Airport security should not terrorise

With more Jamaicans coming forward to relate disturbing accounts of alleged profiling, prejudice and mistreatment at Barbados' Grantley Adams International Airport, Ms Shanique Myrie's complaint of her horrific, frightening and humiliating experience there is gaining credibility. If any or all of her account is true, it constituted psychological and physical abuse. Whenever an individual or group employs intimidation, crassness, insults, demeaning and degrading acts (even under the umbrella of 'security'), it is a form of terrorism - the systematic use of terror (intense fear) as a means of coercion (duress, pressure).

Even Elijah, the powerful prophet of an omnipotent God, was so scared that he took his servant and fled when a fearsome Jezebel, King Ahab's wife, sent him a terrifying message. After competing with and defeating the prophets of Baal, Elijah ordered them seized; they were led down to Kishon Brook and killed. On hearing this, Jezebel sent this message to Elijah, "May the gods strike me dead if by this time tomorrow I don't do the same thing to you that you did to the prophets." This was said to be the first biblical reference to terrorism.

The terrorist's goal is to disrupt/change the accustomed lifestyle of an individual, group, nation or the entire world to suit his agenda/beliefs by whatever means. Therefore, whether or not Osama bin Laden is healthy, infirm or dead, the actions and threats carried out by him and his organisation have so transformed the world that, arguably, the goals of global terrorism have almost been met. Bin Laden messages like "we love death. The US loves life, that's the difference between us two" have chilled the blood of powerful nations everywhere. We now distrust everyone, but worst of all, terrorism has facilitated state-sanctioned abuse because governments sometimes suspend civil and human rights and subject individuals to discommodious, extremely stringent and sometimes demeaning security procedures - randomly or on the slightest suspicion of a possible breach of any kind.

New face of Terrorism

Even if bin Laden or al-Qaida never threaten or carry out any other act of terrorism, we will continue abusing targeted individuals - especially at our various ports of entry/departure. Travel, in particular, international travel, is usually an anxiety-producing and sometimes miserable and frightening event. Ironically, the stress and fright experienced by some hapless passengers is not directly caused by members of known terrorist organisations; the new potential 'terrorist' wears a state-issued uniform, may be intoxicated with power and could be fomenting personal vendettas against selected types/groups of individuals.

So annoyed, yet amused, is the travelling public that this Internet parody about detailed and sometimes invasive airport security screening made the rounds a few months ago: "Year-to-date statistics on airport screening from the Department of Homeland Security - terrorist plots discovered = 0; transvestites = 133; hernias = 1,485; haemorrhoid cases = 3,172; enlarged prostates = 8,249; breast implants= 59,350; natural blondes = 3."

Obviously, we cannot allow fringe religious zealots to have free rein, dictate our religion, culture and determine whether we live or die. Therefore, we cannot abandon our security measures. However, there's absolutely no need to treat human beings like cattle or dangerous convicted felons as soon as they enter the precincts/confines of entry/exit ports.

We play right into the hands of the Muslim extremists and, inadvertently, do their bidding when we intimidate, abuse and terrorise travellers, including local and CARICOM citizens. I know, from personal experience, that our immigration officers are fully aware that the Immigration Department routinely takes seriously and thoroughly investigates every complaint of misconduct. I hope that Barbados will follow suit.

Garth A. Rattray is a physician with a family practice. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and garthrattray@gmail.com.