Ministry of Home Affairs Permanent Secretary, Mae Toussaint Jr. Thomas had been on a US watch list when her phone was seized earlier this month while in transit to China and her visa revoked, sources say.
The appearance of her name on the watch list will raise even further questions about what could have caused her name to be placed on it and what could have led to the confiscation of her phone.
Though Toussaint Jr. Thomas has returned to the country, the Irfaan Ali administration has maintained official silence on what it has asked of her, what she has told them and what lies ahead.
Even though Toussaint Jr. Thomas’ phone had been seized by the US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) on April 8th the government did not disclose it even though members of the administration were fully aware. It was not until Stabroek News broke the story in its April 21st edition that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lodged an enquiry with the US Embassy and was furnished with standard information on the methodologies of the CBP.
With Toussaint Jr. Thomas’ return to the country over the weekend, she was supposed to have submitted a report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on which basis further communication will be had with the US Embassy to establish the exact grounds on which her phone was seized and her visa revoked.
Up to yesterday neither the Ministry of Home Affairs nor the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had anything to say. It is unclear if Toussaint Jr. Thomas has presented an account of the events to the ministry. It is also unclear why the ministry was only aware on Friday that the Permanent Secretary’s cell phone had been seized and that such an incident posed major questions for the government.
No one in the government has said whether she was on a private trip to China or had been on government business.
Sources say that Toussaint Jr. Thomas left Guyana on April 8th for the US and after the encounter with the CPB she transited Germany on April 9th and proceeded as planned to China. She then arrived in the UK around April 19th and then travelled back to Guyana.
The confiscation of the phone will raise major concerns for the government as it would signal that CBP officials had questions about Toussaint Jr. Thomas who became permanent secretary in 2020 after the PPP/C entered office. The Ministry of Home Affairs is the central focus for law and order and Toussaint Jr. Thomas is the point person for engagement with a large number of international agencies and programmes such as citizen security.
According to CPB regulations, “If CBP officers at a port of entry need more information to determine your admissibility into the US, you may be directed to an interview area known as secondary inspection. You could also be subjected to a secondary inspection as a result of a random search. Anyone, including US citizens, may be subject to secondary inspection if the CBP officer has reservations about admitting him or her.
“Secondary inspection is a more detailed inspection to determine admissibility. It allows CBP officers to conduct additional research to verify information without delaying other travellers. During a secondary inspection, the CBP officer may ask you detailed questions about your travel plans and immigration history. You may be asked to produce additional proof of identification and detailed information about the purpose of your visit to the US. Both you and your belongings may be subject to a thorough search. Such inspections may include a search of all electronic information stored on your laptop, cell phone or other electronic device.”
