Many Jamaicans denied entry into Caribbean countries

As the dispute between Jamaica and Barbados intensifies, The Gleaner has obtained statistics which show that hundreds of Jamaicans have been denied entry into other Caribbean countries since the beginning of 2011.

The statistics show that since the beginning of 2011, 198 Jamaicans have been denied entry into Trinidad and Tobago, 104 in Barbados, 77 in Curaçao, 41 in St Martin, 19 in Antigua and 15 in The Bahamas.

Statistics for 2010 show that 292 Jamaicans were turned back in Trinidad and Tobago, 274 in Barbados, 286 in Curaçao, 233 in The Bahamas and 96 in Antigua.

However, since 2008, only five Barbadians have been denied entry into Jamaica.

Efforts by The Gleaner to get statistics on other Caribbean islands from the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency were unsuccessful.

When quizzed about the statistics recently, Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Ken Baugh said an investigation would have to occur into the numbers.

He said that while the statistics might not compare when weighed against those given entry, it is a fact that some Caribbean countries impose visa restrictions on Jamaican nationals for various reasons.

misconceptions

Baugh said this could be as a result of misconceptions other Caribbean nationals have of Jamaicans.

Haiti, Cuba and the Cayman Islands require holders of ordinary passports to have visas.

The issue of the treatment of Jamaicans in the region came to the fore after Shanique Myrie's recent claim that she experienced two demeaning cavity searches by a female immigration officer in Barbados, and was detained for hours for interrogation.

She also said the immigration officer made several derogatory remarks about Jamaicans.

In addition to Myrie, other Jamaicans have now come forward claiming ill-treatment in the region.

Baugh, however, said that Jamaicans must work to erase any misconceptions of them.

"Jamaicans must realise we have a role to play. It is some persons opinion that they don't want Jamaicans exporting to their countries things they don't like such as (bad) lyrics and drugs," he said.

Since Baugh's comments, a Jamaican delegation that travelled to Barbados to investigate Myrie's claims has submitted a report to the foreign affairs minister and Prime Minister Bruce Golding.

As a result, the Government has determined that there is merit to Myrie's allegations and that it will pursue the matter.

Myrie has also been advised that the Barbados government is willing to allow her back into that country to identify the immigration officer at the centre of the incident.