Is Trinidad really biased against Jamaica?

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I have been amused observing the developments on the return of 13 Jamaicans by the Trinidad and Tobago government. The amusement lies in the fact that the current prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, studied in Jamaica and later worked temporarily in Jamaica as a nurse.

Recently, at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Mrs Persad-Bissessar touted Jamaica and was quite proud of her time spent there. It seems very unlikely that she or her government could have supported any prejudice within the immigration department. I would suggest the government was unaware of those actions.

So it seems disingenuous to claim that 13 persons lied either on their immigration forms or to the immigration officers. This claim was made by national security minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Gary Griffith, who must have been speaking out of turn. Mr Griffith certainly should provide better justification than "they lied".

While in the normal course of immigration it is incumbent on visitors to prove they are visiting, it would appear that the right of CARICOM nationals to move freely would preclude that justification from being provided, as the aforementioned right is already granted.

I am intentionally avoiding the question of employment, as that is entirely a matter of procedures that are clearly laid out throughout CARICOM, and no member state refuses entry if those guidelines are followed. I am, of course, subject to correction.

However perturbed that may leave you, the greater matter comes from the amount of funds that the visitor would/should have. Mr Griffith clearly states that some had in the region of $200.

an unfair question

While I do not refute this, it is concerning that immigration would ask such a question. How frequently is such a question asked? Is this a case of 'these are Jamaicans so they are running away to work illegally'? I can't remember ever being asked this question at any immigration port, and it seems very discriminatory to ask only Jamaicans this question.

Is it standard immigration policy to grill Jamaicans upon entry into Trinidad and Tobago? Thankfully, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran is a more conscientious person who understands that restraint of the tongue is a good guiding principle. Let us hope he is not locked up and returned to Trinidad and Tobago when he comes on his official visit before year end.

ROBERT HOWELL

rsjhowelljm@gmail.com

Kingston