An open letter to His Excellency Irfaan Ali

Jun 26, 2023 Letters

---

Dear Editor,

Kaieteur News – Firstly, I would like to say that I could hardly find words to extol President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s government, for the Yeoman service to Guyana, and the people of our country. The list is enumerable and actually in my opinion, cannot be listed. The number of roads, lands, bridges, agricultural expansion, cash grants, medical facilities and support that the government has been working on, all for the benefit of the people are truly exciting.

Hence, my incessant applause to the President and his Government.  All of Guyana should join in applauding them. We know for a fact that whatever a good Government does there are always some who will always critique and who will never be satisfied.

However, the main thrust of this letter is to call on the government to make Guyana truly internationally recognized. Please note the following:

1. I recently had cause to travel to the historic land of the Ottoman Empire that is Turkey. I had acquired the necessary visa for this purpose of this travel in order to join a much-anticipated cruise which was set to happen since pre-COVID days.
2. On arrival in Turkey with all my excitement and joy I could not have entered the country, simply because the visa I obtained online was not meant for a Guyana Passport, only for a US and other countries’ passports’.
3. Being shocked and disappointed all kinds of enquiries commenced. I was told I needed to return to New York and re-apply, this would have jeopardized the entire cruise.
4. I was told I could buy a visa as is usually done in Dubai. I was then directed to a thousand (1000) ft walk to a small office, to shockingly be told that Guyana Passports are not recognized there. This was very humiliating. Not because I was inconvenienced but because of the pride I feel for my country Guyana. The cost of the new visa would have been about $90 USD but the disrespect for the Guyana passport hurt me much. No amount of money could get you the visa there I was told. See number 5 hereunder, for the shock of my life.

They showed me a list on the wall of the countries that could purchase that visa on spot. Remember I had already acquired a visa online. Also on arrival, they refused that visa and now they were refusing my passport because the Guyana Passport means nothing in Turkey and from what I see even in Europe. My heart raced when I saw the list of countries that can purchase a visa at the airport of Turkey. Number one that is approved is Haiti! Yes Haiti! Haiti! Haiti! The Caribbean warzone nation and most impoverished nation in the Caribbean could purchase a visa on the ground in Turkey. Next was little Grenada, followed by Barbados, Trinidad, Suriname, St. Lucia and tiny babies Nevis and Antigua.

So Mr. President, imagine my hurt and shame to know that our passport in the world is considered weak and fragile despite our numerous resources. We are now one of the largest producers of oil and gas, blessed with gold, diamond, manganese and a plethora of other minerals and agricultural prowess. Yet, we are looked down upon by the government of Turkey. We are recognized by the United Kingdom and over 80 other countries, I have been told. Yet we cannot even buy a visa in Turkey but Haiti can.

I am not going to curse my government, nor any Government in the past. I know this Government of Excellency, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has been working steadfastly for us to acquire easy visa in Guyana itself for the European Union. We are recognized by no other than the United Kingdom, by the Russian Federation for Visa –Free travel, many other nations like Japan, China, India etc. are easy to acquire a visa with our passport. We are now members of the United Nations Security Council and therefore, even more recognized. I recall Turkey was building an agricultural and social relationship with Guyana and associated with the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG).

I therefore wish to put to His Excellency and his Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Mr. Hugh Todd, to build the kind of relationships that our passports could at least be recognized by countries such as Turkey and others. So that we do not have to be disrespected and told that our passports are not acceptable. They wanted me to return to the US and apply for a visa that would be manually stamped in my passport, so that they could see my face and take my finger prints. I let it go and continued on my trip in another direction in Europe.

President Dr. Ali, now over to you and your government to continue to take Guyana to the highest levels of respect in the world, so that Turkey and such other countries where our passports are not recognized would be educated to recognize us, especially since we are now a member of the United Nations Security Council.

Sincerely,
Hajji Dr. Roshan Khan

---

• President Dr. Irfaan Ali, President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s government, simply because the visa I obtained online was not meant for a Guyana Passport, this Government of Excellency

---