Declaring that the United States “is not heaven and earth”, Guyana’s Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn threw his full support behind his Permanent Secretary on Monday after her mobile phone was seized by US authorities and she was handcuffed and interrogated at the Miami International Airport.

“The US is not heaven and earth, Guyana is heaven and earth”, Benn declared when asked about concerns that the visa for his Permanent Secretary might have been revoked.

He said he was unaware of all of the details surrounding the phone seizure and the questioning of his Permanent Secretary by the US authorities, but he expected a full report from the Permanent Secretary.

The Permanent Secretary is the highest ranking public servant in a Government Department and falls just under the Government Minister.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is responsible for national security and public security matters.

Permanent Secretary Mae Touissant Jr. Thomas was on her way to China over the easter weekend when she was accosted, handcuffed and questioned at the Miami International Airport just after touching down there to board an onward flight to China, according to Government sources.

Government Sources familiar with the incident have told News Source that the Permanent Secretary was left rattled by the incident, but continued on with her trip to China, arriving there only with her travel documents and a carry-on piece of luggage.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs only learnt of the issue when Stabroek News broke the story on Friday. The Ministry dispatched a letter seeking information about the incident from the US Embassy. The Embassy responded, but without the requested information.

In a statement to News Source, the Embassy reminded that at American ports of entry, U.S. Customs and Border Protection can request information to determine admissibility into the U.S.  Anyone entering the United States, including U.S. citizens, may be subject to secondary inspection, which may include detailed questions and a thorough search, to include electronic and telephonic devices. 

On the issue of whether the Permanent Secretary’s US visa had been revoked, the Embassy in its response to News Source said “due to privacy concerns, we cannot comment on specific visa inquiries”.

The Permanent Secretary returned to Guyana on Saturday via London and Barbados. She was originally scheduled to travel back through the US on her way home.

Although unaware of the reasons behind the US authorities singling out of the Permanent Secretary for additional security checks and the confiscation of her mobile phone, the Home Affairs Minister today said she will remain in her job.

The Permanent Secretary, who previously worked as an Accounts Clerk, shot to the top of the public service chain just after the 2020 elections when the government changed. She was among the candidates of the People’s Progressive Party at the 2015 and the 2020 elections.

Related posts:

Home Affairs PS confirms visa revocation, but offers confusing account of phone seizure by US agents President sees “no controversy” in Home Affairs Permanent Secretary’s incident at Miami Airport; PS still to submit report to Foreign Affairs Home Affairs PS was handcuffed and interrogated at US airport; -US Embassy refuses to offer information on phone confiscation Government seeks information from US over confiscation of Permanent Secretary’s phone in Miami