GUYANA’S government reported on Saturday that it received the first of six deportees from the United States under the Trump administration’s third-country deportation programme.

Guyana’s Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud said the nationals from Cuba and Afghanistan arrived in Guyana on Friday after being vetted by his administration and found to have no criminal background. 

He added the group was kicked out of the US primarily because of immigration issues.

Mr Persaud said his administration reached an agreement to host the deportees in an arrangement that will run for a year and does not constitute permanent resettlement, he said.

Those relocated to Guyana under the Assisted Voluntary Return Programme will await the outcome of their immigration status determination while in Guyana. 

They could ultimately return to their country of origin or be relocated somewhere else.

The United Nations International Organisation for Migration is responsible for implementing the programme, authorities in Guyana said, adding that the government will not bear any housing or supporting costs.

Guyana, a founding member of the 15-nation Caribbean Community, is the latest of several member states to have received small groups of US deportees. 

Others include St Kitts and Nevis, Belize and St Lucia, which was due to accept its first group this week, officials said.