–with help of PM’s Region 6 ‘rep’

LILAWATTIE Persaud, the U.S.-based Guyanese who had her U.S. passport misplaced by officers at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport is set to receive a new passport today, thanks to the intervention and assistance of the Office of the Prime Minister’s Representative in Region 6.

Persaud, 49, a hotel clerk in the USA, is originally from Number 47 village on the Corentyne and lives in South Ozone Park, Queens, NY. She came with her husband and son for a two-week vacation for the 50th Anniversary celebrations and was scheduled to leave on Saturday, June 11th at 16:00hrs on a Dynamic Airways flight to John F. Kennedy International Airport.

In an interview with this publication, Persaud said they arrived at the airport around 12:30hrs and proceeded to check-in and they received their boarding passes. They then were advised by the airline clerk to purchase their airport departure tax tickets and this is when Persaud said her troubles started.

“After checked in I received our Boarding Pass and was told by the clerk to purchase the airport taxes then one of the officer say to me wait that if he can check our hand piece and I proceed. Then he asked to see the passports so I gave the officer three passports. After he finished checking my two hand pieces he said to me to proceed to Immigration then I ask him to get my passport back please and he returned my husband and son’s passport to me and he instructed me to step aside for the other officer, to deal with me.”

Persaud said she waited a while and went back to the officer to remind him that he needed to return her passport to her. The officer reportedly told her to hold on and she related that at this point her name was being called on the intercom to board the plane. Persaud said she became upset and asked all three persons for her passport because she needed it to board the plane.

HOLD ON
“After 10 minutes had gone I went and reminded him to give me back my passport and he said I need to hold on and at that time my name was calling to go onboard. Again I asked all three officers that I need my passport to board and they told me to hold on and they all started to search for the passport and I pleaded with them to look at the security camera to see where my passport could be because at this point they couldn’t find it.”

Persaud said she was given “the royal run around” until the plane departed and at that point she broke down in tears as they were supposed to return to work the following Monday (June 13, 2016) and was fearful she would be stuck here and lose their jobs.

After thorough searches were conducted and failing to find the passport even though the security footage was reviewed she was instructed to make a report to the Timehri Police Outpost.
“…after one of them told me to go to Timehri Police Outpost to make a report so we went and a police officer said they will make contact with me.”

Persaud said they waited at the airport to meet with someone who could have given them a proper answer but at 18:00hrs the counter was closed and they were left to fend for themselves even after being repeatedly told to “hold on” that someone will come to speak with them.

She said they had to hire another minibus to take them back to the Corentyne as the vehicle that brought them had already left. She related that up until Monday afternoon no one from the police station called her and upon sharing her story with neighbours and relatives she was given the telephone number of Gobin Harbhajan, the Office of the Prime Minister’s Representative for Region Six.

In an invited comment Harbhajan said after learning of the woman and her family’s plight he made contact with the US Embassy in Georgetown and he was advised on what was the way forward to obtain a new passport for Persaud and he managed with the help of the family to submit the required documents and was successful in getting an interview for yesterday, June 15, at 13:00 hrs.

He also expressed thanks to the US Embassy for their timely intervention. Persaud said she went to the embassy and was advised to return today to uplift a new passport. She expressed sincere gratitude to the US Embassy and Harbhajan, who she said also assisted financially as they had used up all their finances.

They are making arrangements to uplift the passport and leave on the next available flight and put behind “this horrible ordeal”. When quizzed about a possible return, she smiled and said, “At this point, I don’t think so.”