The Minister of Citizenship is urging persons travelling to and from Suriname over the Corentyne River to present themselves to immigration offices for processing, in accordance with the Immigration Act.
Immigration processing in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) is currently being done at immigration offices located at Republic Square, Springlands or Port Moleson Creek, a statement yesterday from the ministry pointed out.
The statement said that Minister Winston Felix advised travelers that the absence of the M.V. Canawaima, the vessel that usually traverses the route, does not preclude them from observing the law. “Persons arriving must first ensure that they check with the Immigration [office] on departing Suriname and report to the Immigration on arrival in Guyana. Failure to do so if caught, will expose you to prosecution,” Felix stated.
The release noted that according to Section 10 (3) and Section 7 (2) of the Immigration Act, Chapter 14:02, “Where a person desires to depart from Guyana by crossing a land frontier, he shall before departing, present himself to the nearest immigration officer” and, “Where a person enters Guyana by crossing a land frontier of Guyana, he shall forthwith present himself to the nearest Immigration Officer”.
The last Sunday Stabroek reported that there has been a surge in the number of persons taking the backtrack route to Suriname since the M.V. Canawaima has been out of service, with the operations of those plying the route more than doubling.
However, while the speedboat operators are enthused by the development, the travellers are not so much, as they reported that they are required to have their passports stamped in both countries, at locations away from where they land, increasing travel costs.
The Sunday Stabroek reported that travellers leaving from Guyana visit the Springlands Immigration Office, located at Republic Square, a short distance away from the “backtrack” route, where their passports are being stamped before the travel to Suriname… Once there, they head to South Drain, Nickerie, for approval from immigration authorities in order to freely travel in the country.
“$2,000 to travel through the “backtrack” to go and $2,000 to come and then you have to pay to travel here to stamp and then over there to stamp and then you can move around in the country—it adding up to more money,” a traveller who wished not to be named stated. The man, who was at the Springlands Immigration Office, noted, “This is harassing because you have to come here and wait how long and it does take about three hours.”
