There were no specific reasons given for the barring of Dr Walter Rodney to the island. However, it was disclosed that there were security concerns raised surrounding his presence. He, however, shared he was not surprised by the Government's decision.

Published Wednesday, October 16, 1968

Guyanese lecturer refused re-entry to Jamaica

A 26-year-old Guyanese lecturer at the University of the West Indies who left the island last week for Montreal, Canada, and attended a Congress of Black Writers, was barred from re-entering Jamaica yesterday afternoon by the local immigration authorities on his return from Canada. 

Barred was Dr Walter Rodney, lecturer on African History at the University of the West Indies, Mona. He left Jamaica last Thursday and attended the congress which was held in Montreal from Friday, October 11, to Monday, October 14.

Yesterday morning he boarded an Air Canada flight in Montreal to return to Jamaica. When the flight landed at the Palisadoes International Airport at 2.20 p.m. acting Supt S.C. Gibson, who is in charge of the local Immigration Department, boarded the aircraft and informed Dr Rodney that he would not be permitted to re-enter the island.

Dr Rodney was not allowed to leave the aircraft and was taken back to Montreal on the return flight later in the afternoon.

Contacted yesterday afternoon, a spokesman for the Ministry of Home Affairs said that an Exclusion Order had been issued against Dr Rodney but gave no reason for the order.

It was learnt, however, that decision about exclusion action against Dr Rodney and taken by the Government some time ago as a result of his reported secret, personal activities in several areas of the island which appear to have convinced security circles that he was “a grave security risk”.

It was also learnt that the Vice Chancellor of the University, Sir Philip Sherlock, was called in by the Government on Monday and the matter discussed. The Exclusion Order against Dr Rodney was issued after Monday’s Cabinet meeting and was gazetted yesterday.

In a snap interview aboard the Air Canada aircraft yesterday afternoon, Dr Rodney told The Gleaner:

“This is no surprise to me. I have discovered that in Jamaica to be a black man is dangerous.”

Born in Georgetown, Guyana, Dr Rodney studied at the University of the West Indies, Mona. He entered the university in 1960 and graduated in 1963. He went to Africa for further studies and served at the university in Tanzania.

He was appointed lecturer on African History at the UWI in January 1968.

His wife, a Tanzanian, and son, are residents in Jamaica.

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