Following an article that was published by another section of the media on Tuesday, which stated that Guyana has placed an immediate ban on Haitian nationals coming to the country, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has since condemned the “irresponsible and mischievous” report.
The article stated that the ban was communicated to Commissioner of Police Nigel Hoppie by Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn on Tuesday morning.
However, in response, the GPF stated that it has not been directed by any authority, neither has the Commissioner of Police been instructed by the Home Affairs Minister to ban Haitian nationals from entering Guyana.
“There is no ban on Haitian nationals seeking to enter Guyana. The Police Force is categorically refuting such allegations which are being peddled on social media by irresponsible, mischievous and misleading media reporting,” the statement read.
In fact, the Police clarified that between Sunday, May 23, and Monday, May 24, 2020, a total of 17 of 61 Haitian nationals who had arrived on a Caribbean Airlines flight at the Eugene F Correia International Airport at Ogle, were refused entry into the country since they did not satisfy immigration requirements.
“Having not been landed, the 17 Haitians have been kept at the airport awaiting a return flight to their Port of Embarkation for their journey to Guyana. They have since departed aboard a Caribbean Airlines flight from the Eugene F Correia International Airport, Ogle, at 14:40h on Tuesday,” the Police stated in a release to the media.
Further, the Police stated that those who were detained were fed and accommodated by the airline and the Home Affairs Ministry.
