It was on August 22, 2022, that a Guyanese woman escaped from the Immigration Department’s temporary detention facility at Hotel Castle Maria but was subsequently recaptured following information received from a member of the public.

There have been several incidences before of persons escaping that facility, some of whom were never recaptured.

Following frequent occurrences of persons escaping Immigration detention at Castle Maria in McNamara, Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), who is responsible for Immigration, has said moves are being made in tighten security at the makeshift detention facility.

‘Certainly displeased’

“We have sought to increase security at Castle Maria. Of course, we are certainly displeased with persons escaping repeatedly from Castle Maria and so we have engaged the security and the establishment on measures that can be implemented to prevent that from taking place,” Premier Wheatley stated during a press conference on Friday, August 26, 2022.

The Premier also expressed gratitude to the member of the public who assisted with information that led to the recapture of the escaped person.

He also announced that his government is moving towards building a detention centre.