Issue: Body check by Bajan immigration officer

THE EDITOR, Sir:

A recent report in the Jamaican media of the sexual and verbal abuse of a Jamaican woman at the hands of a Barbados immigration officer, on her first visit out of the island, and apparently motivated by no other reason than that she was Jamaican, makes my Jamaican blood boil with anger and outrage.

Equally disturbing are reports that there have been a pattern of abuses against Jamaicans by the Barbados government, and that, apparently, our Jamaican Government has been less than swift, forceful and decisive in taking action to end the abuses.

This is beyond outrageous! The horrible abuse that Shanique Myrie allegedly endured, if true and accurate, is surely criminal conduct - pure and simple. Why hasn't the Jamaican Government been taking forceful action with Barbados to stop the abuses long before this?

Better Bajan examples

This is not the sort of conduct or behaviour that one expects from, or associates with, Barbadians.

When I was in high school in Jamaica, we had a number of Barbadian teachers and they were noted not only for proficiency in teaching, but also for exemplary, gentlemanly and dignified conduct that made lasting impressions on their students. Barbados could not have had better ambassadors.

This incident certainly seems to merit criminal prosecution.

The Jamaican Government must be made aware, in no uncertain terms, that the people of Jamaica demand prompt and forceful diplomatic action to get the Barbados government to clean up its act and end the abuses by its immigration authorities.

It would appear that Shanique Myrie is due an apology from the government of Barbados, as well as compensation for the evil and outrageous sexual abuse and humiliation that she suffered at the hands of Barbados immigration.

I am, etc.,

A.G. GUMBS

aggumbs@aol.com