Jamaican Opposition Asks Respect for Hassle-Free Travel inside CARICOM

The Jamaican opposition’s foreign policy spokesperson asked the government in Kingston to respond to the “increasing incidence of harassment and demeaning treatment of Jamaicans” traveling to other Caribbean Community member-states.

Lawmaker Edmund Bartlett, a former tourism minister, issued the call for action after 13 Jamaicans were detained last week at the international airport in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica’s press said Tuesday.

The group alleged that Trinidadian immigration authorities forced them to sleep on the floor and deprived them of access to food and sanitary facilities.

“This is the latest of a series of similar complaints by our citizens attempting to be landed in these countries about crude, uncivil and embarrassing treatment by our regional partners,” Bartlett wrote.

In November 2013, Trinidadian immigration authorities barred a group of 13 Jamaicans from entering the country and two of the travelers filed complaints with the Trinidad and Tobago foreign ministry.

Bartlett spoke out in July to demand steps to compel respect for freedom of movement among CARICOM member-states and said that Jamaica should seriously consider whether it is receiving any real benefits from membership in the regional grouping.

CARICOM comprises Antigua and Barbuda; the Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; Dominica; Granada; Guyana; Haiti; Jamaica; Montserrat; St. Lucia; St. Kitts and Nevis; St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Suriname; and Trinidad and Tobago.

Source: Latin America Herald Tribune