Deportee memorandum ready for signing
Stabroek News
February 5, 2004
A Memorandum of Under-standing (MOU) outlining a framework within which certain Guyanese-born criminals would be deported from the US is to be signed tomorrow between the government and US authorities.
The MOU was finalised following several rounds of negotiations and was approved by the Cabinet at its meeting on Tuesday, Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon announced yesterday.
According to Luncheon, the document is designed with the intention of emphasising timeframes and procedures to be followed in achieving deportations of Guyanese.
The MOU has also been designed to address concerns about the protection of the legitimate rights of those deported as well as catering for their property rights including access to earned social benefits.
Luncheon further highlighted that the document would allow deportees access to legal services to deal with the protection and enjoyment of their rights even while they are here.
However, the MOU does not cover support to those deported to ensure that they are able to resettle adequately upon return.
Luncheon said Guyana along with other Caribbean territories is suffering from the deportee problem and are all still lobbying the US administration to provide assistance be it technical or humanitarian in aiding the tracking and monitoring of deportees.
Five hundred and twenty Guyanese were deported here between January 1 and November 23, 2003 according to information provided by the police, and law enforcement officers are worried about the dangers this trend poses.