3 Venezuelan women fined, to be deported

– after fleeing food crisis and entering Guyana illegally

Three remorseful women who were driven from their home country of Venezuela in light of the ongoing economic crisis and came to Guyana in hopes of providing for their ailing families were on Wednesday morning charged and fined by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for entering the country illegally.

Gilda Barreto, Geamary Salsedo and Jovanna Vilero, who entered the compound of the Georgetown Magistrates Courts with heavy luggage in tow, were alleged to have entered the country by sea and disembarked without the consent of immigration officials during the period of April to May 2017.
Prosecutor Arvin Moore related that the women were asked by Police officials on May 27, 2017, to present their travel documents. They were arrested and charged after failing to produce their passports, as it was discovered that they entered the jurisdiction by unlawful means.
The trio pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to them by the Magistrate and apologised for their actions. A sobbing Baretto related that she was only 18 years old and explained that the sole reason for coming to Guyana was to better provide for her family who was in dire need of basic necessities for survival.
A more composed Salsedo told the Magistrate everyone in the country was trying to get out as there was no food available or any means of earning a decent living presently. Vilero offered a heart-wrenching justification that she had no money to feed or clothe her children, who she wished so dearly to have a good education. It was only for this reason the weeping woman related that she was forced to leave her country after being unable to fulfil her obligations as a parent in the strained circumstances.
The women were each ordered to pay a fine of $15,000 and escorted to the nearest port of exit after payment of the fine or serving an alternative of two weeks’ imprisonment. (Paula Gomes)