..but police say no ban on them coming to Guyana
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has denied that there is a ban on Haitian nationals seeking to enter Guyana. Following such reports in the media, the denial of such a ban also came from Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn.
According to the GPF, it has not been directed by any authority and neither has the Commissioner of Police been instructed by the Minister of Home Affairs to ban Haitian Nationals from entering Guyana. “There is no ban on Haitian Nationals seeking to enter Guyana,” the release iterated.
Furthermore, the Police Force also refuted allegations that several Haitians were being detained under inhumane conditions. The Force stated that, between May 23 and May 24, 2021, a total of 17 out of a total of 61 Haitians who had arrived aboard a Caribbean Airlines flights at the Eugene Correia International Airport at Ogle, were refused entry into the country.
They were refused entry because they did not satisfy immigration requirements. “Having not been landed, the 17 Haitians have been kept at the Airport awaiting a return flight to their Port of Embarkation for their journey to Guyana. They have since departed aboard a Caribbean Airlines flight from the Eugene F. Correia International Airport, Ogle at 14:40 hours on today Tuesday, May 25, 2021,” the GPF stated, adding that the Airline, airport officials and the Ministry of Home Affairs assisted with feeding and accommodation for the affected persons during their stay at the airport.
In the past, the detention of Haitians in Guyana due to suspicions that they were part of a Human Trafficking ring saw the matter climbing all the way up to the High Court.
