Region needs to facilitate rather than restrict – PM

While a state has a right to secure its borders, there is still the need for countries to facilitate travel rather than restrict.{{more}}

This is the view expressed by Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves at a media briefing April 13 as he commented on the issue regarding a Vincentian woman who claims that she was treated poorly at the hands of Barbadian Immigration officials before being deported.

In the April 8 edition of SEARCHLIGHT, 26-year-old Shamiel Phillips alleged that she was asked to submit to a strip search by the immigration officials, but declined. She was subsequently thrown into a cold cell.

The woman was deported after arrival records showed that she had previously overstayed her time in that country.

Phillips’ allegation came shortly after two Barbadian Constables were charged with committing an act of serious indecency on a twenty-seven year old Jamaican woman earlier this year.

Gonsalves, in his response, said that Barbados had come under a lot of fire recently, but that was to be expected because Barbados is one of the hubs in the region.

Nevertheless, the prime minister said that something needed to be done because there have been ongoing complaints of persons being manhandled and this could affect Barbados’ reputation.

He contended that under international law, persons are expected to be treated with courtesy and that migrants are entitled to certain rights.

Gonsalves further contended that the attitude of most immigration officers throughout the region was that their main objective was to reject one’s entry, as opposed to facilitating it.

“For example, the Immigration Act of 1939 of St Vincent and the Grenadines title is the Immigration (Restriction) Act and its purpose is to restrict the migration of people,” the prime minister explained.

While there have been amendments made to this Act, Gonsalves said that the base frame remained the same, saying that immigration officers can deny entry for any reason.

Back then, the immigration laws did not address tourism, although according to Gonsalves it was easy to travel among members of the British Empire.

Today, persons are restricted if they are not a national of a country and that in the region persons coming from Britain, Canada or the United States may have an easier time entering than those from Jamaica or Guyana.

He further contended that persons are subjected to scrutiny based on their appearance, for example someone wearing dread locks.

“So we have a lot of work to do with the immigration services,” Gonsalves said.

He, however, defended immigration officers, saying that their job is difficult and that they have a few minutes to make a decision.

“There are many people who are not nice people and who want to slip through to do certain things,” Gonsalves voiced, saying that immigration officers needed to be well trained and guided by policies.

This, Gonsalves said, warranted an examination of what the local policies are regarding detainment and cavity searches.

Gonsalves warned that persons who may not have their papers in order will be turned back.

In such instances, especially in an event that it may take a while to repatriate the individual to their country of origin, such persons will have to be detained in a cell.

And in the event that a cavity search needs to be conducted, Gonsalves said that he had been given the assurance by this country’s chief immigration officer that all body cavity searches be conducted at a medical facility by a health professional. (DD)