Teon Hope arrived at Heathrow Airport excited to see his relatives whom he has not seen in years. His much-anticipated trip was “thanks” to the recently announced visa-free travel regime to the United Kingdom (UK). It was a dream come through, but an experience that quickly turned into a nightmare.
“I haven’t seen my brother in years, so when Guyana got visa-free entry to the UK, I jump at the opportunity to see him, so I booked a ticket for him to come and see me and my family for 6 months,” said Yusiny Joungaye.
“They detain him on arrival at Heathrow Airport after his flight landed at 9:55. I sat outside the Airport since 10:00 am with my 3 young kids in the cold waiting to receive my brother,” Teon’s sister recounted. Joungaye is a nurse in the UK and comes from Linden. Her brother, Teon, still lives in the mining town, manages a car-wash business, and resides at Blueberry Hill, Wismar.
According to a Facebook post by Guyanese-Londoner and Social Activist Norman Browne, Teon arrived at Heathrow recently and will be sent back to Barbados and will have to find his own airfare to Guyana. Joungaye is reported as saying she received a call from immigration at Heathrow asking her if she was expecting someone. “Someone from border control called me and asked me basic questions like my name and if I was expecting someone, she promised to call back and update but she never did.”
“They then took all his belongings including his wallet, phone and suitcase, and hand luggage. He was not allowed to use his phone or get to his belongings to get anything to eat. He was made to stay on a bench all night. I spoke to an immigration officer last night who was very hostile and said he is going back on a flight to Guyana and that’s final and he will have to get a visa to come back,” the woman reportedly said.
Hope was allegedly told by Heathrow immigration that the £400 in his possession was not enough to enter the UK and as such he will be sent back to Guyana but will have to find his own airfare from Barbados to Guyana.
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