.  Bus few thousand Trumps rejects from the Mexican border!  Guyana needs people anyway!  Right!!

FM
kp posted:
Django posted:
Baseman posted:
Dave posted:

Since Guyana is on the world map with OIL, all these forgotten sons and daughters suddenly reappear. 

Maybe a few thousand Ethiopians will soon show up for citizenship!

Any stopping of East Indians from the Caribbean or Indians from India entering Guyana or given Citizenship ??

Indians have PRIDE they work for what they have, they don't run ,coming for free hand outs. I guess you don't know what I am talking about.

I guess you didn't fully comprehend my statement .

Furthermore there are Indo-Guyanese who seek their lively hood in many Caribbean Countries.

Django
Baseman posted:
Django posted:
Baseman posted:
Dave posted:

Since Guyana is on the world map with OIL, all these forgotten sons and daughters suddenly reappear. 

Maybe a few thousand Ethiopians will soon show up for citizenship!

Any stopping of East Indians from the Caribbean or Indians from India entering Guyana or given Citizenship ??

You talk sheer shit.  Let the PPP attempt to flood Indians into Guyana in a naked effort to effect the electoral outcome.  GT will be in flames and many Indians would be lying in ditches!

Calm down , there were reports Indian Nationals was given Guyanese Citizenship during the tenure of the past government.

Django
Django posted:
Baseman posted:
Django posted:
Baseman posted:
Dave posted:

Since Guyana is on the world map with OIL, all these forgotten sons and daughters suddenly reappear. 

Maybe a few thousand Ethiopians will soon show up for citizenship!

Any stopping of East Indians from the Caribbean or Indians from India entering Guyana or given Citizenship ??

You talk sheer shit.  Let the PPP attempt to flood Indians into Guyana in a naked effort to effect the electoral outcome.  GT will be in flames and many Indians would be lying in ditches!

Calm down , there were reports Indian Nationals was given Guyanese Citizenship during the tenure of the past government.

Total lie.  There were rumors which people like you love to spread so you can justify the bold faced actions of the PNC to displace Indians.  

FM
Baseman posted:
Django posted:
Baseman posted:
Django posted:
Baseman posted:
Dave posted:

Since Guyana is on the world map with OIL, all these forgotten sons and daughters suddenly reappear. 

Maybe a few thousand Ethiopians will soon show up for citizenship!

Any stopping of East Indians from the Caribbean or Indians from India entering Guyana or given Citizenship ??

You talk sheer shit.  Let the PPP attempt to flood Indians into Guyana in a naked effort to effect the electoral outcome.  GT will be in flames and many Indians would be lying in ditches!

Calm down , there were reports Indian Nationals was given Guyanese Citizenship during the tenure of the past government.

Total lie.  There were rumors which people like you love to spread so you can justify the bold faced actions of the PNC to displace Indians.  

Will pull up the files later, saw some info on wikileaks.

Django
Django posted:
Baseman posted:
Django posted:
Baseman posted:
Django posted:
Baseman posted:
Dave posted:

Since Guyana is on the world map with OIL, all these forgotten sons and daughters suddenly reappear. 

Maybe a few thousand Ethiopians will soon show up for citizenship!

Any stopping of East Indians from the Caribbean or Indians from India entering Guyana or given Citizenship ??

You talk sheer shit.  Let the PPP attempt to flood Indians into Guyana in a naked effort to effect the electoral outcome.  GT will be in flames and many Indians would be lying in ditches!

Calm down , there were reports Indian Nationals was given Guyanese Citizenship during the tenure of the past government.

Total lie.  There were rumors which people like you love to spread so you can justify the bold faced actions of the PNC to displace Indians.  

Will pull up the files later, saw some info on wikileaks.

Listen, there were Chinese and Indians who apply for citizenship and some got it after fulfilling the residency rules.  They were not brought in and  fast tracked to citizenship for election purposes.  We also know many Chinese eventually leave for North America!

FM

I always said that the PNC used all of PPP tactics to their advantage. And yes, Indians were given Guyanese citizenship or easier preference. Jagdeo Gods live in India where he was given his doctorate degree. Granger heritage is closer to Africa as Jagdeo is closer to India. Nothing is wrong with that. So why swell all you BT hole if Haitians or Ethiopians go to Guyana. If you don't like it go back and fill the void.  

FM
Baseman posted:
Django posted:
 

Will pull up the files later, saw some info on wikileaks.

Listen, there were Chinese and Indians who apply for citizenship and some got it after fulfilling the residency rules.  They were not brought in and  fast tracked to citizenship for election purposes.  We also know many Chinese eventually leave for North America!

