Decision to accept persons not wanted by the US is an abomination

September 8, 2026·2 min read

Published in

Kiskadee Watch ·Sep 8, 2026

Dear Editor,

Some time ago news filtered in that our government through its illustrious head of state had agreed to accept a number of persons not wanted by the United States government^[1]. I found this unbelievable and no more than malicious rumour being spread to taint our government. Over the weekend reliable sources have confirmed that this travesty of accepting individuals unwanted, or deemed persona non grata by another state is true, and its implementation has started. I discussed this matter with some young Guyanese and one youngster put it simply, even though I said we must not say it, he said “we have a rookie in charge of government business”. In the UK, most of Europe, the Middle East, and in the North and South Americas immigration is a major issue. Immigration has divided and is dividing political parties, and citizens in many parts of the world, many countries and Guyana should be numbered among such, ought to be concerned that wanton foolish immigration can change the demographic and cultural landscape of their countries, in the majority of cases, certainly not for the better. What makes this adventure by our government heart-rending and stressful is that there is no logic, and no good sense to what is happening. However, by way of example, if we are short of medical professionals, such as physicians, specialist, nurses, and laboratory technicians the policy should be to admit into our country only persons with verified qualifications. This policy should apply to other areas where Guyanese whose navel-string is buried here, lack the necessary skills and experience. Further in each and every case we must be satisfied with the character, moral standing, physical and mental state of persons coming into our country to work and live. Of course, the question of security must always be paramount, and therein editor and citizens, is my problem.

I have been in public life for more than seven decades and witnessed the dismantling of the best internal and external security system in the region from the late 80s. On the external front no matter what the challenges a small country like ours face, the ministry of foreign affairs, our ambassadors, envoys and representatives must have the skills, personality and perspicacity to deal with a tricky, and I say, treacherous international environment. Meaning disrespect to no one, but I have not observed the likes of Sir Shridath Ramphal, Fred Wills, Bishop Fred Talbot, Sir Lionel Luckhoo, Sir John Carter, Dr Cedric Grant, Rashleigh Jackson, Ronald Austin, Rudy Collins, Rudy Insanally, Malcom Parris, Dr Mohamed Shahabuddeen, Cheryl Miles, Ann Jardim, Cecil Pilgrim, Sydney Saul, Carl Greenidge and Dennis Gouveia, representing our country. In addition to these persons of commitment and sagacity, annually we hosted meetings involving all our diplomats to review and understand the changing world, and the dynamics affecting Guyana. First time in the hemisphere, Guyana in 1972, hosted a well-attended meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Non-Aligned movement.^[2]

All of the above and its diplomatic corps, the confidence to deal with foreign powers large and small, to preserve our dignity, our sovereignty enabled us to be held with due regard by the majority of nation states. Today, we must all speak up against this abomination, and this disrespect for the sanctity of the contract we signed at independence on May 26, 1966^[3]. That contract was signed on behalf of our ancestors and our descendants, we must not betray them or fail them, and remind all and sundry that Guyana is not for sale.

Sincerely,
Elder Hamilton Green

References

Guyana accepts six U.S. deportees from Afghanistan and Cuba - Kaieteur News — kaieteurnewsonline.com ↩
1972 Non-Aligned Foreign Ministers Conference — en.wikipedia.org ↩
Guyana Independence Act 1966 — www.legislation.gov.uk ↩

Guyana accepts six U.S. deportees from Afghanistan and Cuba - Kaieteur News

kaieteurnewsonline.com · 2026-09-06

Sep 06, 202 ... News (Kaieteur News) – The Government of Guyana has finalised a migration cooperation agreement with the United States under which the country will receive a limited, vetted group of non-criminal, skilled individuals through the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Assisted Voluntary Return Programme. ... The agreement marks the immediate rollout of a temporary third-country deportation mechanism, with an initial cohort of six deportees with four originating from Cuba and two from Afghanistan arriving in Guyana on Friday. Official sources confirmed to Kaieteur News that the newly inked bilateral framework agreement carries an initial duration of one year. ... The deal outlines a temporary arrangement for individuals who voluntarily opt for relocation to Guyana while awaiting the final determination of their immigration status. Under the agreed terms, the United States Government will bear the complete financial burden of the relocation exercise. The operational execution of the framework falls directly under the IOM, the UN Migration Agency. ... The IOM ... The Government maintained that it holds total sovereignty over who enters the country under the pact. Guyana retains complete veto power to review and deny any individual put forward by US authorities. Only individuals who explicitly consent to relocate to Guyana of their own free will and meet strict non-criminal and skill criteria will be admitted. ... Addressing public concerns, the official government statement clarified that the arrangement operates under strict parameters and does not offer open-ended residency or permanent resettlement. “Individuals relocated to Guyana under the Assisted Voluntary Return Programme do so voluntarily and will await the outcome of their immigration status determination while in Guyana,” the statement detailed. “Depending on the outcome, individuals will either return to their country of origin or relocate elsewhere of their choosing.” ... Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud told Al Jazeera that a group of Cuban and Afghan nationals had arrived in Guyana on Saturday, after being deported due to immigration issues. “The US has not made any further requests” for non-citizen deportations to be sent to Guyana at this time, Persaud told The Associated Press news agency. None had criminal backgrounds, according to Persaud. The removals are part of an ongoing campaign under Trump, who promised during his 2024 re-election bid to engineer the “largest deportation programme of criminals in the history of America”. ... Persaud said that Guyana reached an agreement with the US to receive deportees after months of negotiations. The human rights nonprofit Amnesty International estimates that more than 30 countries have entered into such agreements since Trump returned to office, including 15 in the Americas region. The deal with Guyana will last for one year and does not constitute permanent resettlement, Persaud said.

