Ramotar hammers “disgraceful” U.S. deportee deal

(Kaieteur News) – Former President Donald Ramotar has launched a scathing attack on the controversial deportation arrangement between the United States and countries in the Caribbean, describing the programme as “disgraceful” and rejecting claims that Guyana and other recipient states stand to benefit from the skills of deportees.

Guyana recently received six deportees under the arrangement, which has triggered concerns about the nature of the persons being sent to the region and the implications for countries agreeing to accept them. Ramotar, in a letter to this newspaper questioned why Caribbean governments would accept persons whom Washington itself is seeking to remove from its territory. “Instead, they have sent us persons that they want out of their countries and regional governments are accepting those rejects. Indeed, in order to put up a good spin on that disgraceful action, we are told it would be good for us. It is even suggested that accepting these US rejects, we would be acquiring skills.”

Ramotar pointed specifically to comments made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, arguing that Rubio had been unequivocal about the type of persons the United States was seeking to transfer to third-world countries. “However, the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio is very clear on who those persons are. In an interview, he said openly that, “We are actively searching for other countries to take people from third-world countries… We are working with other countries to say we want to send you some of the most despicable human beings to your countries, would you do that as a favour to us. And the further away from America, the better so they can’t come back across the border. I’m not apologetic about it. The President (Trump) was elected to keep America safe and to get rid of a bunch of perverts, paedophiles and child rapists out of our country…””