The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade notes with concern, media reports of Jamaicans recently ill-treated and denied entry to Trinidad and Tobago.
Senator, the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade called on the persons affected to make formal reports at the Ministry: “I was very upset by the accounts given in the video circulated on social media, but incidents like these must be reported to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade so that we can better represent your interests. We need you to give us information so we can support investigations.”
She continued: “We invite each of you, please come to our Dominica Drive offices and make your report, so that we can also work on preventing the recurrence of these incidents in so far as possible. The more information we have, the better.”
The Ministry advised that immediately following the newscast on the Jamaicans denied entry to the twin-island republic and their alleged ill-treatment, it alerted the Jamaican High Commission in Trinidad and Tobago, which then communicated with high level staff at the Trinidad and Tobago Immigration Department. A meeting with the Ministry of National Security of T&T and Caribbean Airlines has also been confirmed in short-order, on the matter.
An internal investigation at the airport in T&T has also begun and the Jamaican High Commission will be provided with a report upon completion.
In closing, the Ministry reminds the public that there is a formal CARICOM complaint form that can be filled out at either national airport upon return to Jamaica.
