Dear Editor,
The Government of Guyana is bent on continuing the operation of the illegal backtrack route to Suriname, and this is clear when we look at the efforts Minister Robert Persaud made to have it reopened and the comment offered by another member of parliament to me personally, when he said that the ‘backtrack’ can never be stopped.
Just last Wednesday there was an article in the press which stated that some Venezuelans had been arrested and charged for entering Guyana via the ‘backtrack’ and we know that there are many more illegals in this country who came that way. While it is true that we do not have lobby groups in Guyana, I feel strongly that the government of this country should pay attention to the illegality of the backtrack route and the fact that it is frustrating many Guyanese, and therefore should be dealt with.
Why have we opened our border to the world where everyone who desires can just hop on a boat from anywhere and disembark on the Corentyne coast and have a free pass into Guyana? Can we not in this day and age behave as if we have regard for law and order? If there were lobby groups here I am sure that there would be all kinds of pressure on this government to stop illegal operations in this country. I will name a few very quickly: the street dealers in foreign exchange, the bars and rum shops that operate illegally selling liquor to the public without a licence and police and customs officials drinking at some of them and, of course, the infamous ‘backtrack’ to Suriname.
I call on this government and President (is he in Guyana?) to stop the illegal acts or move to legalize them. People, both here and abroad, are of the view that it is ok to use the backtrack route and yet when it pleases the officials people are charged and sanctions are imposed – a fine or imprisonment. Let me add that the imposition of a fine at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court is a case of pay now or go to jail. Persons have not been granted any time to pay $20,000. And so if they do not have the money they go to jail. This is a cheap way to collect revenue.
Start to take care of the illegal issues that are small or few before they become a thorn in the side.
It is still my view that the Moleson Creek ferry can be a profitable venture if utilized fully so make a decision now – legalize the backtrack or shut it down, and in the interim advise the ‘once in a while actors’ not to arrest or charge anyone for entering or leaving the country unlawfully because minister Persaud thinks it is good for the agriculture business.
Yours faithfully,
Charrandass Persaud