There was underhand business, as mentioned will pull the files.

Django
Last edited by Django
Django posted:
Baseman posted:
Django posted:
 

Will pull up the files later, saw some info on wikileaks.

Listen, there were Chinese and Indians who apply for citizenship and some got it after fulfilling the residency rules.  They were not brought in and  fast tracked to citizenship for election purposes.  We also know many Chinese eventually leave for North America!

There was underhand business, as mentioned will pull the files.

Lies!!!

FM
Baseman posted:
Django posted:
Baseman posted:
Django posted:
 

Will pull up the files later, saw some info on wikileaks.

Listen, there were Chinese and Indians who apply for citizenship and some got it after fulfilling the residency rules.  They were not brought in and  fast tracked to citizenship for election purposes.  We also know many Chinese eventually leave for North America!

There was underhand business, as mentioned will pull the files.

Lies!!!

We will find out !!!

Django
Baseman posted:
Django posted:
Baseman posted:
Dave posted:

Since Guyana is on the world map with OIL, all these forgotten sons and daughters suddenly reappear. 

Maybe a few thousand Ethiopians will soon show up for citizenship!

Any stopping of East Indians from the Caribbean or Indians from India entering Guyana or given Citizenship ??

You talk sheer shit.  Let the PPP attempt to flood Indians into Guyana in a naked effort to effect the electoral outcome.  GT will be in flames and many Indians would be lying in ditches!

Ayuh talk sheer shit.

Its this attitude why I sometimes say, fk it, let the Hispanics, Brazilians etc swamp it.  Bus few thousand Trumps rejects from the Mexican border!  Guyana needs people anyway!  Right!!

So true to the above. 

Indians from India who lived in Guyana and got citizenship are those who have business and would bring their families in to work for them. 

Prior to 2015, Guyana had nothing to offered anyone. No one wanted to go and live in Guyana. 

Why  the Haitians didn’t used Guyana as a transit point during PPP government. 

FM
Amral posted:

She is pretty. Damn

You are the only person give the Princess credit she deserves. She is pretty, and our fellow posters got blinded by what (assumably) Guyana would become if Ethiopians flooded Guyana like the Haitians. They cussing Trump but they would never leave America to go back to Guyana. Them rass get am too fat here.  

FM
Prince posted:

I always said that the PNC used all of PPP tactics to their advantage. And yes, Indians were given Guyanese citizenship or easier preference. Jagdeo Gods live in India where he was given his doctorate degree. Granger heritage is closer to Africa as Jagdeo is closer to India. Nothing is wrong with that. So why swell all you BT hole if Haitians or Ethiopians go to Guyana. If you don't like it go back and fill the void.  

Them bannas thinks Freedom House clean as a whistle.

Me thinks the Ethnic Instincts kicks in.

here is a read

https://www.intergroupinstitut...Chapter-2-Primal.pdf

Django
Baseman posted:
Dave posted:

Since Guyana is on the world map with OIL, all these forgotten sons and daughters suddenly reappear. 

Maybe a few thousand Ethiopians will soon show up for citizenship!

It will probably happen by the PNCR to gather votes.

 

FM
kp posted:

GUYANESE/ETHIOPIA PRINCESS TO VISIT GUYANA- NOT GNI PRINCESS.

Guyanese-parented Ethiopia princess to visit Guyana

Her Imperial Highness Princess Ariana Austin Makonnen of Ethiopia

WeLead Caribbean on Wednesday announced the inclusion of Her Imperial Highness Princess Ariana Austin Makonnen of Ethiopia as a speaker to the 3rd Annual Women’s Leadership and Business Conference, PowHERful: Transition from Inspiration to Action.

KP dee wan an' only GNI Princess can only tek a peep 'cause she only kno fuh suskay all dee time.

FM
Baseman posted:
Django posted:
Baseman posted:
Django posted:
Baseman posted:
Django posted:
Baseman posted:
Dave posted:

Since Guyana is on the world map with OIL, all these forgotten sons and daughters suddenly reappear. 

Maybe a few thousand Ethiopians will soon show up for citizenship!

Any stopping of East Indians from the Caribbean or Indians from India entering Guyana or given Citizenship ??

You talk sheer shit.  Let the PPP attempt to flood Indians into Guyana in a naked effort to effect the electoral outcome.  GT will be in flames and many Indians would be lying in ditches!

Calm down , there were reports Indian Nationals was given Guyanese Citizenship during the tenure of the past government.

