U.S. funding tied to Guyana’s acceptance of deportees – Pres. Ali

(Kaieteur News) – President Irfaan Ali on Monday said Guyana’s implementation of the controversial third-country deportee agreement with the United States is directly dependent on U.S. financial and technical support, stressing that Georgetown should not be expected to shoulder the costs of receiving and integrating deportees.

“It must be a joint effort,” Ali said at a news conference, making clear that U.S. support would be critical to the programme’s implementation, including the acceptance and integration of individuals sent to Guyana. The President’s comments come amid mounting public criticism of the agreement, with questions being raised about its financial implications, human rights concerns, Guyana’s institutional capacity and the secrecy surrounding the negotiations.

The Guyanese leader said there has been a mischaracterisation on social media of the programme, emphasising that the agreement strictly limits eligibility to “third-country nationals with expedited or final orders of removal” alongside proper medical clearance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.