1972 Non-Aligned Foreign Ministers Conference

en.wikipedia.org

1972 Non-Aligned Foreign Ministers Conference | 1972 Non-Aligned Foreign Ministers Conference | | | --- | --- | | Umana Yana, V.I.P. lounge for the conference | | | Host country | Guyana | | Date | 8 August 1972 – 12 August 1972 | | Cities | Georgetown, Guyana | | Venues | Pegasus Hotel [1] | | Follows | first foreign ministers conference | | Precedes | 1975 Non-Aligned Foreign Ministers Conference (Lima, Peru) | The Non-Aligned Foreign Ministers Conference was held in Georgetown, Guyana from 8 August to 12 August 1972. [2] It was attended by delegations from 59 Non-Aligned Movement member countries, 12 delegations of observers and 8 guests. The Royal Government of National Union of Kampuchea was recognized as the legitimate representative of Cambodia (then ruled by the US-backed Khmer Republic); and the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam was admitted as a full member (southern Vietnam was then ruled by the US-backed Republic of Vietnam). [3] Delegates from Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Kingdom of Laos staged a protest walk-out to convey dissatisfaction with this decision. China's renewed interest in the movement was tied to the growing need for support against the USSR and returning the favor after admission to the United Nations, with votes mostly coming from non-aligned nations. [4] The conference adopted an Action Programme for Economic Co-operation called the "Georgetown Declaration". The meeting included a call for a resolution in the Middle East and the withdrawal of Israel from Arab territories. [5] Also, a proposal was endorsed for a meeting of non-aligned ministers prior to any United Nations General Assembly meetings in order to "coordinate their positions" as well as establish annual meetings of heads of state. [4] The Umana Yana ("meeting place of the people" in the local Waiwai language), a conical palm hut (benab), was erected as a V.I.P. lounge and recreation centre. [6] ## Commemorative statue During the conference, the Non-aligned Monument to the four founders of the Non-Aligned Movement - President Nasser of Egypt, President Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Jawaharlal Nehru of India and President Josip Broz Tito of Yugoslavia - was erected in Company Path Garden and was unveiled by the then President, Arthur Chung. [7] Each bust was sculpted in that founder's country, and the quartz base from the Mazaruni area, and decorated with jasper from Orinduik Falls. [8] ## References 1. ↑"30 Years of Stabroek News: Guyana hosts NAM Confab". Stabroek News. Retrieved 4 February 2022. 2. ↑"Moves of Nonaligned Countries". www.mofa.go.jp. Retrieved 17 February 2021. 3. ↑"Conference of Foreign Ministers of Non-Aligned Countries". www.marxists.org. Retrieved 17 February 2021. 4. 1 2 Kochan, Ran (1972). "Changing Emphasis in the Non-Aligned Movement". The World Today. 28 (11): 501– 508. ISSN 0043-9134. JSTOR 40394572. 5. ↑ Guyana (8 June 1973). "Letter dated 73/06/07 from the Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council". United Nations Digital Library System. 6. ↑"Umana Yana, African Liberation Monument". Guyana Times International. Retrieved 4 February 2022. 7. ↑"NON – ALIGNED MONUMENT | National Trust of Guyana". 19 November 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2021. 8. ↑"Monuments of Guyana". Guyana Chronicle. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2021.

Guyana Independence Act 1966

www.legislation.gov.uk

# Guyana Independence Act 1966 ... # Guyana Independence Act 1966 ... An Act to provide for the attainment by British Guiana of fully responsible status within the Commonwealth; to make provision as to the effect of certain certificates of naturalisation; and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid. ... [12th May 1966] ... (1)On and after 26th May 1966 (in this Act referred to as " the appointed day ") Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom shall have no responsibility for the government of the territory which immediately before that day constitutes the Colony of British Guiana and which on and after that day is to be called Guyana. ... (2)No Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed on or after the appointed day shall extend, or be deemed to extend, to Guyana as part of its law ; and on and after that day the provisions of Schedule 1 to this Act shall have effect with respect to the legislative powers of Guyana. ... appointed day provide

Decision to accept persons not wanted by the US is an abomination — Hamilton Green — Opinion