GRENADA HOLDS THREE GUYANESE WITH FALSE TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

Georgetown, May 29, 2008 -- Law enforcement authorities in Grenada last week nabbed three Guyanese including a woman along with a Vincentian who were found on the island with several false travel documents bearing multiple names and addresses.

The Guyanese are Kurt Thierens, who also had a St Vincent passport with the name Kurt Andrews Davis; Paul Pahard who also had a St Vincent passport with the name Sahadred Wilmonth Williams and Maharanie Sheritta Williams. A fourth woman who hails from St Vincent was in the company of the Guyanese and both she and Mahranie will be deported, Media Consultant of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF), Troy Garvey, said.

Garvey told Stabroek News yesterday from Grenada that senior officials of RGPF had been in contact with their Guyanese counterparts to verify the identities of the men, while ensuring that they were not wanted here in connection with any crime. Garvey said similar steps were taken with respect to the authorities in St Vincent.

Contacted on the matter, Crime Chief, Seelall Persaud, confirmed that the authorities in Grenada had been in touch. He said they requested certain information and currently the local police were verifying the identities of the men. Persaud said, from a preliminary look, it would appear that the men were not on the list of wanted men. However, he said every effort would be made to verify their identities.

Garvey told Stabroek News that the Guyanese were arrested last Friday after they were found idling on the island with the false documents. The two men have since been tried in the courts there and were sentenced to six months in prison, while the females would be deported. Garvey said the charges against the Guyanese ranged from illegal entry, providing false information to the authorities and having false documents.

“We made contact with our Guyanese counterparts and they told us the men are not wanted, but with the many false documents they have, we sent their photos and fingerprints to Guyana,” Garvey explained. He said this was done about two days ago and they were awaiting word from Guyana.

“We will remain extremely careful about this matter, especially knowing what went on in Guyana recently,” Garvey said, adding that Grenada did not want to treat the men lightly and then for it to turn out that they were among the dangerous criminals in this country.

He said the RGPF would also ensure that the men were not wanted for any crimes in St Vincent as it would appear that they had strong ties to that country.