Latest update November 21st, 2024 1:00 AM
My name has been placed on the infamous Blacklist
Dear Editor,
In recent days members of the PPP/C party have been voraciously enlightening the public through the media on the unconstitutionality of Guyanese being prevented from exiting the country and having their names blacklisted at immigration checkpoints now that the elites of the PPP/C feel threatened. Why didn’t Nandlall and Rohee speak up when the PPP/C regime unconstitutionally blacklisted Guyanese?
I was prevented from leaving Guyana in September, 2011 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. An immigration officer informed me that my name was placed on the blacklist. I had no prior knowledge of this. I was never accused, arrested nor charged with any criminal activity and I did not satisfy any of the few criteria under which I could have been prevented from leaving the country. I was never served with a court order or appeared in a court of law in Guyana yet I was blacklisted by the PPP/C government.
I sought Mr. Nandlall’s assistance in this matter since he was the Attorney General then. I personally wrote to him, after which my presence was requested. I stated my matter and was then shown the door by him without any inclination of his intervention on my behalf.
In June 2012 I obtained a court order, Writs of Prohibition, (Articles 40, 142 and 148 of the Constitution of Guyana)from the High Court directed to the Commissioner of Police, which prohibits him to prevent me from travelling out of the jurisdiction at all ports of exit, yet in 2017 I am still blacklisted! I am forced to produce my court order every time I attempt to leave this country and have been told by immigration officials that without this paper I would not be allowed to exit Guyana.
I lost an educational opportunity due the fact that I was unconstitutionally blocked from leaving Guyana when this offer arose and spent precious months of my life in a depressed and anxiety-filled state. I was forced to fork out money to hire a lawyer to prove my fundamental right to freedom of movement which is enshrined in the constitution, something which was conveniently ignored by the elites of the PPP/C.
Recently, on my way to Suriname I was treated like a criminal at the immigration checkpoint at Moleson Creek. I was approached by two officers, escorted to an office in the presence of everyone and had to produce my court order plus leave copies (this was already done on a previous trip). I was told that without the court order I would not be allowed to leave Guyana.
I have grown accustom to this form of public humiliation since 2011 due to this scenario being replayed whenever I decide to travel out of the jurisdiction.
Editor, Mr. Nandlall should inform the public about the number of persons who were unconstitutionally placed on the infamous blacklist during the reign of the PPP/C.
The hypocrisy on display is beyond belief. Only when the sharks feel threatened is the public made aware of injustices, as an inconsequential little fish my rights were trampled upon yet I was forced to suffer silently.
Narissa Deokarran
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