U.S. congressional action sought on Guyanese deportees
Guyana Chronicle
August 12, 2004
THE U.S. Congress is being lobbied to consider action that will allow Guyanese deportees to receive a percentage of the assets they might have accumulated prior to their being incarcerated for crimes committed on American soil.
This is to enable them to resettle with some degree of independence and sustainability, since many either do not have families here or any they can rely on for adequate support.
The initiative is being led by Bishop Melvin Howard.
Bishop Howard committed to raising the issue with U.S. congressional leaders after he met President Bharrat Jagdeo during a recent visit to Guyana.
Bishop Howard is leader of the People’s Church of Christ in New Portville, Philadelphia.
A statement from his office released to the Philadelphia Inquirer News yesterday and faxed to Guyana, says Bishop Howard is scheduling a meeting with Senator Arlen Spector and Representative James Greenwood “to work out future plans that will lead to an end to the problem.”
At his meeting with President Jagdeo at the Office of the President last week, Howard learned that the deportation of Guyanese to their home country, without any means of rehabilitation or preparation for re-entry into civilised society, posed headaches for the country.
Many deportees have been blamed for engaging in violent crimes and contributing to the crime wave that rocked Guyana in 2002-03.
The Guyana Police Force has reportedly set up a unit to monitor the activities of some deportees and the government has been consulting with the U.S. authorities on help to grapple with the flow of their forced arrival back home.
Howard expects to return to Guyana in December.