Filenews 4 July 2025 - by Natasa Christoforou
Katina Baird from Guyana was released at noon from the detention facilities of Menoya, following actions by the Deputy Minister of Migration, Katina Baird from Guyana, whose story sparked a wave of support in Larnaca and not only, with many citizens, but also organized bodies calling for her release.
"Humanity in Cyprus has not been lost. Katina Baird was released today. It was a popular demand of the society of Larnaca, but also of Cyprus, and it became a reality", said her lawyer Ilias Christou, addressing warm thanks, among others, to the Deputy Minister of Migration. "Warm thanks to the Deputy Minister Dr. Nikolas Ioannidis, the Mayor, Andreas Vyras, the President of the Parliament, Annita Demetriou, the President of DIKO, Nikolas Papadopoulos, the President of the Democratic Party of Greece, Marios Karoyan, and the MPs Irene Charalambidou, Andreas Pasiourtidis and Nikos Georgiou. Special thanks to the media and all the journalists who gave the real dimension of the issue and mobilized public opinion. Finally, special thanks to all the people who, with their posts and messages of support, set the pace for the right decisions to be made. It seemed that in Cyprus in terms of humanity there is no room for parties and everyone deserves a big thumbs up!!!", said Mr. Christou.
Shortly after her release, the 32-year-old expressed, through our website, her gratitude to the Deputy Minister of Migration, the Mayor of Larnaca and her lawyer. I would also like to thank all the people of Larnaca for their support and the people who live in my neighbourhood in Oroklini who supported me. This is my home, they are my family," she said emotionally.
The Deputy Minister of Migration, Nikolas Ioannidis, told Filenews that humanitarian factors were taken into account for the handling of this case, as well as the existing legislation, which will be followed in order to initiate all the procedures provided, if she wishes, for the legal stay of the 32-year-old in Cyprus. As we are able to know, the mayor of Larnaca informed the Deputy Minister of Migration about the case of the 32-year-old, while a similar briefing was made by others at the Presidential Palace and the appropriate sensitivity for the release of a woman who has been proven to have contributed to the society of Cyprus was shown.
The 32-year-old, owner of Katina's Tasty Food Caribbean restaurant, had been detained for a week in Menoya and was about to be deported, after failing to secure a residence permit for a few months. She had come to our country legally a few years ago, paid her taxes and is particularly loved in Larnaca, since she supports the events of the Municipality and the Larnaca 2030 organization, which is running the city's candidacy for the European Capital of Culture. It is no coincidence that a few hours before her release an organization wrote in a post: "We express our full support to Katina Baird who has been transferred to the detention facilities of Menoya. Katina is one of the co-creators of the Larnaca 2030 programme. She is a fellow citizen of ours who has envisioned a better tomorrow for the city and the district of Larnaca. More fair and more inclusive."
