Updated

Guyana's finance minister says the country will bar graduates of its public university from traveling outside the country until they settle their student debt, in a bid to collect on some $25 million in defaulted loans.

Winston Jordan says the immigration department will be provided a list of University of Guyana graduates who have outstanding loans.

Border agents will make sure those people don't leave the country unless they pay up, something they will be able to do at immigration points. Jordan says the policy will be implemented in the coming months.

Jordan made the announcement Friday night while commissioning a new building at the 53-year-old public university.

More than 26,000 loans have been granted over the past two decades. Fees at the school average $900 a year.