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Piarco deportation fiasco- Jamaicans lodge complaint
Published:
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
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Two Jamaicans have filed official complaints to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in T&T, after being denied entry to the country last month. The two complainants and 11 others were denied entry to T&T on November 19, a situation which created diplomatic unease between the two countries.
A report in the Jamaica Observer yesterday said an unnamed official at Jamaica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had confirmed that the two had inquired about a refund of their airfare. Another three of the 13 have also inquired about the possibility of seeking redress, the report said.
After the Jamaicans were deported last month, Jamaica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in order for it to do any further investigations, those who were denied entry into T&T had to submit a signed written personal statement outlining details of the incident. It also urged nationals to submit such a report whenever they are refused entry into any Caribbean country. The deportations caused furore in Jamaica, with some calling for a boycott of this country’s products in the island.
The situation led to a high-level meeting between Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran and his Jamaican counterpart, AJ Nicholson, which resulted in an arrangement between the nations to ensure there was no repeat of that situation. The Jamaican Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Caricom Secretariat was subsequently instructed to intensify the training and sensitisation of immigration officials across the region on the issue of free movement of Caribbean nationals across the region.
Dookeran was unavailable for comment yesterday as he was out of the country on vacation. Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal yesterday said he had taken note of the matter even though it had not yet reached his desk. Moonilal told the T&T Guardian he would treat with it appropriately when it reached his desk and he was briefed.
Published:
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Text Size:
Two Jamaicans have filed official complaints to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in T&T, after being denied entry to the country last month. The two complainants and 11 others were denied entry to T&T on November 19, a situation which created diplomatic unease between the two countries.
A report in the Jamaica Observer yesterday said an unnamed official at Jamaica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had confirmed that the two had inquired about a refund of their airfare. Another three of the 13 have also inquired about the possibility of seeking redress, the report said.
After the Jamaicans were deported last month, Jamaica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in order for it to do any further investigations, those who were denied entry into T&T had to submit a signed written personal statement outlining details of the incident. It also urged nationals to submit such a report whenever they are refused entry into any Caribbean country. The deportations caused furore in Jamaica, with some calling for a boycott of this country’s products in the island.
The situation led to a high-level meeting between Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran and his Jamaican counterpart, AJ Nicholson, which resulted in an arrangement between the nations to ensure there was no repeat of that situation. The Jamaican Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Caricom Secretariat was subsequently instructed to intensify the training and sensitisation of immigration officials across the region on the issue of free movement of Caribbean nationals across the region.
Dookeran was unavailable for comment yesterday as he was out of the country on vacation. Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal yesterday said he had taken note of the matter even though it had not yet reached his desk. Moonilal told the T&T Guardian he would treat with it appropriately when it reached his desk and he was briefed.
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