PM blasts ‘weak fences’ after deejay’s immigration spat
Published:Friday | March 20, 2020 | 12:26 AMAndre Williams/Staff Reporter
Prime Minister Andrew Holness yesterday criticised as “weak fences” Jamaican travellers who give incomplete or wrong information to immigration officials.
His broadside during his Budget Debate presentation in Parliament came 24 hours after a voice note stoked a social-media firestorm, with dancehall artiste Elephant Man accused of giving misleading travel information to immigration officials at Sangster International Airport on Tuesday night.
The voice note was purportedly made by an immigration official.
The deejay, given name Oneil Bryan, who reportedly arrived at the airport from Brussels, Belgium, had failed to declare all the European countries he visited on his tour to the continent.
Bryan, however, claimed to have clarified the full extent of his visits in a conversation with the immigration officer.
The brouhaha, which could lead to criminal charges, caught public attention because the global pandemic COVID has reached Jamaica’s shores, with 16 infections and one death. The Jamaican Government has imposed a travel ban on Germany, one of the countries Bryan visited. Germany has tallied 11,000 infections and 20 fatalities.
Bad role models
While not singling out the dancehall artiste, Holness lambasted “influencers” who fail to observe the restrictions put in place by the Government to contain the spread of coronavirus.
“People who should know better, people who are influencers, they should be the persons to lead. Instead, they are being weak fences in the community effort to contain and slow the spread of coronavirus,” Holness said.
“Refusing to abide by quarantine rules, falsely declaring travel information, failure to observe the social distancing measures, and a lack of care in observing the hygiene practice makes you a weak fence,” the prime minister added.
Following public criticism after the circulation of voice note, Bryan has since taken to social media and apologised to staff at Sangster for breaching airport protocol.
“I also want to apologise for any misunderstanding in the way I incorrectly completed the form. After my long journey, I put the last country I arrived from as opposed to all the countries I attended in the last six weeks,” he said.
Police investigation
The Gleaner understands that the dancehall artiste was visited by health officials yesterday and has now self-quarantined.
However, the police said they have launched an investigation into the matter.
The Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) yesterday renewed its call for Jamaicans planning to return home to keep abreast of precautionary steps to take upon arrival amid the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.
PICA Chief Executive Officer Andrew Wynter said it was critical that citizens observe best practices.
“My advice to anyone who is coming to Jamaica at this time, if you know that you have been in a situation, country or area that experienced an outbreak of COVID-19, to ensure that you are clear and brief the health professionals for them to do the necessary checks, because you may have been exposed to the virus wittingly or unwittingly,” Wynter told the Jamaica Information Service.
“Provide as much information as possible to the local authorities and the immigration personnel upon your arrival, and we will be better able to treat with your situation,” the CEO explained.
According to Wynter, Elephant Man could be charged with making a false declaration to immigration authorities and also be prosecuted under the Public Health Act.