PS Thomas reportedly slammed into wall, handcuffed during detention in US – now concerned about her family’s safety

Hours after the story broke that the Permanent Secretary of the Home Affairs Ministry, Mae Thomas-Meerabux, was detained and her phone confiscated in the US on her way to China, new details have surfaced about the manner in which the Guyanese official was treated.

Guyana Times understands that this incident took place at the Maimi International Airport on April 8, 2023, and not at the JFK International, as was previously reported.

The mother of two, who is married to American citizen Dameion Meerabux, was on an official trip, and was at the time travelling with others when she was singled out and taken into a room to be grilled. And even as she was observing the Holy Month of Ramadan, ThomasMeerabux was allegedly manhandled by male officers attached to the US Customs and Border Protection.

Guyana Times understands that during the threehour-long detention, the Guyanese PS was asked basic questions by the male officers, until a female officer entered the room and took other personal details. Mrs. Thomas-Meerabux feels she was violated.

It has already been reported in the press that Thomas-Meerabux was travelling on a Service Passport, but despite her informing the CBP officers that she was on official duty, she was reportedly slammed into a wall, handcuffed, and humiliated in front of a group of Spanishspeaking citizens.

In addition, her phone, which contained sensitive information relating to Government policies and her own personal information, was confiscated and searched, although she had pointed out that the device belonged to the Government of Guyana and clearance must be given by her superiors before it can be searched.

Moreover, her request to make contact with officials of the Guyana Government was reportedly refused; as was her request to contact Guyana’s Ambassador to the US, Samuel Hinds, an attorney, and her husband. Instead, she was told that she was in US territory, and that her rights to do so were forfeited.

While these events unfolded on April 8, 2023, sources have confirmed that at no point in time was she uncooperative towards the officers, who were allegedly hostile and acted in an unprofessional manner to cause her embarrassment as a Guyana Government official.

Thomas-Meerabux was later released, but reportedly feels she had been victimised, and continues to seek answers on the possible reasons for her detention, since this was not the first time she had travelled to the USA.

Further, in returning to her homeland, ThomasMeerabux had to travel from London to Barbados, and then to Guyana, since her visa has allegedly been revoked.

This incident has undoubtedly taken a toll, not only on Thomas-Meerabux, but her entire family, including her young son who is preparing to write the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

This PS is now concerned for her safety and that of her family, since she believes she is being targeted for one rea- son or the other.

Guyana Times understands this matter is engaging the attention of senior Government officials, including President Dr Irfaan Ali.

Contacted on Friday evening, Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Elisabeth Harper, explained that Government has not as yet received any information from the US Government on this issue, and is awaiting a report from the US Embassy in Georgetown.

However, later that evening, the US Embassy, through its Deputy Chief of Mission, Adrienne Galanek, informed, “We don’t have any specific information to share.”

Further, the missive detailed the policy of the Department of Homeland Security and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which is shared with all travellers to the US, including citizens of that country: “If CBP officers at a port of entry need more information to determine your admissibility into the US, you may be di- rected to an interview area known as secondary inspection. You could also be subjected to a secondary inspection as a result of a random search.

“Anyone, including US citizens, may be subject to secondary inspection if the CBP officer has reservations about admitting him or her. Secondary inspection is a more detailed inspection to determine admissibility. It allows CBP officers to conduct additional research to verify information without delaying other travellers.

“During a secondary inspection, the CBP officer may ask you detailed questions about your travel plans and immigration history. You may also be asked to produce additional proof of identification and detailed information about the purpose of your visit to the US. Both you and your belongings may be subject to a thorough search. Such inspections may include a search of all electronic information stored on your laptop, cell phone or other electronic devices.”

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In March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down economies globally, Candaycia Richeson was one of many US-based Guyanese who were forced to stay indoors. As such, to find something to pass the time, she began cooking all her favourite meals. In that very month, she posted her first Youtube video showcasing her cooking skills, little knowing that her videos showcasing authentic Guyanese and West Indian cuisine would go viral. In fact, they have become so popular that, in January of this year, Richeson celebrated the coveted achievement of attaining 100,000 subscribers.

This week, she posted her 570th video - on Chinese fried chicken – and it went so viral that it re- mains one of her most popular videos to date.

Self-taught cook

The former Alleyne’s High School student describes herself as a selftaught cook. Now residing in Virginia, she said that since when she was around age 7, she started experimenting with the foods her mother cooked. She explained that her mother was into fitness, bodybuilding and modelling, and as such, the foods weren’t really to her liking.

“Keeping a healthy lifestyle and amazing body was a way of life for her, so she would cook a lot of steamed foods with little or no salt. That’s when I started taking the food she already cooked and (adding) my own seasonings and sauces to make it taste the way I like,” Richeson said.

By the time she was 10 years old, Richeson was already cooking full meals.

“I basically taught myself how to cook, since I knew exactly how I wanted my food to taste,” she said.

In 2014, Richeson migrated to the United States to start a new life, and it was there that she started to further explore and expand her cooking skills.

Starting on YouTube

When the pandemic was wreaking havoc across the globe early in 2020, Richeson decided to stay at home with her son, who was still in his toddler years. She said she would cook her favourite meals and record them on video.

“I think one of my videos went viral soon after I started, that’s the video of the Chinese fried chicken,” she said. “It started to blow up, and I hit the requirements to get paid on

YouTube, and I started getting paid,” she said.

Payment from this so-