Total lie.  There were rumors which people like you love to spread so you can justify the bold faced actions of the PNC to displace Indians.  

Will pull up the files later, saw some info on wikileaks.

Listen, there were Chinese and Indians who apply for citizenship and some got it after fulfilling the residency rules.  They were not brought in and  fast tracked to citizenship for election purposes.  We also know many Chinese eventually leave for North America!

It was done openly.  I recall the gov't. putting their pictures on the newspapers and asking the public to comment.

Billy Ram Balgobin
Billy Ram Balgobin posted:
Baseman posted:
 

Listen, there were Chinese and Indians who apply for citizenship and some got it after fulfilling the residency rules.  They were not brought in and  fast tracked to citizenship for election purposes.  We also know many Chinese eventually leave for North America!

It was done openly.  I recall the gov't. putting their pictures on the newspapers and asking the public to comment.

Do you recall any bitching ??

Django
Django posted:
Billy Ram Balgobin posted:
Baseman posted:
 

Listen, there were Chinese and Indians who apply for citizenship and some got it after fulfilling the residency rules.  They were not brought in and  fast tracked to citizenship for election purposes.  We also know many Chinese eventually leave for North America!

It was done openly.  I recall the gov't. putting their pictures on the newspapers and asking the public to comment.

Do you recall any bitching ??

What’s the matter with you? Read what he said.  It was done openly according to the constitution.  If it was done clandestine and in mass and telling the people who to vote for, then GT would be up in flames.

Its two different things.  You are lying pon yuh mattie!  Shame on you!

FM
Last edited by Former Member
TEIXEIRA STRUGGLING TO CONTROL HOME AFFAIRS MINISTRY
2005 December 28, 23:20 (Wednesday)

 

 

https://wikileaks.org/plusd/ca...EORGETOWN1349_a.html

Classified By: Charge d,Affaires Michael D. Thomas for reason 1.4(b) an d (d)

1. (U) SUMMARY. Charge, Deputy Consul, and PolOff met with Minister of Home Affairs Gail Teixeira on December 23. Teixeira had requested a Consular briefing on trends in fake Guyanese civil documents detected by the Consular Section. Teixeira also described problems with control of the visa process in Guyana's foreign missions, including those in India, China, Israel, and Africa. Teixeira also discussed voter registration problems that continue to dog the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) (septel). END

SUMMARY. No Control Over Birth, Marriage Registrations ---------------------------------------------

2. (C) Charge, Deputy Consul, and PolOff met with Minister Teixeira at the MHA on December 23. Teixeira had asked Ambassador last month to send a Consular Officer to brief her on fraudulent birth and marriage certificates issued by the General Register Office (GRO) that had been detected by the Consular Section. Teixeira was particularly worried that she is not getting full and accurate details on these incidents in the briefings GRO gives her. Deputy Consul described the problematic birth and marriage certificates submitted to the Consular Section in Immigrant Visa cases, which appear to have been genuinely issued using GRO paper and seals, but which were not obtained in accordance with Guyanese law. The clear implication is that GRO is issuing civil documents improperly.

3. (SBU) Birth certificates. In a common example, someone whose original birth certificate does not list a father is able to obtain a new certificate from GRO that includes the purported father's name. Teixeira confirmed this was not legal without the father at least going to court and accepting paternity.

4. (SBU) Marriages. Guyanese marriage certificates state whether the marriage is by license, by notice, or by banns. The latter two methods require both the bride and groom to be in Guyana for weeks before the marriage. In Guyana's widespread business marriages, the Guyanese-American petitioner will usually remain in the country less than a week and use an unscrupulous marriage officer to wed them and obtain a certificate. Texeira confirmed these quick visit marriages are invalid if done by notice or banns.

5. (C) Minister Teixeira expressed what seemed to be genuine displeasure with these improperly or unlawfully issued civil documents involving GRO. She explained how she is already trying to fix the problem. She has confronted GRO about similar incidents but to date GRO has denied responsibility for the fraudulent documents. However, the evidence is too convincing now -- the paper stock, seal, and signatures of these certificates are all genuine. Regarding marriages, Teixeira has revoked the license of one marriage officer and is scrutinizing the entire marriage license process. She has also required the GRO to implement basic management controls over controlled items, such as locking up the seal when not in use and inventorying and securing supplies of blank certificates. She also asked Deputy Consul to keep her apprised on a monthly basis of problems encountered with GRO issued documents.

