Dear Editor,
My family and I left for Guyana on August 26, 2024. Our visit was to carry out four separate humanitarian projects in Guyana. We had been in regular contact with community leaders to determine the poorest of the poor; single female households; and people with disabilities. Based on our field inquiries, we identified four areas to be served. They are West Coast Demerara; the Pakuri Mission (formerly St Cuthbert Mission, Mahaica River); the Dharamshala in Canje, Berbice; and selected sites on the Corentyne Coast. Our target was to reach out to a combined total of 600 needy families with support in the form of food hampers (each with multiple food items that weigh 40 lbs). This project was funded by the MBBF NGO (whose leader is Shri Marcus Bisram) and he has graciously dedicated this project to the memory of my wife, Bibi Z. Singh, who passed away a few months ago.
On traveling with American Airlines 737 to conduct these projects, I had the opportunity to examine the Customs and Immigration form issued by the Guyana authorities. The wording especially on the Customs side of the form is so fine that it strains the eyes to read. Not only that, with Guyana moving into the technology era, one would have thought that this form should have been available online for travelers to complete. This measure would also save much time and speed up the processing of passengers and reduce irritants. Passengers spend much time to line up for security checks, to board the aircraft (25-30 mins), to get out of the aircraft (15 -20 mins), and then wait in a long line (35-45 mins) to pass through Immigration and Customs). Of course, the diplomats and VIPs don’t have to endure these frustrating moments.
I addressed this issue earlier about two months ago when I sent the Ministry of Works a request to consider the creation of an online form similar to the Electronic G5 Customs and Immigration form of Jamaica. They promised to examine this matter but I have not heard anything since then. Whether this has been accorded any priority is hard to tell. I am therefore calling on the Minister of Works and the Minister of Home Affairs to give serious consideration to this irritant and move to make travel less cumbersome. The traveling public will be delighted if international travel flows smoothly. And this should not be a difficult project to implement (convert Customs & Immigration paper form to a digital one). Guyana’s modern economy deserves no less.
Sincerely,
Dr. Tara Singh
