FIFTEEN deportees arrived from the United States yesterday afternoon under tight security at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri.
A large media contingent and curious onlookers were at the airport for the arrival of what was reported to be the largest batch of deportees landing here.
The deportees were flown in on a specially chartered aircraft and were whisked away from the airport tarmac by Policemen in two mini-buses to Police headquarters in Georgetown where they were questioned and fingerprinted.
Fourteen of them arrived at the airport at around 14:40 hrs on a small white specially chartered aircraft and the other deportee landed shortly before on a North American Airlines commercial flight.
The 14 deportees on the charter flight were:
** Julian Persaud, convicted for assault; ** George Humphrey - controlled substance (drugs); Shameer Yasin - drugs; Sylvester Chan - drugs; Dexter Forte - possession of weapon with intent; Sean Gravesande - drugs; Leon Singh - drugs; Herman Bharratt - rape; Vernon Ranchurejee - assault; Mark Henry - drugs; Harnanan Mohabir - robbery; Corwin Douglas - robbery; Jonathan King - aggravated assault, and George Benson, also known as Elliot Sanderson - dangerous drugs.
A Police source told the Chronicle that while at Police headquarters, the deportees will go through a process of being photographed, fingerprinted and basic record keeping.
Other deportees were in recent weeks being returned to Guyana aboard regular commercial flights, but not in such large numbers. It is understood that two arrived last Saturday on a North American Airlines flight.
Those arriving yesterday are among the 113 confirmed by the Guyana Government as Guyanese and for whom travel documents were issued.
The return of the deportees comes after continuous efforts by the Government of Guyana to have all would-be deportees in the U.S. positively identified as Guyanese.
U.S. Ambassador, Mr. Ronald Godard told a news conference Monday he was gratified at the manner in which the Guyana Government has responded to the deportees issue.
He also said his government is willing to offer "law enforcement cooperation and some technical assistance (since) those being deported will require some additional monitoring".
"There is little tolerance from my authorities for the continued presence of criminals who have served their terms to remain in the United States. They should be returned, quite appropriately, to the country of origin," the U.S. Ambassador told reporters.
Guyana and the U.S. are working towards resolving the longstanding deportees issues.
Godard said the Guyana and the U.S. are "getting closer" to resolving the deportees issue which on October 10 led the U.S. to stop issuing non-immigrant visas to, initially, government functionaries, their employees and families.
The ban was issued after Guyana did not meet the deadline set by the U.S. for providing travel documents for the 100-plus deportees it wants to ship here.
Home Affairs Minister, Mr. Ronald Gajraj last week told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that while the fears of citizens are justified with respect to the number of deportees, there are measures in place to deal with persons who break the law.
He said the return of the ex-criminals is merely a political issue for the U.S., but it is a socio-political concern for Guyana, a factor he feels the U.S. Government will carefully consider when sending the deportees.
Having forwarded the relevant birth and travel documents to the U.S. authorities, the Home Affairs Minister said he has also requested the prison and personal records of those identified to return.
"The data, which will encompass the nature and number of offences committed and the prison and medical history of the deportees, will enhance the Force's ability to deal with potentially dangerous and medically ill ex-criminals", he said.
The minister pointed out that the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) will be summoned, in the event that the "social fabric of society be threatened" above the capability of the Police Force.