Fifteen Haitian and six Cubans, were today charged and fined for departing Guyana illegally.
The charge against the Cubans stated that on
February 22,2020, at Takutu, Lethem, they departed Guyana illegally without the consent of an immigration officer.
While the charge against the Haitians stated that on February 23,2020, at Takutu, Lethem, they departed Guyana illegally without the consent of an immigration officer.
The group which consists of both males and females appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
With the aid of an interpreter, they all pleaded guilty to the charge after it was read to them.
According to information, the defendants came to Guyana legally via the Chedi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and were each granted one month’s stay. However, on the days mentioned in the charge, police at Lethem stopped a bus in which they were traveling.
They were asked to present their travel documents and upon checking the ranks observed that they did not present themselves to an immigration officer before departing Guyana. They were all then arrested and taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and charged.
The Magistrate fined the defendants $20,000 each or in default six weeks imprisonment.
Upon paying the fine or serving the time, they will be escorted to the nearest port of exit to be deported.
