ON Tuesday, March 17, 2020, five Sri Lankans were placed before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs- Marcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, having been charged with illegal entry into Guyana.

The group of five consisted of four males and one female.
The charge alleged that, on Sunday, March 15, 2020, at 63 Beach Corentyne, they entered Guyana by sea and ‘disembarked’ without the consent of an immigration officer.
The prosecutor informed the court that, on March 15, 2020, immigration ranks acted on information and went to the city hotel where the Sri Lankans were staying. Their passports were checked and it was discovered that there were no entry stamps endorsed in any of the passports. They were arrested and taken to the Criminal Investigation Department where an investigation was conducted.

The Sri Lankans were questioned and it was revealed that they entered Guyana from Suriname as they believed Guyana was part of Suriname. Thus, they did not present themselves to an immigration officer upon entering Guyana from Suriname.

The Sri Lankans were all charged and placed before the court for having arrived in Guyana by sea and disembarking without the consent of an immigration officer.

Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus ordered the Sri Lankans to each pay a fine of $30,000 and, in default, be imprisoned for 60 days.