…mull legal action over ‘false’ report on meeting with Haitians, Africans

MINISTER of Citizenship, Winston Felix, is rejecting allegations that he colluded with the Deputy Director of the State Asset Recovery Agency (SARA), Aubrey Heath-Retemeyer, to solicit votes from Haitian and African nationals in exchange for citizenship and other ‘favours’. The claims, he said, are completely false and libelous, and on that basis, he is considering legal action.

“I would not get involved in any disdainful act as suggested by the MTV News Update to secure votes for the APNU+AFC Coalition in exchange for citizenship for any foreign national residing in this country,” Minister Felix told reporters during a press conference at the Department of Citizenship on Wednesday.

In a report aired on Saturday August 31, 2019 under the headline ‘The PNC plans got busted,’ MTV News Update contended that a number of illegal foreigners from countries in Africa were promised citizenship in exchange for votes during a meeting at Critchlow Labour College on August 28, 2019. Added to that, the report suggested that foreign students were promised to have their tuition fees paid if they vote for the APNU+AFC.
But Minister Felix said the report, which also appeared on ‘Youtube,’ is a clear representation of the meeting which saw in attendance more than 19 Haitians and African nations from the Pan-African Group in Guyana.

“I wish to state that the statements emanating from MTV News Update are completely false and libelous and are designed to tarnish the good image and reputation of the APNU+AFC Government,” Minister Felix maintained.

In setting the record straight, the minister of citizenship explained that the meeting was held after Heath-Retemeyer made a representation to him on behalf of African nationals in Guyana, who had grave concerns with respect to accessing the services of the Department of Citizenship.

He detailed that among the issues raised, during the meeting, were the lengthy period taken to finalise their applications for citizenship, delays in finalising their applications for citizenship by marriage and difficulties in accessing employment visas. It was disclosed too that one student enquired about her extension of stay in Guyana because of the challenges she is facing in acquiring her tuition fees.

“The student was told that this was a separate issue which cannot be dealt with and she was so informed openly, while consideration of other matters was deferred,” Minister Felix said, while further disclosing that the following day, August 29, 2019, another meeting was held but at the Department of Citizenship.

“Four persons with issues in relation to marriages were deferred for subsequent consideration; another four were at the Immigration Office, Eve Leary. About three persons had consideration into their applications for citizenship by marriage and residency already completed; and the applications for Employment Visas were not dealt with because the persons involved did not have the status deserving consideration,” Minister Felix reported.

Fielding questions from reporters, the Minister of Citizenship said it was better to meet with the foreign nationals outside of the department to allow for them to freely express their concerns.

“In my experience, when a complaint is made against members of staff, it is better to hold it somewhere else first because people coming here might be afraid to pass and come upstairs, they may not want to do that, and so the information you would get to correct deficiencies within the department might be withheld,” he explained.

He iterated that the MTV News Update report was devoid of facts and should be withdrawn with an apology. “This culture of mendacity displayed by the newscast in an attempt to sully the image of government ministers must be exposed for what it is. I consider this untruthful news broadcast to be an attack on my character and libelous,” Minister Felix said.

He said a report was made to the relevant authorities and his lawyers will take appropriate action. “These are blatant lies, nothing as stated in that news broadcast has any truth in it, nothing in it. The only truth in it was that the meeting was held,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, at a separate press conference at the Critchlow Labour College on Wednesday, Heath-Retemeyer, while maintaining that the was there in his private capacity, said he has long assisted Haitian and African nationals, and the August 28 meeting was no different as he trashed the claims levied against him.

In his defence, Heath-Retemeyer disclosed that from 1989 to 2012, he lived and worked in the United States of America (USA), and during that period he established close ties with Haitian and African nationals.

“…I have always been interested in African affairs and to help the less fortunate people from the African continent. Whilst in New York, I made several charitable visits to many African countries including: Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Tanzania, Gambia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Senegal and Sierra Leone to provide my African brothers and sisters with tons of school supplies, books, clothing and light agricultural tools,” he explained.

As he continued to put into context his presence at the meeting with the foreign nationals and the minister of citizenship, Heath-Retemeyer said the record would show too that he has also worked with the Haitians.

“As regard to Haiti, I worked with several Haitian teachers in the New York City school system and during the Earthquake of 2010, I participated in their efforts to mobilise their diaspora to help their homeland,” he further detailed. This, he said, is in keeping with his passion and vision. “As an advocate of education, civil rights and justice, I have also provided guidance and help to several Haitian and African nationals currently in Guyana,” he added. Heath-Retemeyer said the meeting with the Pan-African Group in Guyana was no different but denied that he had organised it or had direct contact with the minister ahead of the meeting.

He too explained that the meeting was organised due to concerns raised by the immigrants. “These immigrants had experienced some major challenges in regards to their immigration papers. Many had applied for work permits and citizenship,” he explained, refuting claims that it was centered on the upcoming elections. As such, Heath-Retemeyer said the MTV News Update took him by surprise and sought to implicate not only him and the minister in corrupted activities, but the People’s Nation Congress (PNC) as well.
“Contrary to MTV report, I was not representing the PNC or the State Asset Recovery Agency. As an adult, it is my choice to utilise my personal time as I see fit since the meeting was held after my regular working hours. I want to be very clear to all and sundry, that as a citizen of Guyana, I am entitled to freedom of association like everyone else as outlined in the constitution,” Heath-Retemeyer stated.

He noted that the news agency never contacted him for clarification although it was not present at the meeting which was held around 20:00hrs. “They concocted a malicious story about promises being made to the Haitian and African Nationals with regards to citizenships, work permits and paying off of tuition fees in exchange for votes,” he said, further dubbing it unfounded and slanderous.

Contending that the news agency is closely aligned with the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), opined that this recent attack on Haitians and African nationals might have been concocted after a report surfaced alleging that the PPP linked to the issuance of fake birth certificates in Lethem, Region Nine.

While calling for all Guyanese to condemn, what he considered as a racist act committed by MTV News Update, Heath-Retemeyer made it known that this allegation will not deter him from assisting immigrants, particularly those from Africa and Haiti.