Trying to Control Who Comes In and Who Stays Out --------------------------------------------- ---

6. (C) Teixeira mentioned several suspicious visa cases on her plate. She said this flow of people wanting to enter Guyana on unlikely pretenses could relate to trafficking in persons, the gold and diamond industries, arms smuggling, or terrorist links. She said she would like to work with USG to prevent these activities. She takes some files immediately to the Guyana Police Force's Special Branch for them to check Interpol databases or any other sources, since the Ministry has no computer resources to conduct such checks.

7. (C) Following up on the November 17 meeting's discussion of Indian tour operators (reftel), Teixeira said she is taking a hard line with tour operators applying for visas for large groups of young, single, businessmen purportedly traveling to Guyana for tourism. Almost every set of applicants included an older man with an Indian passport issued at a location outside of India (such as Beirut or Frankfurt). Teixeira has compiled a case file with passport numbers for each of these tour group applicants. In early December, a new tour operator appeared requesting visas for another group of "tourists". Teixeira forwarded the operator's supposed e-mail address to the Indian High Commission, which determined the address was fictitious.

8. (C) Teixeira described a court case involving a group of Indians waylaid in Guyana before trying to enter the U.S. or Canada illegally. In what she said is a typical scam, their families probably paid human smugglers to take them to "America". After bringing the group to Guyana (in the "Americas") the smugglers then demand additional payments for onward transport to the U.S. or Canada. In the case at hand, one man escaped and went to the Indian High Commission. Three Indians are now in protective custody as witnesses but the authorities will not be able to keep them much longer. Teixeira does not know how these three entered Guyana. She admitted she is unsure what she is dealing with but this case is just the "tip of the iceberg".

9. (S) Teixeira described the steps she has taken to curtail irresponsible, or corrupt, consular operations at Guyana's diplomatic posts. She said she encountered "great resistance in foreign missions trying to tighten up on visa issuances" and lamented that the MFA and other ministries do not understand that visa officers overseas are an important part of the country's security apparatus. All diplomatic missions are supposed to send visa issuance reports to the MHA, but the Ministry receives them six weeks after the fact when the travelers have already either transited Guyana or have arrived and disappeared. -- Teixeira said she has managed to bring Beijing visa operations under control. Guyana has ceased issuing visas for Chinese to join their families in Guyana, although Chinese are still granted visas to work in the timber and sugar industries (Note: China is financing a US$100 million restructuring of Guyana's sugar industry. End note.) She said that a corrupt system operated in China involving the mission and the Ministry. Now, the mission in Beijing can only deal with bilateral cooperation and investment issues. --

In response to Charge's question, Teixeira said the visa situation in India is "manageable". All visa applications from South India come to the MHA in Georgetown for adjudication, allowing for greater scrutiny. She believes South Indians who want a Guyanese visa would not travel all the way to New Delhi to apply in person at the High Commission there. In response to Charge's direct question about visa operations at Guyana's Embassy in New Delhi, Teixeira said "Delhi doesn't deal with us". When the conversation turned to Delhi, the normally animated Teixeira slowed down and spoke carefully and deliberately. She was noticeably less forthcoming about the situation in Delhi than about any other topic during the two and a half hour meeting. However, she did suggest twice that her relationship with the Delhi Embassy was dictated by orders from higher authority. (Note: Teixeira's predecessor as Minister of Home Affairs, Ronald Gajraj, was implicated in death squad activity and was forced to resign under pressure from the US and other donors after he admitted to consorting with and illegally granting gun licenses to known murders. Gajraj has now taken up appointment in New Delhi as Guyana's High Commissioner to India. End note.) -- Texeira said Guyana's embassy in Suriname and Guyana's honorary consuls (particularly in Africa and Israel) are now her biggest problems on the visa front.

10. (S) In Teixeira's words, Guyana does not have an immigration policy. There is little control over visa issuance. Immigration authorities cannot control or keep track of who enters the country. The government loses immigration cases in court. Deportation is expensive and often ineffective. In the past, all immigration decisions contained a note that refused applicants could appeal directly to the Minister, a practice Teixeira said she had abolished. Teixeira said disorder in the immigration process is embarrassing to the government and the GoG wants to do something about it. But President Jagdeo is also concerned about profiling travelers by race or nationality -- an image he does not want to project. Corruption Interferes Constantly --------------------------------

11. (S) During the meeting, Teixeira acknowledged there "was quite a lot of corruption in the immigration division". She has tried to deal with it by firing many employees in the Ministry. However, she fears that these corrupt former employees will sell their knowledge of the system and ability to forge documents. For example, she said the former MHA Security Policy Coordinator, Sultan Kassim, is "very closely linked to a number of networks, particularly the Chinese" and described a slush fund financed by Brazilian fees for work permits that Gajraj and Kassim had run. Unable to pin any direct evidence of illegal activity on Kassim, Teixeira said she had dealt with him by sending him on long-term leave.

