FIVE Cubans, including a child, appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, charged for entering Guyana illegally via Suriname/Guyana backtrack route.

Those charged are Amoury Rondon Robaina, Yonisleydis Cedeno Blanco, Erneydys Rodriguez Gomez and Yuriesqui Pena Luis. It is alleged that on August 5, 2020, they entered Guyana via the sea and disembarked without the consent of an immigration officer.

While admitting to the charge, Magistrate Moore explained they had two choices; either to pay a fine of $20,000 each or spend three weeks in prison.

With the assistance of an interpreter, the foreign nationals told the court they will pay the fine. As such, the magistrate ordered they be deported to their native land.

Even though the borders have been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign nationals have been finding various means and points of entry into the country. Within the last two months, approximately 30 Cubans entered the country illegally via the Corentyne River. Five of the 30 tested positive for COVID-19 and were placed into an isolation facility.

This is a major concern for Berbicians and the country at large since it poses a major health risk. To date, Berbice has recorded 14 positive cases with one death. Several other Cubans remain in a quarantine facility. As recent as last weekend, another batch of 11 Cubans were intercepted at the Berbice River Bridge and in the vicinity of the Number 63 Beach.

The Guyana Chronicle understands persons would pay as much as US$500 per person to enter the country.