A Cuban chef who said he entered Guyana as a result of the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela was granted bail when he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged with falsifying an immigration stamp.
Kenlhys Hernandez Cartaya, a 36-year-old Cuban national of Lot 53 Pere Street, Kitty, Georgetown, appeared before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty, charged with forgery. It is alleged that on January 6th, 2020, at the Central Immigration and Passport Office, Georgetown, with intent to defraud, he uttered to Janel Lovell, a Woman Corporal Immigration Officer, a Cuban passport bearing registration number 186030 in favour of himself containing a forged Guyana immigration stamp on page eight purporting to show that same was issued by Guyana, knowing same to be forged.
The man pleaded not guilty to the charge. Attorney Latchmi Rahamat entered an appearance for the defendant and told the court that Cartaya is a Cuban national but has been living in Venezuela in recent years. She said that the man is married to a Venezuelan national, whom he entered Guyana with due to the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. The attorney said that her client now works as a chef at the Italian Grill restaurant.
In a bail application, Rahamat said that if her client is granted bail, he would remain as a chef at the restaurant he currently works at. She added that due to his wife being a volunteer at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) helping other Venezuelans who enter the country, Cartaya would have ties preventing him from fleeing the country.
However, the police prosecutor objected to the defendant being released on bail. He told the court that Cartaya is not a Guyanese national and may want to flee the country.
Rahamat subsequently reminded the court that her client would be leaving his job and wife behind if he did so. She also pointed out that he had his wife, his manager and the owner of the restaurant at the court supporting him. Representatives from the IOM in Guyana were also present.
The magistrate considered Rahamat’s bail application, then granted Cartaya bail in the sum of $100,000 with the condition that he reports to the Criminal Investigation Department every Monday at 9am.
The matter was then adjourned until February 5th, 2020.
