The Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) of the Guyana Police Force has commenced investigating allegations that an immigration officer has demanded bribes from Cuban nationals seeking to enter this country.The officer has been removed from duty at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), according to reliable police sources.

Haleem Khan, President of the Guyana-Cuba Solidarity Movement (GCSM), reported that he had been receiving from Cubans who travel to Guyana numerous complaints that they were being forced by immigration authorities at the CJIA to pay bribes of between US$100 and US$250 per person. He had alleged that the affected parties who were refused entry would let fellow Cuban nationals get the message that it was compulsory they had to pay bribes when visiting Guyana.

“The immigration officers refuse entry to those who don’t walk with a bribe, in favour of those willing to pay,” Khan claimed. In listing some of the occasions, Khan said that a Cuban by the name of Jessica Saavedro Marrero had travelled to Guyana on COPA Airlines flight CM0254 on January 6 last. 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 had to pay US$200 before she would be allowed to enter Guyana. The taxi driver who was sent to pick up Marrero then called Khan and related the story.

Khan also said that he knew of a few Cubans who had to pay bribes to an immigration officer on December, 29, 2015. He alleges that an immigration officer on that occasion asked them to show the cash U.S. dollars they had in their possession, and whatever they showed was what they had to hand over.

Khan said that, on another occasion, a Cuban doctor visiting Guyana was refused entry after he refused to pay US$500 out of his US$2,500 cash that he had to cover hotel and other expenses.