– GCSM President
IN the aftermath of a Cuban being fined $20,000 or in default eight weeks in imprisonment recently for overstaying his permitted time in Guyana, calls are being made for Cubans to be given an automatic six-month stay here.
This is according to President of the Guyana-Cuba Solidarity Movement (GCSM), Halim Khan.
Khan explained that Cuba should also be added to the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and benefit from the free movement of skills/labour under Article 46 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.
“We cannot promote tourism in Guyana if we disregard the way treatment is meted out to persons visiting, there should always be simple solutions and respect for persons visiting the country,” Khan noted.
The GCSM President explained that many Cubans who decided to spend several months in Guyana apply for work permits and are contributing to the economy as sales representatives, taxi drivers, construction workers and food vendors.
The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) indicates that as of March last, 17,978 Cubans visited Guyana as opposed to 18,146 between January and March, 2018.
According to the GTA, some 74,209 Cubans visited Guyana in 2018.
Khan explained that because of prices for commodities, hospitality and freedom in Guyana, Cubans return to the country and many also visit to apply for US visas.
“Many Cubans opt to return because they enjoy doing business in Guyana, we need to give them an automatic six months since they are also contributing to the development of businesses,” the GCSM president noted.
The Cuban national Eulices Marquez Echevarria, 43, appeared before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court recently.
The charge read to him stated that between July 14, 2019, and August 15, 2019, at Georgetown, he failed to comply with conditions subject to a permit to stay in Guyana between June 14, 2019 and July 13, 2019.
When asked what his plea was, the defendant said, “Guilty but I didn’t know I overstayed in the country.”
Chief Magistrate McLennan asked the defendant why he came to Guyana and he respond saying, “I came here to work as a cook and I also want to see the country.”
However, on August 14, 2019, the defendant was on the route to Brazil when he was stopped by the police at the Mabura checkpoint.
An immigration officer then asked him to present his passport and upon examining the defendant’s passport, it was observed that the defendant overstayed his time in Guyana.
Marquez was arrested, an investigation was launched and he was later charge for the offence.
“I did go to get my extension at the registry but I didn’t do it and I was on my way to Lethem, not Brazil,” Marquez told the court.
After paying his fine, the defendant would then be taken to the nearest port of exit or serve the time.
