Fewer Guyanese deported this year, but more involved in criminal activities
Stabroek News
December 24, 2006
The number of deportees involved in criminal activities has increased this year, although official statistics by the Guyana Police Force reveal that fewer were returned to the country this year.
Police records have also shown that most of the deportees were convicted of drug trafficking and gun-running offences.
The police had complained in the past that with the large influx of deportees to this country each year, narcotics trafficking, gun running and other serious crimes have increased.
A law was passed a few years ago, allowing the police force to monitor the activities of deportees. However, senior police sources had told this newspaper that many of the deportees would give one address then relocate after a few weeks, making it difficult for the force to keep abreast of their activities.
Questions have been raised in the past about the welfare of deportees, many of whom find it extremely difficult to reintegrate into society and secure jobs.
As a consequence, many of them have been induced with financial and other rewards to join criminal gangs and do retail and delivery work for drug barons.
According to statistics by the police force for last year, 247 persons were deported to Guyana and the figure is around 240 for this year so far. For 2005, 175 of the deportees came from the United States of America, 11 from Canada, seven from Barbados and 11 from Suriname. There were also seven from French Guiana. There were other deportees from Guadeloupe and Trinidad and Tobago among other countries.
Police records have also shown that of the 247 persons deported last year, just one has since committed a narcotics-related crime here, while five committed other serious crimes including murders and robbery under arms. For this year, two deportees have so far committed drug-related offences while ten have committed other serious crimes including robbery under arms and murder.
Of the 240 deportees posted home this year, 152 came from the USA, seven from Canada, ten from Barbados, 24 from French Guiana and 41 from Suriname.
Police have noted an increase in the number of deportees from Suriname this year. It is believed that there is an established network of criminals operating between Guyana and Suriname and even French Guiana. Stabroek News was told that a number of wanted men in Guyana have managed to slip over to these neighbouring countries in the past through the border at Corriverton. There are three illegal boat services at Corriverton transporting persons to and from Nickerie, Suriname .
Meanwhile, of the last ten persons deported to Guyana most had been convicted of drug trafficking. Among the deportees is a 25-year-old who hails from East Ruimveldt. He was deported from the USA for possession of narcotics. It had been reported that on February 25 last year the young man was arrested by police for possession of and trafficking in narcotics. He appeared in court, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment.
Another man aged 36 years and formerly from Essequibo was also deported from the US for possession of drugs. He was arrested in the US last year July and was charged with cocaine possession. A Prince William Street, Plaisance woman was also deported from Barbados in June this year for trafficking in cocaine. She had departed Guyana legally in 2002, but on arrival there she was found with cocaine and was sentenced to seven years in jail. She only served three years nine months. Additionally, a Betsy Ground, Canje, Berbice man was deported from the US for attempted robbery. The man who left Guyana for the USA legally in 1997 was arrested in September 2001 and charged with attempted robbery. He appeared in court and was granted $5,000 bail. In December the same year while on his way to Canada he was arrested by immigration officials who informed him that there was an arrest warrant pending for him. As a result, he appeared in court and agreed to a plea bargain. He was sentenced to four years imprisonment in August 2002 and on completion of his sentence he was deported.
Further, a 50-year-old man of Berbice was deported over an assault charge, a West La Penitence man for cocaine possession and another man of Eping Avenue for importation of cocaine.
The police bulletin also revealed that a man whose address was given as Hotel Tower, Main Street was deported from the US for drugs after spending 15 years behind bars.
The tenth man hails from Hague Village, West Coast Demerara. He too was deported for drugs possession after being found with 80 bags of cocaine. He was sentenced to three years in prison.