Foreign Affairs Minister outlines steps taken to address T&T-Jamaica 'denied entry' issue

Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith has requested specific timelines from the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for addressing concerns related to the treatment of Jamaicans seeking to enter that country.

Addressing today’s post-Cabinet press briefing, Johnson Smith outlined the steps she has been taking to address the recent denial of entry of Jamaicans by Trinidad and Tobago.

Johnson Smith says she has asked the Jamaican High Commissioner to Trinidad, David Prendergast, to investigate and provide reports on the matter.

She says she has written to Trinidad's Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Dennis Moses, for him to address the high rate of denial of entry of Jamaicans, the treatment of Jamaicans by immigration officials and facilities provided for Jamaicans who have been detained by immigration officials.

Johnson Smith says Moses is expected to take her requests to the Trinidad government this week.

She says contact has been made with the Trinidad-owned Caribbean Airlines which transported the most recent group of Jamaicans who were denied entry to the twin island republic.

The government of Trinidad and Tobago confirmed that 12 Jamaicans were denied entry to that country last month on the grounds that they were likely to become a charge on public funds.

However, the situation has angered many Jamaicans who are calling for the Jamaican government to take strong action against Trinidad including boycotting products from that country.