(Barbados Nation) The Barbados Immigration Department on Thursday evening confirmed the detention and subsequent departure of ten Guyanese nationals between March 22 and 27 for various offences. Six were deported and four were asked to leave.
The incident sparked debate here and in Guyana where the Stabroek News on Wednesday headlined the story, Guyanese rounded up in Barbados facing deportation.
However, a Guyanese who spoke to the WEEKEND NATION under anonymity, refuted reports that the Guyanese were badly treated. He said he was in the cell with the deportees and it was not true they were mistreated or not properly fed.
“There is no truth to the water and white bread story. Immigration officers go to the deli and buy sandwiches which have in tuna, cheese, meat and ham.
That’s for the morning breakfast,” he said.
He added that lunch was “proper food” such as shepherd’s pie, plantain and lettuce, among other things, and at night a choice of hot beverage or soft drink was given along with sandwiches.
He said what some of his countrymen were guilty of was not speaking to the immigration officials properly and he was “not going to tell lies on them”. Meanwhile, a report has been sent to the Guyanese authorities about the alleged mistreatment.
Honorary Consul for Guyana Norman Faria said that on Tuesday he received word from a relative of one of the detainees that they were being held for an unreasonably long period.
He said they were in custody at the airport since Thursday last week, and only seven of them were sent back up to Wednesday morning.
Faria said the local immigration authorities told him the Guyanese had violated Barbados’ immigration regulations. He said on receiving the information he did a probe.
Chief of Immigration Gilbert Greaves said the immigration offences included living on the island illegally, conviction on a criminal offence and possession of false documents [including a false work permit stamp, ID card and Treasury receipt].
The person with the false documents purported to be a priest.
Greaves admitted there was a delay in the deportation but said it was the result of a lack of airline seats.
Greaves said the allegations about the diet were false.
“Those persons who were detained all had their breakfast, lunch and supper provided in accordance with established practice. Of course, persons do, from time to time, refuse meals for various reasons,” said Greaves.