12. (S) Teixeira stated that while corruption also existed in the police force and GRO, the corruption of justices and magistrates was the most worrying. She said all Guyanese know which cases, magistrates, and lawyers are tainted by corruption. As a result, the government cannot win important convictions. Similarly, she said everyone knows who the "drug lawyers" are, but the local bar association is too feeble to disbar anyone. Still Uneasy about American Religious Groups and Airstrips --------------------------------------------- -------------

13. (C) Teixeira reiterated the concern she raised at the previous meeting about the Seventh Day Aviation medical group operating in Guyana. She said a different group now wants to build an airstrip in the Rupununi hinterland. This group has suddenly expanded from one priest with an aircraft in the late 1990s to a group of around 20 missionaries whose projects always involve airstrips. Teixeira emphasized the government's desire for fewer rural airstrips, given their link to narco-trafficking, and its policy of destroying some of them. She thinks these American religious groups are somehow taking advantage of the Amerindian villages that host them. However, besides referring to reports of drug drops at one location, she shared no evidence of possible sinister activity on the missionaries' part. Request for Assistance ----------------------

14. (U) Teixeira made two requests for assistance. -- First, she would like to computerize the civil document process (all birth, marriage, and death certificates are now handwritten) and create scanned archival copies of all old records. She said two groups are submitting proposals to do this but she does not have the money to implement the project. Teixeira noted that this major project will have to wait until after the 2006 elections. -- Second, Teixeira asked for assistance in auditing the GRO's internal control procedures and in training GRO personnel to better understand and manage the critical security component to their jobs. She would like such training to culminate in new standard operating procedures for GRO's activities. Comment

------- 15. (C) This meeting further confirmed that Teixeira genuinely wants to fight the corruption and inefficiency that have a crippling effect on her broad portfolio (including GRO, immigration, the attorney general and the courts, and the police force). Long-standing smuggling routes that transfer illegal migrants from India, Pakistan, and China through Guyana to the U.S. and Canada are ideal for exploitation by terrorists and others who would do us harm. Thus, it would be strongly in U.S. interest to find ways to assist Teixeira in vetting suspect visa applications and tightening control of civil documents.

16. (C) Unfortunately, although Teixeira criticizes her predecessor Gajraj's imperious, direct control over the Ministry's workings, she has only slightly loosened the reins of control herself. This may reflects her very valid concerns over both corruption and competence within the MHA, or the PPP's habit of centralized decision-making and micro-management. The fact that she involves herself personally in sensitive visa applications supports either hypothesis. Another possibility is that the position has overwhelmed her. Post rates Teixeira highly as an honest, forthright interlocutor. However, more than a few Guyanese insiders think of her as a lightweight better suited to her previous position as Minister of Youth, Culture, and Sport.

END COMMENT. THOMAS

 

Here is one of the illegal activity.

Django
Baseman posted:
Django posted:
Billy Ram Balgobin posted:
Baseman posted:
 

Listen, there were Chinese and Indians who apply for citizenship and some got it after fulfilling the residency rules.  They were not brought in and  fast tracked to citizenship for election purposes.  We also know many Chinese eventually leave for North America!

It was done openly.  I recall the gov't. putting their pictures on the newspapers and asking the public to comment.

Do you recall any bitching ??

What’s the matter with you? Read what he said.  It was done openly according to the constitution.  If it was done clandestine and in mass and telling the people who to vote for, then GT would be up in flames.

Its two different things.  You are lying pon yuh mattie!  Shame on you!

See post from wikileaks

Django

Did you read who taking action to control the scam?   The PPP minister herself.  She even revoked licenses of people performing the frauds.  I believe much of these were frauds to gain Guyana citizenship then apply to go to North America!

Thats a far cry from the fraud being perpetrated by the PNC minister of Citizenship.

Try to contextualize the two different scenarios!!

FM
Baseman posted:

Did you read who taking action to control the scam?   The PPP minister herself.  She even revoked licenses of people performing the frauds.  I believe much of these were frauds to gain Guyana citizenship then apply to go to North America!

Thats a far cry from the fraud being perpetrated by the PNC minister of Citizenship.

Try to contextualize the two different scenarios!!

Fraud is Fraud , no one knows what more skullduggery was taking place.

By the way Gail was booted from the position.

Django

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