A Venezuelan national, who said she travelled to Guyana for work owing to the crisis in her home country, was yesterday remanded to prison on an illegal entry charge.
Yanelda Vellada, 21, stood before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in Georgetown and was read a charge which stated that she, between January 1 and January 28, at Eteringbang, Cuyuni River, entered Guyana by sea and disembarked without the consent of an immigration officer.
Vellada, in tears, pleaded not guilty to the crime through the aid of a translator.
According to police prosecutor Deniro Jones, the woman did not present a passport to the police when she was picked up in Linden. He further objected to bail based on the fact that the defendant is not a resident of Guyana.
When asked by the Chief Magistrate why she came to Guyana, the woman stated that she came to work because Venezuela doesn’t have work.
Since 2016 Venezuela has been experiencing an economic decline, with little to no necessities being available in the country.
The continuing economic turmoil in Venezuela has resulted in continuous attempts by its citizens to find work in Guyana. However, several have been charged with entering the country illegally in their bids to find employment.
Vellada was remanded to prison until February 1.
