Some Barbadians have been adding their voice to the issue raised by Jamaican Shanique Myrie who claimed she was finger raped by local immigration authorities when she arrived in Barbados earlier this month.
Nation online readers want officials to get to the bottom of this matter which has been engaging the attention of authorities in Barbados and Jamaica. Readers are concerned that this issue could affect the reputation of Barbados if it is not dealt with urgently by the authorities.
The matter raised by Myrie is to be discussed at a Caricom meeting later this week.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator Maxine McClean has already dismissed the claim, stating there is no truth to the report made by the Jamaican woman. However, Myrie is sticking to her story and says she will sue local authorities.
On the Nation’s Facebook page, readers have been venting their views on the issue. This is what some had to say.
Keisha Angeleyes Lord: “ If these accusations are true, this is not good for our country and its reputation. This makes for further investigation. I will be following this story for sure because if there is any truth to these accusations we have problems. ….
Ronnie Murrell: “Whether the claims are true or not, these accusations will do no good for our country and its reputation … The procedure for searches at our ports needs to be looked at again to avoid situations such as these..”.
Lucine George: “Barbados is a place people love to holiday so this kind of thing is not good for our country or any country”.
Sharon Taylor: “We in Barbados need to set up more stringent security measures that include the police at the airport that would give much more credence to the procedures and start utilizing cameras
Steven Williams: “It’s high time that the Government of Barbados implement cameras in all circumstances where they might be brought into disrepute, whether it is Customs, the port or police stations..”
Kevin Clarke: “The Bajan Government needs to stop acting like her claim and prior claims like hers were imagined by other Jamaicans. Fact is decent law abiding Jamaican citizens have landed at your port and been treated in similar or worse ways… Stop denying it and deal with it decisively”.
Dawn Rollins: Whether this woman’s allegations are true or false, it flags the Immigration and Customs practices in Barbados. Maybe the powers that be should review the policies and procedures of these organizations, amend them if necessary and put them into practice”.
Log on to the Nation’s Facebook page for more comments.
carolmartindale@nationnews.com