Posted on 09/11/2009 7:07:35 AM PDT by Colofornian
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA) -- Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon at a post-Cabinet press briefing on Thursday said that the Mormons are not the only persons who have flouted immigration laws, by overstaying their time in Guyana. He recalled that similar issues had arisen in the past with Hindu and Muslim Missionaries.
Guyana's Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon Luncheon asserted that much idle speculations surrounded an action that is taken regularly in every country in the world, once immigration laws are breached. He maintained that “if you flout immigration laws, this course of action will be applied.”
He added that the expulsion of the Mormons was a straight forward application of the laws of Guyana.
The church members, most of whom are Americans, were detained at the Headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Department, Eve Leary, and were given 30 days to leave Guyana.
On June 10, the Church submitted a list indicating that it has 66 persons attached to the organization. The letter also requested work permits and extension of stay for the 66 persons, 50 of whom had overstayed, while the whereabouts of 13 were unclear and three had valid work permits.
The persons whose work permits and extension of stay have expired will leave the country voluntarily and replacements associated with the Church will be allowed to enter the jurisdiction and to conduct their activities provided they are granted work permits in advance of their arrival.
From the article: ...replacements associated with the Church will be allowed to enter the jurisdiction and to conduct their activities provided they are granted work permits in advance of their arrival.
The overall Mormon missionary enterprise doesn't need to leave the country, just get their paperwork in order. And not be in the country unless/until it is.
From the article: ...the Church will be allowed to enter the jurisdiction and to conduct their activities provided they are granted work permits in advance.
OK, every past & present Lds missionary knows what an Lds missionary schedule is. Out & about every morning and not home til between 9:30 & 10:00 at night...6 days a week (except for "Preparation Day"). And this is JUST addressing normal Lds missionary activities. Lds missionaries generally don't have time for "work" of the sort that calls for "work permits." They are engaged in proselytism, pure & simple.
What kind of "work" are they doing that requires "work permits?" I would highly doubt any of these young 19 & 20 yo are "farm specialists."
So they’re not being persecuted for their beliefs?
Now no one can complain about being unfairly picked on because of their beliefs.
I don’t know about where you live, but they spend a lot of time at the local public libraries around here.
Want to bet...
Obey the rules of your host nation. How hard is that? And how is this any different from the arguments we hear about finding and deporting people who overstay their student or work visas here in the US? If you don’t follow the rules, you don’t get to play. Seems pretty simple.
Colonel, USAFR
I imagine Guyana’s a little leery of cults, for obvious reasons.
The hell we can't!
--MormonDude(I'm gonna go overseas myself!)
If they can slavishly follow the 167 items required of Missionaries; this should be a piece of cake!
That should be a no brainer. But people who think they're really special usually tend to act like the rules are made form everyone but them.
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