Dear Editor,
FOR quite a number of years I’ve always gotten angry when ever illegal immigrants caught in Guyana are being hauled before the courts. Some get fined and deported and I cannot recall any being jailed. I’ve always have the opinion that it is wrong, and reading Thursday’s papers I felt a great relief when reading the article where our Minister of Foreign Affairs announced that steps would be in place to accommodate those desirous of entering Guyana.

There are many reasons that cause people to enter another country, especially illegally, either for better opportunities or like how we are witnessing problems in neighbouring countries that is causing people to migrate to countries all around. I must applaud Mr. Greenidge and say it’s a much welcome move.

However Mr. Editor, I urge that even though we would be allowing immigrants, I hope that before this plan is executed the authorities install proper mechanisms in place to prevent lawlessness to occur. No doubt once the floodgate is open many would utilise the opportunity, especially criminals/fugitives and drugs mules/dealers/barons. Our country is being kept back from development by means of technology because of our dinosaur’s era internet service we are getting for ages, and I hope that all ports of entry would be equipped with internet-ready computers and have network access with other countries so that background checks could be made on those desirous of entering Guyana. Plans should also be in place for monitoring of suspicious characters and the various offenders that would use the opportunity to enter here.

Over the years, I’ve witnessed many deportees returning to Guyana and they would amass followers and boast of the country they got deported from and comparing Guyana with them. Sadly, many would believe these disgraced criminals, unknown to them that sometimes the stories they are telling are not true but it would motivate many of our youths, and they would end up looking at these deportees as some sort of saviour and encouraging them to do all sorts of things, including crime and using illicit drugs. I’ve personally witnessed more than one such incident so I am just using that as an example so that the authorities would put mechanisms in place to protect our youths.
Regards
Sahadeo Bates