Haitian national, working as taxi driver, charged for overstaying in Guyana

A 39-year-old Haitian National, who was nabbed during an immigration exercise at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport(CJIA), Timehri, was on Thursday charged for overstaying in Guyana.

Pierre Junior Baptist appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s court and pleaded guilty to the charge.

The court heard that between December 29, 2018, and July 1, 2019, at Georgetown, the Haitian national failed to comply with conditions under which he was granted stay in Guyana from November 28, 2018, and December 28, 2018.

With the aid of an interpreter, Baptist told the court that he lives at Albert Street, Georgetown.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that ranks from the immigration department conducted an operation at the CJIA on July 1 and several persons, including the defendant, were arrested for soliciting passengers for taxi.

Baptist was asked to produce his passport and it was examined by the officers, who discovered that he had overstayed his time here.

Mansfield told the court that Baptist was arrested and taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Headquarters at Eve Leary.

The Central Immigration and Passport Office confirmed that Baptist entered Guyana legally at the CJIA on November 28, 2018, and was granted a one month stay, the Police Prosecutor said.

A further investigation was done and the Ministry of Citizenship was also contacted and it found that he never applied for an extension of his stay in Guyana.

The Chief Magistrate fined Baptist $60,000 or default four-week imprisonment.

She also ordered that he is escorted to the nearest port of exit after paying his fine or serving his sentence.