MINISTER of Citizenship, Winston Felix, has dismissed claims by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, that his ministry is complicit in a people smuggling racket as “another attempt at rumor-mongering and clutching at straws”.

Jagdeo, at a recent press conference, said the Ministry of Citizenship is involved in a people smuggling racket, “with the bulk (people) of them being smuggled through Guyana.”
He said figures from COPA airlines from late October to March of this year indicate that hundreds of Haitians, Venezuelans and other persons from around the world are passing through Guyana.

Without any proof, Jagdeo offered several Chronicle newspaper advertisements purporting to show several applicants applying for naturalisation status via the Ministry of Citizenship. Asked to clarify the publication, Minister Felix said that it was clearly a mistake and pointed out that there are numerous safeguards to prevent any “fake applicants” from duplicating or forging attainment of naturalisation.

These include biometrics, finger-printing, background checks by local and international security agencies and more. Closer attention will be paid to advertisements in the future, the minister said, and contended that many of Jagdeo’s utterances have no basis in fact. “It is amazing that someone who was a former President would continue to make rash, unfounded statements and try to hoodwink citizens,” Felix said.