June 1 2018
Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, was no holds barred today when he put the Coalition Government on blast. “We have a criminal enterprise in Guyana that is the government,” he said today (May 31, 2018).
During his news conference, held at his Church Street office, he reiterated that the 2017 and 2018 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), produced by the United States of America’s (USA) State Department, are markedly different, in that “government corruption” is cited as a major source of money laundering in Volume 2 of the latest report.
Giving details of eight massive ‘kick-back schemes, which he referred to a “bribe collecting syndicates” made up of government officials, Jagdeo charged that one in particular has several consequences for not only Guyana, but for other countries.
According to him, false documents, including birth certificates and passports, are being sold for US$6,000 per person and the illegality is being facilitated by the Ministry of Citizenship.
“We have said that we are aware that Haitians are trafficked through Guyana; that it is supported by this government…the evidence of this is that often groups are met airside by government officials,” he said.
Jagdeo detailed immigration numbers of Haitians entering Guyana and revealed that close to 7,000 Haitians entered Guyana between 2015 and 2018, to date. However, immigration records show that over 5,000 of those persons are still in Guyana.
He said the number show that: in 2015, some 770 Haitians arrived, 136 left; in 2016, some 722 Haitians arrived, 451 left; in 2017, some 3,515 Haitians arrived, 291 left; and in 2018, some 1,238 Haitians arrived, 85 left.
The Opposition Leader noted that Guyanese would be aware of Haitians setting up residence in Guyana. “Guyanese, all of us, live here and we know that 5,000 Haitians are not living here…it is clear that most of these people left, but they have done so illegally. We believe that they are being moved through Suriname and French Guiana….there is a big people smuggling racket going on, aided by this government,” he said.
According to the Opposition Leader, the matter will be brought to the attention to the international community, including agencies like the UNDP. “We will bring it to their attention because we believe that this is people smuggling,” he said.
He added that Suriname and French Guiana will have to be put on alert for this also.
Jagdeo noted that in addition to the fact that the act is illegal and corrupt, there is also a worry that the issuance of false documentation will be used to pad the voters’ list. He explained that the Party is checking in a detailed manner all the new registrations that are being made. However, he proffered the view that this racket is essentially a “massive corrupt practice” involving the Coalition Government.
“We have a titular president and in three years we have become the most corrupt country in western hemisphere,” Jagdeo declared.
